I am not smarter than a 2nd grader.

Ben and I have been trying to come up with a way to help Ally focus when she needs to without denying her the time to daydream and be totally care free. Every so often, I read. Yes. Me. I was given a book and told "it" might be a good one in helping us come up with ways of using scripture, stories, etc. to "discipline and direct" our kids. So I tried it today. Here is how it all played out.

I was in the kitchen helping Hayden study for a language test. Ally, Caleb and Joshua were in the living room watching a show appropriate for a 3-4 year old. (Ben is "workationing" in Florida).

I had mentioned a couple of times to Ally that she get a piece of paper and pencil so I could call out her spelling words for her to practice. After not even getting a "in a minute, Mom", I decided it was time to implement the new technique: a story. I told Ally to come into the kitchen I had a story for her. She bit. And so I began to weave:

Once upon a time there lived a little girl. She lived in the most beautiful place, right next door to the most beautiful castle. Day after day she dreamed of getting to go inside the castle to look around. One day the King decided he would open up his home for anyone to see, but only for one day.

The next morning the little girl set off on the path to the castle. Along the way she would step off to smell a flower or watch a bird. But she would quickly remind herself that her dream was to see the castle and this was her one chance. It would be too late tomorrow. She continued on stopping to watch a squirrel play in the leaves or a fox to chase it's tail. Oh and those wonderful flowers. Before she knew it, it was lunchtime. She decided to sit and have a picnic but would immediately get back on path once she was finished. Seeing the inside of the castle was her goal and it would be too late tomorrow.

After lunch she continued down the path occasionally stopping to smell the flowers or to watch a pretty bird glide through the sky. She would look up at the sky and count the clouds. She reminded herself that she needed to get back on the path to the castle since that is what she wanted to do today. That was her goal and tomorrow would be too late.

She walked for a while until she saw the most wonderful butterfly skipping from flower to flower. Oh how much fun it was having. She stepped off the path just enough to almost catch it, but it made its way to the next flower. She followed it. It flew this way and that, almost letting her catch it, then zipping off to the next stop. Before she knew it she was way off path. It was getting dark and there would be no way for her to get to the castle. She had forever missed her chance. She hadn't reached her goal and now it was too late.

I told Ally that she was the little girl and although not as glamorous or fun as the castle, her goal was to study for her spelling test. Tomorrow would be too late. All the toys, TV shows, DS games etc. were like the flowers, butterfly, birds and clouds. The little girl could have done all those things any time she wanted, but the castle was a one time thing. Your spelling test is a one time thing. Tomorrow would be too late. Do you understand?

Her eyes glistening , fully enthralled in what I was saying, responded, " Yes, I get it. Can you tell me another one. That was fun."

I also got a "Mom, that was a good story" from Hayden.

Thanks girls. Glad I could entertain you.