FIVE! AH-AH-AH-AH

writing the number 5 for julia has been this ongoing demon in our handwriting for YEARS! i am talking about 3 years of dotting her fives because she just could not get the form down. she has avoided math problems that end in 5 because she has dreaded writing them. either that, or i have to dot them for her... otherwise, it's total melt down.

i continue to be amazed at each of the my children's different learning styles. i have known julia for almost 7 years and the past two weeks i have begun to understand her more and more. julia can be irrational and bi-polar (like her mother) but fully motivated by this incredibly passionate personality. however, i have learned that her responses to circumstances are really less about the circumstances and more about this standard she has set in her mind of what her work should be. with katie, i could always over compensate with words of affirmation to get us through a sticky, difficult subject; not with julia. i can compliment til the cows come home, but if she has not reached the standard she has set in her mind, she has not accomplished her goal.

this week we are working on julia communicating with me the goals she has set in her mind, deciding if they are realistic, and then working together to formulate a plan that causes the least amount of stress and bi polar-ness in our home.

back to the 5.

this week we have had to write A LOT of number 5's in math, so before we even set out i worked with julia on this little saying (because "tag in the back by the booty crack" was so successful with anderson) "straight line, straight line, fat-pregnant belly." the straight lines represent the top and middle part of the 5, and the fat-pregnant belly is for the lower-case, b-like, shape. at first, i was saying, "fat belly" and the curve was not large enough, so i added pregnant, and it made all the difference.

yesterday, julia wrote 5's like this throughout her math lesson and i wanted to jump up and down for joy (ok, so maybe i DID jump up and down for joy!)

isn't that the most perfect 5 you have ever seen?

everyday, i learn that more often than not, joy is found in the little things. like; half and half in your coffee, filling unorganized worship music into a tidy little box with labels, flirting with your husband, blueberry balsamic vinegar from the Tasteful Olive,  kisses from your three year old baby boy to wake you up, attic fans, and yes, even conquering your 5's demon!

here's to the little joys you find today!
 ~s
p.s. i would love to hear about some of your little joys...