Birthday Nights

A friend/neighbor recently told me they let their children stay up 30 minutes later than their siblings each month when their birthday "day" rolls around. For us that means each month on the 5th Ford gets to stay up late, Ruthie the 6th, Lorelei the 17th, and Sydney the 27th of the month. 

When it's their day, they get to choose anything they want to do with just Chet and me (except watch TV or eat candy, ha!). 

We've been doing this since before Christmas, but we haven't made it a solid habit yet. Sydney is the only one who remembers to remind us when her day rolls around each month. The kids love it, and it helps us build into our schedule special one-on-one time with each child, which is so hard to do.

So, since it's the 27th, Sydney chose to learn how to use a knitting kit she received for her 7th birthday (NOT her 8th birthday...her 7th birthday...more than a year ago). Surprisingly (sarcasm alert!), there never seems to be an opportune time to sit down and learn how to knit, so this was the perfect opportunity.

Chet was putting Ruthie to bed when she and I started, so he wasn't there for the initial learning part. But after watching us for a little while he asked if he could have a turn. Which prompted me to ask Sydney, "Who's better at crafts: Daddy or me?" We assured her it wasn't a trick question (she looked a little nervous when I asked), and she answered: "Daddy."

She's right.

Which works great for me, because when they need clothes mended or a stuffed animal's leg sewn back onto it's body, Chet gets to do it!