Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is your birthday. Today was another day at Champions. You still don't want to go. You also didn't want a present to eat a wrap today. You told daddy "I tried it and I don't like it" when I asked you to eat the cheese your mommy packed. You're growing up. And growing more frustrating...

We had it pretty easy up until now. I think if we had made it a little harder, we'd be better off now? We'll never know. Anyhow, we can't reminisce on what could have been. We need to work on what is and how we can get to where we want to be. You're very smart. You are capable of doing better. I wish I didn't have to motivate you all the time. Just today, you were able to clean up all your toys (after I threatened to clean them into the garbage...). I hope you have another amazing year of life (and many more). I also hope it's a year of you growing better. Lord hear our prayer...

Tough Lessons

Results are often about finding the right motivation or dismotivation. We've tried hard to motivate you with positivity, but it seems like that has hit a road block. Now we have to move onto negative reinforcement. You were not super nice to Miss Sana and she brought you a birthday gift.

Now we have to start taking stuff away from you and giving you a pop. You're a smart kid. I sure hope you don't have ADHD. We need to make sure we nip the bad behavior in the bud. I told your Aunty Ari and Uncle Chris to set the expectations early. It could be painful and messy, but it makes a big difference later on. Now you have to learn the hard way. Hopefully you learn fast.

Daddy Daycare - With Bonus

You're currently napping now. Good job. Sorry you poked your own eye and tried to blame daddy. Video evidence doesn't lie. Did you have fun at the Museum today? Seems like you did. It's kind of far, not sure if it's worth being a member. Plus it so busy. I don't know how the Bonus time with daddy will go today (I think it'll be okay). I'm sorry the drive in movie is so late so we can't do that.

Probably just hang out at home since you still need to eat and shower and brush and go to bed early even though you probably won't sleep early. Tomorrow will be the first day at Champions when school is in session. I'm not sure if it will be more chaotic or what to expect. I'll still feed you breakfast and pack you lunch, but we should try to leave the house by 815A in case there's traffic. Daddy has to be in the office tomorrow so I don't want to be late for that :)

Present "A"

See. I told you. You can do it. But you just don't want to. You did very good at soccer today. Almost 100% good enough. Just minus points for the time you spent picking flowers. I won't even dock you for the times you didn't get behind the line when the coach told you to. I did notice that coach was super nice to you today. I wonder why. I also notice that "Matsen" wasn't doing that well today...

Also, great job with Ms. Sana today. Although your nap was a little short. Anyhow, this just makes it more frustrating when you fail since I know success is possible. Anyhow, save some good vibes for Daddy Daycare with Bonus tomorrow okay?

You Can Do It Too...

It's just about the motivation. Look, mommy can cook. It's just about the motivation. That's why it's so frustrating when you tell me you can't do something. When in reality, it's just that you're not motivated enough to do it. That's a more accurate statement, but I guess to your developing mind, it's the same thing. It just gets old having to motivate you with negativity. It seems to be the more effective motivation.

There's a saying addition by subtraction. It seems that's what works for Vinh. Hopefully, you'll learn to be motivated by positivity again or better motivated. Although, if we took away all your stuff, the house would be a lot more organized and clean...

Nothing

Maybe it’s better if you have nothing. You did not participate at soccer today. Worse than that was that you didn’t listen to Coach when he told you where to go and what to do. We don’t expect you to be good at soccer, but we do expect you to listen and participate. 

Maybe using words and being nice is not the way to raise you. I don't know if Aunty Jeanette got lucky or if it's just you, but it's not working. So today, we're going to show you consequences. I had to spank you already. You haven't gotten to watch as much and I had to "take away Alice". This can be the end or the beginning. You can decide. You can do better...

Team Milk Tea Boba on the Road

Plans change. That's why it's important to be flexible. We had to waste a few gallons of gas instead of electricity and about an hour, but now we get to eat and spend time with your best friend Sophie. Aunty Kim is so nice to you too.

I'm not saying you need to always change your plans, but rather be flexible to change them when it makes sense. I hope we didn't buy too many cupcakes, but like with food and things for other people, it's always better to error on having too much, rather than not having enough. Just like it's better to be on time, rather than being late. Obviously, being on time and having exactly enough food would be great, but that's not the way life tends to work. Spoiler, we have too many cupcakes.