chores and kids

[joycenalex]

Chores at this age, IMO, is more about establishing habits than it is about completing tasks. Kids this age generally like to help out. If there was a child new to my house...I would tread slowly so as to not overload the rules. I like to emphasize to my child that we are a team, and team members help out each other...we both have to do things we don't like to do for the other sometimes.

Is Helena your grandaugher?

helena needs love, stability, security, consistancy and regular meals. helena is the granddaughter of a friend. her mother will be a guest of the state for a while, her grandmother is having problems with the stress and has started drinking, again, while grandma gets sober, we're taking care of her. it's a much better situation for her then where she was: i'm going to start working on getting legal custody, so she can go to school near here and i can make the necessary decisions.

[joycenalex]

oh yes, i'm supposed to tell all of you she also puts peanuts foodbowl on the mat (while peanut sits) and helena likes setting the table, the napkins, fascinate her, there aren't names of fast food places on them...sigh...

[Edwina's Secretary]

helena needs love, stability, security, consistancy and regular meals. helena is the granddaughter of a friend. her mother will be a guest of the state for a while, her grandmother is having problems with the stress and has started drinking, again, while grandma gets sober, we're taking care of her. it's a much better situation for her then where she was: i'm going to start working on getting legal custody, so she can go to school near here and i can make the necessary decisions.

You are a saint. I mean it.

[gini]

You are a saint. I mean it.

I think I will just ditto this................

You just may be the only thing in this child's life that will give her a sense of security - stability and love!! Bless you!

[Grace]

Is this the little girl who was with you at the Dog Park in Findlay? She's adorable.

And to reiterate what everyone else has said - you are a wonderful person, Joyce

[joycenalex]

yes that was helena and she LOVED jasmine (what a great great kid jasmine is) and still talks about the dog picnic. she speaks dog well, but cat is being learned. and yes karen it was me looking for the manners book, i didn't realize that i was such a fuddyduddy about this, but there are some things that are gross behaviors and i'd like to find ways to make manners fun (like chewing with your lips closed), and i thought maybe a kids book would be a starting place.

[caseysmom]

helena needs love, stability, security, consistancy and regular meals. helena is the granddaughter of a friend. her mother will be a guest of the state for a while, her grandmother is having problems with the stress and has started drinking, again, while grandma gets sober, we're taking care of her. it's a much better situation for her then where she was: i'm going to start working on getting legal custody, so she can go to school near here and i can make the necessary decisions.

Bless you for doing this. This brought tears to my eyes.

[lizbud]

I don't want to embarress you, but I have to say thank you for having
a big enough heart to make room for this little soul. You can make a
big difference in her life. You are a good person.

[joycenalex]

no flippin way am i saint.....never!..when helena first stayed with us 2 years ago, her grandmother was recovering from foot surgery, and was wheelchair bound, quite honestly we fell into love, this kid got into my heart. she's funny, smart, has a smart mouth ( just a bit like me) laughs easily and she makes me a better human. i have a stable relationship, a home, enough time and money and the ability to make a safe secure place for her now. she's a neat kid. and i discovered today, i need better after school snacks

[RICHARD]

no flippin way am i saint.....never!..

Tough shiat.

You were made a Saint-Sit back and enjoy it.

[Karen]

Oh, Joyce - you'll be raising a future Pet Talker, as she's already helping with Princess Peanut!

And just this week my friend found three children's books on manners that she was going to give me, it was you that was looking for them, wasn't it? A while ago?

[Alysser]

I really don't know much about toddler chores but I do want to say this is a very nice thing of you to do for her. I am sure Helena is adorable, and will appreciate it when she is older, although I hope her family situation gets better too. I'm so glad she has a 'mom' like you!