SIP's Way

October Log:    
     I am a student of Caesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer.  He teaches people how to develop healthier happier pets through exercise, discipline, and affection. I've found These principles are quite effective when put into practice for humans also.

     While SIP's transition to kindergarten has gone very well, it hasn't gone off without a hitch.  Primarily, he comes home very grumpy.  I've been trying to figure out ways to curb this unpleasant situation and an epiphany hit me last week...I should try walking him home in the  afternoons.  Perhaps this would help him burn off some energy and give him a chance to wind down from the long school day.
     We live half a mile from his school, which doesn't sound like a long walk until you've walked that distance with SIP who has no sense of urgency and is prone to meander.  So each afternoon I drive part of the way to pick him up and we walk a little ways down the street to our car.      
     I determined to put my new theory to the test and we walked that afternoon the entire way, a full mile for me round trip which gave me some much needed exercise as well.  It worked like a charm! For several days we made walking a regular part of our routine and his afternoon behavior improved dramatically.

     After a week of walking home from school, on Friday morning I told him I would take him to Wal-Mart after school to spend the ten dollar allowance he has saved up for three weeks.  On the way out the door he turned around and said, "Don't forget to bring the car though.  I don't want to walk to Wal-Mart!"