Men were behind me, ready to beat me with their whips.
frEEd ? chapter 2 – martha
excerpts from “frEEd ?”
by penelope waFFle
And I braced myself to feel more pain in my already bloody back.
A few seconds paSSed.
Seemed like hours.
I was starting to think my new owner changed his mind. But then I felt a sharp, clear ache cutting into the shredded skin on my back.
I opened my mouth to scream.
I had to scream, but no sound would come out.
frEEd ? but never frEE
“Ain’t no one gonna help ya, sweetie,” my owner chided.
Suddenly I found my voice. “Jim!” I screamed. “Jim! Help me.”
Another dig in my skin with the handle end of his whip. This one harder than the last.
“Ain’t no one comin’ ta help ya. Ya know why?”
My owner bent down so close …
… to my face that I could feel his tobacco breathe on my neck. And his lips were level with my ear.
“Cause no one cares ’bout ya,” he snarled.
“Yes. Yes, they do.” My voice was barely a whisper. Tears of shame and rage and fear rolled down my cheeks.
“Oh really? Where are they now? Too scared, huh?” My owner taunted. “I’ll even let them pass if they a-comin’ right now.”
Here was my one chance.
frEEd ? but never reaLLy frEE. not for me
“They’re too scared. And they don’t care ’bout you. Which is exactly why no one has come for ya.”
It felt like he was trying to kiss my neck. And he started touching me. Below. Where he shouldn’t…
I thought. My dizzy mind raced.
Did I dare do this now? His face became flushed, clearly enjoying what he was doing.
His fingers holding the whip loosened. And then, without even realizing it, my owner dropped it.
In that split second …
… I picked it up, banged the wooden whip handle against his head as hard as I could.
And then hands came out of nowhere. Before I could scream, dirty fingers covered my mouth. I tried to pry them off, but they gripped even tighter over my mouth.
The last thing I remembered hearing was “Be careful. She’s dangerous, Scott.”
And then I felt someone opening my mouth, and putting something in it.
I did it. I failed miserably. I was trying to do homework with my six-year-old grandson, Daniel. And I failed miserably in three different ways.
… and I did it all in one aftern00n.
It felt like a major setback this week. Doing homework with my grandson, Daniel.
So much progress made this year motivating Daniel. And then an EPIC FAIL in one aftern00n.
“I dare you to make learning fun.” – Lucas, one of Daniel’s older brothers
Thursday after school didn’t go well.
It didn’t go well at all. Daniel just decided to assert himself – more than usual. Our homework session started OK. Then Daniel just said “no.”
“No. I don’t like math.”
“No. I don’t want any help.”
“No. I don’t want to do homework.”
Just “no.” “No.” And another “NO” for good measure.
And internally I just crashed.
It was already an emotionally charged week for me working with Daniel. Daniel was in a “no-no-no mode” this week. My aged brains cells raced with frustration and questions.
Doesn’t he understand how valuable MY time is?
Doesn’t Daniel understand how IMPORTANT education is?
Doesn’t he appreciate ALL OF THE WORK I have done to create a friendly learning environment?
Internally, I crashed and was CRUSHED when Daniel kept saying “no.” I thought I had created the ideal learning environment. I knew I had failed this aftern00n. And I had finally met my match in self-will and stubbornness.
Hey, I’m dealing with a six-year-old who would rather watch video games (you know, Minecraft) than spell words and do math. And compared to Minecraft, all this education stuff means nothing to him.
“No. I don’t want to do homework.” – Daniel
No amount of M&M’s (candy bribery) or …
… false encouragement and excitement about education would change Daniel’s mind.
Well, the next day, Friday morning, I was trying to understand where I had failed.
Where did I FAIL ?
Here is the 3-point assessment of my faulty (MBA) thinking.
Daniel’s brain cells were saying, “Enough is enough.”
My first FAILure was …
… the obvious – thinking about me and that I had failed. I had provided the right environment and the right processes. But Daniel had a tough week and had reached an invisible emotional peak (or valley). He had reached some sort of educational saturation point.
Daniel’s brain cells were saying, “Enough is enough.”
Daniel is six years old.
“Play is the ultimate SUPER HERO learning tool.” – Captain Daniel America
And I’m, well … real old. Daniel had reached the six-year-old limit for doing homework on a routine. He had reached the six-year-old maximum number of days in row for doing homework on time.
