This one is for Papa

In August we started talking about giving Makenna an allowance.  Then came to our senses and realized we didn't need to add one more thing to our plate, with the whole traveling to pick up a baby we have never met thing.  Then, at Christmas Papa, the retired VP of a major company/financial planner, began talking to Makenna about her being ready for an allowance.  Many a conversation was had about this.  Do we make the allowance dependent on chores, or give her an allowance and still require that she do her chores?  On one side is not wanting her to learn that you only do things to get something at the end.  On the other is that you have to work for anything you want in life.  Nothing is free.  So, she has 3 chores (make her bed, set the table for dinner, and feed the dogs dinner) and she gets a quarter for each one she does.  Sounds good in theory, right.  And for her it's quite the deal.  She just earned five freakin' bucks.  But, she picked out a toy she is saving for and knows it will take 3 weeks to have enough money to buy it.  We also made sure to tell her that you still do things because you have to, not because you are getting paid.  You still help people when they need it, you still pick up your toys in the living room.  We'll see how it goes.




I also thought I'd tell a story of what she recently wrote on a piece of paper. Disturbing, yes. But if you look past that briefly, you can see how smart she is. She got in trouble for bugging her sister for the 5 billionth time the other day. Seriously, it is survival of the fittest around here sometimes. Her uncle actually caught her hanging the baby upside down by her ankles once. Anyway, she got in trouble and she came up to me about 5 minutes later and handed me a piece of paper and told me to read it. It said:
LEMEBULON.
Did you figure it out yet? Let Me Be Alone. I know, right. Freaking genius. Ok, yes disturbing on so many levels and yes, I have started a fund for her future therapy sessions.


Finally, here is a video of miss thing cruising. She made her way all the way to the tile today from the couch and I realized 1/2 a second too late that her socks don't have grippers. Which is weird. Until you consider that typically children of this size aren't walking. Oh, I can't fix the typing on this. I don't know why it is messed up and I can't fix it. Sorry.





xoxo