Mali update

Mali is doing really great! She is almost finished with preschool...just two more weeks! Lately, we have had some behavior problems consisting of Mali trying to parent. A few weeks ago, Eric and I were outside and she decided to make Eric a snack. Peanut butter, jelly, plates and cups covered the kitchen when we came inside. She has also decided that she needs to discipline Eleri or take things from Eleri even when Eric and I are right there. This has caused a lot of problems lately. It goes like this; Eleri has a toy, Mali goes to take it away, I (or Eric) say, "It's okay she can have it", Mali takes it away anyway! It can be pretty aggravating. God has just shown me that it is part of training our children and being consistent and sticking with teaching them the right way even if I say 100 times a day "be kind" or "you need to let Mommy handle that." Mali has also been using a rude tone and voice lately and yelling at Eric and I...kind of along the same lines of her trying to be in charge. I've been praying that I would be gentle in my tone, voice, mouth, hands, touch...etc., because I do believe sometimes the problems we see in our children are a result of our actions. And, I certainly can be a little harsh when I speak to her...I like to call it "firm". Its okay for a parent to be "firm" but not okay for Mali to be "firm" with her parents. On the other side of this, I've seen Mali do a really great job playing with Eleri. It makes my heart so happy to hear Mali sweetly talk to Eleri and say "hey cute little girl" (also things I know she's repeating from me...why can't she just repeat the good???) I love watching them play. Eleri just goes along with what Mali does. The other day Mali got Eleri dressed up in a bumblebee costume and dress up high heels. Mali wore her bumblebee costume and heels too. It was sooo cute. Mali couldn't understand how Eleri could walk in the heels but Mali kept falling! When they get along it is wonderful and when they fight it is horrible! Mali has started t-ball and really enjoys it (her first game is tonight). Last week she made a "new friend" that she was so excited to tell me about. She described him as the boy that is "gold". I'll let you guys figure that one out! At the end of practice, all the kids ran around the soccer goal post and back and this little boy won. Mali was very upset that she didn't win. I talked with her about just trying harder and running faster, but told her that her new friend won. She was excited for him and said "I need to bring him a present next time for winning". Mali finished her last BSF class today. It was sad saying all the good-byes. We are so thankful for BSF and the women that have taught and loved on Mali these past three years. Another funny thing that I want to "document" is Mali's nighttime awakenings. Last night about 10:00, the wind picked up outside and then Eric and I heard some weird noises from inside the house. A few minutes later, Mali walks into our room sort of crying and walks into our closet. It was so hard not to laugh. I took her to the bathroom and then walked her to her room, where she walked into the closet again. I finally tucked her in bed. Of course, she didn't remember this at all this morning. Ever since we moved her, Mali has done this. It took us a few accidents to realize that when she does this she is asleep and just needs to go to the bathroom. I remember threatening to spank her at one point so she would tell me why she was crying. Now we just now, take her to the bathroom and put her back to bed. This is probably the first time when I've been awake when she wakes up. She used to just cry in her bedroom and I would come get her, but now she comes to our room. Mali is writing and learning to spell really well. She is recognizing more and more sight words. A lady at BSF that was working in the children's area last week, came up to me and bragged on how smart Mali was. She is pretty smart and such a self starter. We are excited to see Mali and watch her grow throughout the summer. I'm so thankful for the personality that God gave her!