What is takes to be polite...

Yesterday Gwenchik forgot all her manners and at some point even tried to slam the door. That was the first one and she got grounded in her room. Later at dinner, I asked what happened to my polite adorable daughter

Gwen: Well, I get too many punishments! That is why I forget to be polite.
Me: But you only get punished if you misbehave, so if you do not misbehave, you do not get the punishment.
Gwen: Well, that is not right. If I get less punishments I will behave better!

Lists and gene pool

The first thing that Gwenchik did this morning once she got up was make a list. She carefully filled in a page with different tasks, like get dresses, right a letter to Santa, practice karate moves... than she ran to me to ask if there anything else to add to the list.

Gwen: And then as soon as I am done with the task, I can cross it off!
....

Now I am famous for making lists, but I do not think that my daughter actually ever saw me making one, so we thought there is an indisputable gene influence :)

Overcoming flaws

Gwenchik and I are going to a musical "Little Women" today. So before we go, I try to explain the gist of the story of four sisters and how each one of them struggles to overcome a major character flaw: Meg, vanity; Jo, a hot temper; Beth, shyness; and Amy, selfishness.

Gwen: How can you overcome a flaw?
Me: Hmm, for example if you are shy, you learn how to interact better with people
.....
Gwen: Mom, grown-ups will be running around on stage singing about being shy? That is just so silly

Nutcracker dilemma

Just went to see the traditional Nutcracker ballet.

Gwen: Mom, isn't it strange that prince the Nutcracker dances with Plum Fairy all the time and not with Clare. She was the one who threw the shoe to save him, but he just abandoned her.
Me: Well, they are visiting Plum Fairy's domain, so to be polite he has to dance with her...
Gwen: Oh, he probably really wants to dance with Clare, but has to dance with the Fairy. That is not fair.