Venting

[MrsK]

I've had a rough day. Totally first world problems but I just need a hug.

I've made literacy a big project this summer since K1 is really struggling with reading. We have been visiting little free libraries all summer (including libraries in 8 different states), gone to countless story times, read tons and had reading marathons, I read the first 4 Harry Potter books to them, all the books by E.B. White, Beverly Clearly, about 17 Junie B Jones books, all the Fudge books, Encyclopedia Brown, and dozens of other novels. We joined the library summer reading program with the goal of reading 150 books with each of them.

Today, we finished our goal. I read 156 books with K1, 157 with K2, 125 with Lambie. Mom worked HARD. My plan was to take them to the library and make a big deal of turning in their forms and getting their pizza coupons or whatever, let the librarian praise them, borrow movies from the library, and then go out for ice cream. I wanted this to be a "remember the summer mom read 150 books with us" type of celebration.

Instead, K2 had a massive tantrum in the library, growled ugly names at me, and had to be dragged out of the library with everyone tisking at *that* mother with her bared teeth and the bratty noisy kids. No ice cream for tantrums and now I have 3 disappointed kids and an even more disappointed momma.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[civilspouse]

What a bummer! Hate it when I try to plan something fun and it doesn't work out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alotofyarn]

I'm so sorry. It's frustrating when you have to be a good parent and punish them when it hurts you too.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[rufflesanddots]

I am so sorry! You worked your tail off to get all that done. You're a great mom, and even if the kiddos seem unappreciative now, they *will* realize your love, support, and sacrifices someday. I hope you can treat yourself to something after they're in bed. You deserve it.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[SoonerTexan]

I'm sorry, that really stinks

[Deebs]

I'm so sorry. I get so angry/frustrated when my kids force me to cancel a fun plan. You've done a LOT of reading work - wow!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MrsK]

I really just want to cry. I don't want this to be "remember when we worked our tails off all summer and then mom took our reward away".

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[MrsK]

I'm so sorry. I get so angry/frustrated when my kids force me to cancel a fun plan. You've done a LOT of reading work - wow!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Considering that K1 is still just barely reading, it was nearly torture at some points. Today, he struggled through "Big Cat, Little Cat." K2 isn't especially interested in learning to read either. So I've been trying to make reading into something exciting and fun. They adore being read to and enjoy looking at books. But so far, Lambie is the only one that seems interested in the actual mechanics of reading. Our library program gives credit to non-readers for books read to them so just about all the reading for K2 and Lambie was me reading to them and the portion K1 read himself was painstaking hours of me sitting with him.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[scrub-jay]

Have you ruled out any potential issues? Eyesight or dyslexia?

[Thirteen]

I'm so sorry -- big hugs to you! As the mother of a twice exceptional kiddo myself, I understand that you want the high points to be celebrated. It's hard when behavior dictates the need for consequences.

[MrsK]

Have you ruled out any potential issues? Eyesight or dyslexia?

I suspect there are some decoding issues. HE asked me if he has dyslexia after we read about accomplished people who have learning differences. (He had been identified as twice exceptional/gifted with learning differences so we talk about learning styles and people's unique abilities a lot.) He definitely fits the profile. My father had dyslexia and DrK has a reading disorder. We've been working with a reading specialist during the school year and through the summer. It's also possible that he's having trouble with phonics due to his intermittent hearing loss. He sees a speech therapist as well to address that. For now, my job is to expose him to as much language and reading as possible while still keeping it fun. He was the one who came up with the 150 goal. I've just done everything I could to help him get there and given him credit for even the briefest books.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[MrsK]

I'm so sorry -- big hugs to you! As the mother of a twice exceptional kiddo myself, I understand that you want the high points to be celebrated. It's hard when behavior dictates the need for consequences.

The worst part is that it was my neurotypical kid who had the tantrum. K1 was excited but I had to abort the whole celebration because K2 was being a brat.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Could you have just had the celebration with K1 and Lambie? We've done that a handful of times. It's miserable as the mom because the naughty child is acting terribly the whole time but it's impactful. D has definitely watched C get ice cream or get to have a bedtime book while she gets quiet bedtime. She hates it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MrsK]

Could you have just had the celebration with K1 and Lambie? We've done that a handful of times. It's miserable as the mom because the naughty child is acting terribly the whole time but it's impactful. D has definitely watched C get ice cream or get to have a bedtime book while she gets quiet bedtime. She hates it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd thought of it but K2 would have assured that we would have all been miserable. I think I'm going to take another stab at it tomorrow. I need to take the reading log to another library branch to get the pizza coupon. If they can behave, I'll do the ice cream after that.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I'd thought of it but K2 would have assured that we would have all been miserable. I think I'm going to take another stab at it tomorrow. I need to take the reading log to another library branch to get the pizza coupon. If they can behave, I'll do the ice cream after that.

Oh I hope the re-do is better!! It sounds like a momentous achievement.