That’s all.
Simple.
And out of MY control.
This was all about Daniel.And HIS limits.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not listed in some education manual that I could predict. Daniel’s maximum limit did not fit into my linear way of thinking.
Second FAILure …
My expectations were t00 high.
It was like pushing a string.
Like stopping the wind.
Like trying to put t00thpaste back into the tube.
No amount of “grandpa super powers” would work.
My expectations of my perfect plan combined with intellectual super powers were unrealistic.
Crazy thinking on my part. To try to compete with a six-year-old’s thinking.
My unrealistic expectations were MY RECIPE FOR FAILURE. Or a recipe for feeling like I had failed.
“A six-year-old’s super powers for resisting homework will always trump this old man’s thinking about what’s gonna work for Captain Daniel America.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa
Third FAILure …
… WAS keeping score.Trying to think in terms of black and white. Wins and losses. Thinking that when Daniel gets to win, then grandpa must loose. I forgot that …
I forgot. The goal is to help Daniel to enjoy learning. Not just complete another math problem.
Daniel and his learning maZe crEation – complete with a Lava Lake and a Kangaroo Wave Park
“If Daniel doesn’t learn the way I am teaching, then maybe I should teach the way Daniel learns.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa
If Daniel doesn’t learn the way I am teaching, then maybe I should teach the way Daniel learns. (Simple. Profound and true.)
Try some new things.
Teaching on the computer, the iPad?
Taking our homework class to Panera Bread and mix in some double chocolate brownies with math?
Or (for a six-year-old) just SKIP HOMEWORK one night? WOWzer !!
Or do homework AFTER SUPPER instead of ALWAYS BEFORE supper?
“Teach them the same way they learn.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa
I need to remember the goal is to sell the learning process – not just to do one more math problem.
The end result …
… of Thursday evening was: Daniel did finish his math and spelling – peacefully – with his mom AFTER SUPPER.With no drama.
And then Daniel happily showed me his completed homework.
Ya gotta admit it.
Moms and six-year-olds are so smart.
Mission accomplished.
MOMS and six-year-olds are so SMART – Daniel and Libby
Let’s have some fun. Create some memories. Do some reaLLy cool things this summer.
Create some cool memories.
Let’s have some fun and do some reaLLy cool stuff this summer.
Or anytime. Why wait til summer to do fun stuFF ?
1.) – Build with MarshmaLLows …
… and t00thpicks.
Yes, I know we’ve already talked about this last week. But Lucas wanted to show you pictures of his creations.
Hey ! Be nice. It’s a WORK IN PROGRESS. That’s the fun. It’s NEVER finished.
Just marshmaLLows and t00thpicks …
… and skewers and stirrers and Gummy Bears and some Legos for effect.
And the Finished MarshmaLLow and GuMMy Bear Tent Circus …
Over 32 triangles made of marshmallows and t00thpicks and BBQ skewers
If you use your imagination, you can see the Lion Cages and the Trapeze Artists. And when you listen closely, you can even hear the Carnival Barker.
Yes, you do need to buy some extra marshmallowsto feed the animals – the home crowd – brothers and sisters – watching and “helping.” We were loosing some marshmallows – to a younger brother, an older brother and mom.
Here’s a secret grandpa tip about working with marshmallows. Open the bag and let the marshmallows dry a little.
When the marshmallows are fresh, they’re a little sticky and messy hard to work with.
Another grandpa tip: Remember to eat ALL of your mistakes.
2.) – Create a Super Hero Lego Village.
And take some pictures.
It’s as simple as it sounds. Use some Lego characters and random toys from the house. Get creative and take some pics with your phone to create Lego scenes.
Really ! Legos ARE fun for EVERYone.
This is a great time to teach your kids how to use an image editing app. Use Snapseed. It’s FREE and easy to use. FREE for iPhone and android.
3.) – Take a Trip to the Dollar Store …
… and spend $10.00 or less.
Make this trip your IMAGINeering time.
Disney Imagineering – create the never before imagined.
Use your imagination and ask yourself how you are going to use what you buy. Don’t be so structured and dependent on some website or pre-packaged kit to give you directions on how to build and what to do.
