I don’t have patience. I get irritated when being interrupted. I don’t like wasting time.
BUT
I want to spend more time with my girls. I want to be there for them more. I want to listen to them.
SO
Sofia had mandarin and piano lessons back to back for two hours. Usually during those times Lizzy just walks around playing, bothering Sofia, or just make funny noises. Spontaneously I offered to accompany her to do her workbook while I did crafting.
PERFECT combo!
We sit there for TWO hours!!! Lizzy got through almost half of her workbook. I finished 3 packets of dots without podcast. I patiently explained to her what she needed to do, and gave her tons of encouragements! I wasn’t annoyed by her asks because I wasn’t really focused on what I was doing (which is monotonous) but also didn’t have to wait for her to ask for my help. YEY! I think we’ve just found a perfect setting!!! I still got something done (although totally unimportant but still felt I was accomplishing something) while being there for her and had a casual conversation.
I also made a very refreshing lunch combo: a noodle salad bar
Vegetables cut and blanched, buckwheat noodles boiled, and a simple dressing made with
- soy sauce
- rice wine vinegar
- sesame oil
- sesame seeds
- leftover hummus
- almond butter
- agave syrup
- water to thin out
both hubby and I had two servings and happy to have leftovers.
Gratitude: really glad to have spent quality time with Lizzy and our casual conversations. Usually she has patience to do 10 min of workbook before getting distracted by something else. But yesterday we did 2 hrs and could have gone more because I was there for her and with her.
Our New Journey 
That’s a HUGE WIN, Coco! I am so glad that you got some special 1×1 time with Lizzy while accomplishing a task and helping her to learn too! ❤
Do your girls speak/read english as their primary language?
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They speak English as Native American although they didn’t live there for long. Then they speak Spanish and mandarin at home with me and daddy.
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That’s great! My boys do much better work in their workbooks too when I’m near them/ around. I just don’t always have time as much as I’d like to, but I really do want to make sure to review the work/ help them regularly. It makes a big difference in what they get out of it, too- plus they do enjoy it. It’s nice that you found a crafting activity that can be done. My boys sometimes try to come and do their workbooks in my office while I work….which isn’t always the best because then if they need help with anything, I keep getting interrupted! So it’s better to schedule another time.
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This is so cool!
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