He gets the words on Monday and we practice them all week, going through the various stages of studying:
Monday: THAT word's not on my list! OR It's not even a word! (ex. "sly")
Tuesday: Are you SURE that word's on my list?
Wednesday: UGH! (grunt) I can't spell!
Thursday: Fine, let's practice!
Friday: The only word I think I got wrong... B-R-I-G-H-T-E-R... is that brighter? (after I ask how his test went)
The problem is gaining the confidence to get from Monday to Friday without having a nervous breakdown for Noah, our first-born, "perfectionistic" child. (YEA! We survived another week of spelling today! :) )I've come to think of his recent situation and compare it with my own, sometimes frustrating, adult scenarios. When things aren't going well, who wouldn't lose confidence in continuing on with the task at hand? Unfortunately, I had one of these moments on Tuesday, a day before Noah's "Spell Down Meltdown." After I explained to him how crazy it was for him to expect to be able to spell every word correctly when he was still in, what I consider, the "practice" stages, I made the correlation that I operate in the same manner. I can't expect him to move seamlessly through the practice stages to the perfection he strives, just as I cannot expect myself to move through my shortcomings without practice and patience with myself. Hmm...
Maybe getting better at something goes with the old saying "work smarter, not harder." In other words, find the solution that works for you and makes the most sense instead of searching for the perfect solution that you feel others expect you to come to.
Example: As I was thinking of this particular blog, I decided I was going to think out of the box (or bottle, in this case) and find a new way to get the honey out of the plastic container as it has begun to crystallize a little. Hot water on the outside worked, but I wasn't quite patient enough. Finally, I cut the plastic container in half and scooped out all the honey to put in a Mason Jar. VOILA! Though my husband looked at me in bewilderment as I proceeded to saw the container in half, Noah looked at me in astonishment. Did I get the honey out of the jar? Yes, to the very last drop. And next time I need honey, a spoon and my Mason jar will do just fine! As I explained to Noah, practicing his spelling words for the week, "It's not about striving for perfection, it's about learning and getting better each time we practice."
Sometimes, that practice means thinking in a different manner and not being stuck on a certain solution. Thanks, Dad, for reminding me of this the other night. I will keep "practicing" to be the best person I can be and stop searching for perfection and take pride in my family, my home, my friends and all else that God has given us.
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Words of Wisdom:
"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."
~Henry van Dyke
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Be Carefree!!!