Just buy some cheap stuff and get creative with …
sidewalk chalk, and
(draw outlines of bodieslike a crime scene and let your neighbors wonder what happened last night)
play dough, and
paint, and
n00dles, and
… ???
Wow ! Super fun in the backyard with n00dles from the Dollar Store
Did you hear ? Grandpa made a BIG list of fun things.
Grandpa Made a List of Fun Things to Do.
For summer. Or anytime.
And he’s gonna share some of them.
Here they are:
9 fun things for your kids to do this summer.
They are all super easy to do.
And they all cost less than a trip to Disney.
1.) – Build with Marshmallows and …
… toothpicks and gummy bears. And add some coffee stirrers and skewer sticks from your kitchen pantry. Build and …
Build with marshmallows and toothpicks. All for less than the cost of a trip to Disney.
Create something – big or small – with toothpicks and marshmallows.
For this project, you may need to dedicate your kitchen table for one or two evenings.
And when you’re finished, let your kids eat it ALL.
Then send your “sugar high” kids to grandma’s house.
2.) – Bubbles, of course.
You can’t go wrong with some bubble summer fun.
What list would be complete without bubbles.
Anything with bubbles is fun. Where to buy – Dollar Store, Walmart or save all the hassle by buying from Amazon Prime.
Commercial Break and Life Hack for Moms
I believe Amazon Prime is a great time saver and life hack for moms and dads living in this crazy busy world.
Amazon Prime has (almost) unlimited selections and delivered to your doorstep. So you spend NO WASTED TIME in a crowded parking lot only to accumulate one more “door ding” on your car. And you don’t have to deal with rude employees.
3.) – Spend Some ELECT-ronic Time at Panera Bread
Just some designated electronic time away from home. Take your lap top, tablets and phones with head sets and chargers.
Have some fun ELECT-ronic time at Panera Bread.
And just let your children watch their favorite Minecraft videos.
And play their favorite apps and games. (Headsets required: it’s a courtesy factor.)
We like to go to Panera Bread. And even McDonald’s has some quality wi-fi speeds.
4.) – Go to a Butterfly Garden.
Go to a Butterfly Park. And find the most UNUSUAL BUTTERFLY.
Yes, go to a butterfly garden.
And find the MOST UNUSUAL butterfly.
Take pictures and post a Butterfly Photo Album to Facebook.
And let your children write about their butterfly adventure in the album description. In their own words. No editing.
Challenge your children to a contest to see who can get the most “likes” on their best picture.
5.) – Climb Trees.
This is Lucas climbing a BIG HAIRY SCARY tree.
We have a great tree climbing park near our home. And Lucas loves to climb the trees.
Remember to take your first aid kit.
Take pictures. Of course, you can always wear your best super hero costume to the tree climbing adventure.
“Take your favorite super hero to a tree climbing park” – Captain America
And don’t just watch your children climb trees. You climb too. That’s a good “selfie” opportunity.
6.) – Talk to a Police Officer. Intentionally.
Not while you’re getting a traffic ticket. Instead stop and talk to a police officer. Intentionally. And make a new friend.
Daniel (in red) spending time with his new friend, Paul.
On a hot and humid Florida summer day, Daniel took an ice cold sports beverage to Paul (from Canada), a former police officer and the security guard at the entrance to our community.
Paul made a new friend.
And Daniel made a new friend and learned about all of the cool stuff on Paul’s belt. Daniel now has a healthy opinion of who a security officer is.
7.) – Do a Make Over.
I mean a complete Make Over with your daughter.
Do a Make-Over with your daughter.
Dads, if you do this, you will learn a lot. And you will get connected at a different level with your daughter.
Do this today. While your little princess will still let you touch her hair. You WILL be “walking her down the aisle soon”enough. And that “walk down the aisle” WILL cost more than a trip to Disney.
8.) – Pet Some Puppies.
Go to a pet store. And pet some puppies.
Pet some puppies. But leave your wallet at home.
The puppies are so cute.
And your children are so persuasive. So be careful. “Leave your wallet at home.”
9.) – Study Eyes. And Ears. And … ?
Study eyes and ears AND mouths. And take some pictures.
Learn about eyes. And ears. They’re kinda weird when you just look at them by themselves. Especially your ears.
Learn how they work. Search the interWEB and see what you can learn.
