When I was around 5 years old, a relative got me "My Book About Me" by Dr. Suess and Roy McKie (Random House).  I still have my copy, all filled in with my lousy but cute spelling.  My mom bought both of my girls their own copy when they reached the same age.

K got her copy this year for her birthday in June.  We had put it aside, and I forgot about it.  She rediscovered it within the last few days, and I knew we were going to have to start filling in all of those blanks.  Today we got started, but with limited success, I admit.

The book has kids answer many questions about themselves, their home, foods they like, their pets, and other topics.  We started with the questions about height, weight, hair, eye color, and tracing your hand.  Kids also get to trace their foot.  This is the part where we hit the wall.  K had a hard time tracing her foot herself, and was making the tracing too wide.  I wanted her to do a more precise job (go ahead, laugh) and told her she needed to listen better if we were going to continue.  Yes, I know how stupid I sound--I'm arguing with a 5 year old about tracing her foot on a piece of paper. 

I should now mention that both of my children have inheirited their parents' stubborn gene.  Honestly, I secretly admire this quality in them.  I hope that the stubborness will help them stand up for themselves and keep them strong in tough situations.  That being said, I could have done without it today.  I took the book and told K we would continue when she was ready to listen, and she could tell me when she was ready to start again.  I then got up to do other things.  The kid waited me out for a good 45 minutes--no kidding.  I could tell that part of the crankiness (oops, I mean fortitude) on her part was due to being tired.  I almost thought she would take a nap at one point, something she hasn't done in a long time.  Finally, she got up and went back to the book, and with some encouragement, asked to continue. 

We didn't finish filling in the whole book--it's 60 pages long, and I knew it wouldn't keep her attention that long.  She did like the part where we marched around the house counting windows, pictures, clocks, keyholes, and faucets.  This is also the way I discovered that she is still writing most of her numbers backwards, but I didn't correct it too much today.  That's for another day.

  I'm glad we were able to do some of the book without further tantrums from either of us.  I will try to remember that the backwards numbers will be fun to look back on some day, for both of us.  No, it wasn't a stellar parenting day, but nobody's perfect.   Thankfully, 5 year olds have short memories and are quick to forgive.  Not a bad example for the rest of us.