Drawing the Line.

A storm is a brewin' in my house right now. The line between positive reinforcement, self motivation, and out and out stubbornness. We are at a point where Cotton has got to learn how to write. He can write, when he wants to, it's not totally legible but you can tell what he is writing. It's the "want to" part that is up for negotiation. Of course this is a symptom of a much bigger problem. We have let Cotton get away with much more than we should have. I would blame it on sensory needs, visual issues, autism, etc. etc. etc. The fact still remains that when he wants to do something, it is not a problem. I need a way to hold him accountable, for misbehavior (checking out when he needs to be working). Because ultimately I need to raise him to be as responsible for himself as possible.

I don't want to be a drill sergeant or anything, I don't expect compliance (what a dirty word). I just should expect as much from him as I do my other boys. If they don't do what they are suppose to there are consequences. There is the problem with Cotton. There is very little that that Cotton actually is motivated for. I am so not sitting there with gummy candy, that really doesn't teach him anything. I am talking more about personal responsibility. I feel really lost here, I feel pressure this year, not from anyone else, just that he is six and half. The reality is he may never write. He will probably use his talker, or laptop to write. But, he has to be able to do the things he doesn't necessarily like to do. We all do.