This may only be a lightbulb moment for me, but I thought I'd share....

We've been having dd6 memorize the Shorter Westminster Catechism for some time now.  She has always done fairly well and had a willing and pleasant attitude.  However, lately she has given me alot of trouble.   I found her to be fidgety and distracted and not trying at all(and I don't get upset because she isn't getting it...there is a difference).  And if that wasn't enough to frustrate me...she whines and gives major attitude..sigh.  I was telling my hubby that I just wasn't sure what to do...

And today started out like that again, but then aha!  I thought to myself, if she is having trouble sitting still(which causes her to lose her focus), why don't I give her something to do while we go over the question she is memorizing?  She of course liked that idea and so I promptly set her up at the table with paper,pencil and crayons.  You know, it worked. She sat there drawing two lovely pictures, paying attention to what we were doing.  She made progress with her memory work and she listened comfortably to our reading too!

I know, I know...somebody could have told me this before.  Why didn't I think of it myself before?  Because I'm stubborn and wanted her to just sit still...but she is a high energy gal and I need to work with her personality, not make her like me.  I love that kid...I hope this will continue to work.  We both came away from that experience smiling and feeling good about it.  I want that again!