"Sum"sign

Summy is an Aries child. I couldn't help but read about Aries children on the internet recently. Now, I would like to strike off this theory that people born on a certain day in a certain month tend to have the same general characteristics. Not that I reject astrology, but this sunsigns science just seems over-simplified. But I still have to wonder at how accurately the characteristics of an Aries child describe her.

"Confidence, Pioneering Spirit, and Assertiveness". That's Summy all over. Not a bit hesitant to speak up, or do something different from what everyone else is doing.

"Though they do care about others and what others think about them, they need to be taught to be patient, and considerate." Patience is not her virtue, and she needs to be prodded a little to share her toys - but then, that might just be a general characteristic of toddlerhood too.

"They are extremely independent and one word of discouragement will put them off their task. They thrive on praise, a sense of accomplishment is very important to them." She has to do things her own way. Sometimes when I interrupted and said she was doing it wrong - "You're putting your shirt on backwards, Summy", she handed it over to me and said "You do it, mama." And then she wouldn't attempt it again for a long time. If I left her alone instead, she would figure it out all by herself, and then, when I said "Such a good job!" her face would light up.

She figures out everything by herself. "Aaawwwwll by mySELF!" is a favorite phrase with her. "Impossible" truly isn't a word in her dictionary. "Try, try, try again until you get it right" is her motto. Failure just doesn't discourage her, but negative words do. So I have to be really really careful with what I say.

I think there is some truth in what her zodiac sign predicts about her. But still, it's important not to generalize, and to remember she's a special little individual with her unique traits.

Some more about her:
Bribery seldom works. "I'll get your Dora book if you'll put your shoes on and climb in the car" will get a mischievous look and a patter of little feet running away. But good will works where bribery fails. If I get her Dora book for her first, and then ask her to put her shoes on, she'll almost always do it.

Scolding seldom works. "You're making me late for work!!!" said in a loud voice will guarantee that I'll be atleast another half an hour late. But again, good will does the job. If I sit down for a minute to see things from her point of view, and then explain that we have to get going, it usually works.

Threats work sometimes - but never in the way we'd like. "I'll turn off the light ( no stories) if you don't stop jumping around" does work, but usually gets her so upset and cranky that she takes a longer time to get to sleep.

She is only a little person, but she is a person all the same. She does not like being bossed around - who does? And as we treat her, so she responds.