Monday, November 02, 2009

Star light star bright

So. We've had a bit of a setback recently which has necessitated a star chart. I have stars, I have a chart and we have, or rather, the spud has, a goal. The goal is that if he gets all the stars onto the chart I will take him to the toy shop and buy him whatever he wants. He wants 'a car'.

He is clear about all of this. He does a particular thing, he gets a little gold star. Four gold stars equal one big star. Four big stars equal a new toy car.

Cool.

You'd think he would be jazzed about this, but frankly, he's not. In fact, we have not managed a single gold star - au contraire, all we've managed is two big black 'x' marks. He doesn't seem to mind. I would even say he's cheerfully against the whole star-chart nazi system, possibly willfully so.

Hopefully this will change. This evening while reading him his bedtime story, I got up to turn off the oven mid-story and I managed to catch my foot on the doorframe and rip three of my toes to the left so hard that one popped out of its socket.

Turns out I'm quite a wimp.

I did my best not to scream or cry but there was a lot of puffing and saying 'owww' very meaningfully and in the end I found I couldn't walk and had to sit on the floor trying not to be sick.

The spud, bless him, was sweet as pie. First he kept asking 'are you OK Mummy?' then when I told him I'd stubbed my toe he insisted on 'kiss it better Mummy?' and then when I said 'no sweetie, it's ok' he walked over, squatted beside me and rubbed my head. I sent him to find the telephone, which he did, slightly uncertainly. On his way out of the door he banged his head and came rushing back to lie on the floor beside me for a cuddle 'I'm hurt too now Mummy' he said, before getting up and getting the phone.

The Frog high-footed it home and before we read the spud a final story I gave my boy a big cuddle and told him I was better and we put a gold star on his chart for being so brave and helpful. He looked at it. He touched the chart. He said 'a star Mummy!' He stood back and looked at it critically and turned to me and added 'I want a big star!'.

Maybe, just maybe, I buggered my foot up for a reason. I mean, it hurts much too much for it to have been in vain. Maybe this was the first in a golden galaxy of stars.

I live in hope...

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Omg my mom had a gold star chart like that with me too. Got a new Barbie that way - woot!

Sorry about the toe - it's ok to be a wimp. Toes are too sensitive for their own good!

Sparx said...

Seriously... mind you if they weren't so sensitive I'm sure we'd have all fallen out of the trees and broken our necks eons ago... Seems a bit better this morning, swollen but not badly so and I can even walk on it without wincing too much. Yeah, I'm so f*ing macho, me...

The wife of bold said...

ouch!!! I'm wincing just at the thought of your poor toe, i feel your pain as i've been there many a time, although i'm not as brave as you as i do actually cry. I like your positive outlook, fingers crossed for an Orions belt of god stars :)

Kim@EnjoyTheRide said...

I wish someone had employed the star chart theme with me. Who doesn't love validation and reward ? I hope you're okay!

Potty Mummy said...

Can we all have star charts? For putting out the washing, making it through the day without imploding, and generally being fabulous? I choose a trip to Selfridges as my prize...

Michelle said...

Sparx, hope your toe heals soon! I love it when my kids show empathy. Spud sounds like he couldn't have been sweeter! I think the star chart is a great idea. I have used a sticker chart with much success during the summer for motivating my own kiddos. Without it, I fear I'd lose my sanity!

Gringa-n-Mexico said...

"but there was a lot of puffing and saying 'owww' very meaningfully and in the end I found I couldn't walk and had to sit on the floor trying not to be sick."

DAMN IT toe stubbing is the worst! Oh gaaaaaggg I conjure it up just reading about you - BASTARD door.

But good Spud :) Little sweet thang :)

Anonymous said...

I tired a sticker chart with my daughter and, once she had got the idea of it, it did work and got us through a difficult patch when she didn't seem to be listening to anything I said. So fingers crossed it will work for you too, but don't go injuring yourself in the process!!

Elsie Button said...

please tell me, what is the 'setback' ? I only ask because i can probably empathise, and it would make me feel much better too! I read your post and have copied your idea of the star chart, and 4 stars and big stars and toys etc. have just put one together and have hung it on the wall pride of place for when she gets back from pre-school. we had star chart for potty training and it really worked, so fingers crossed for both of us eh!

sorry about your toe, hope it's better now. x

cactus petunia said...

Ow!

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