Rae Lynn Benedict

Headed with alarming speed toward adolescence! Rae is finally finishing up her third grade year at Greenville East Intermediate. This has been her first year to have a bad teacher. When I state bad I am implying that she is mean as well as hasn't really taught Rae anything. Everything Rae learned math wise this year is due to Jeremy, myself and Rae just figuring it out herself. She struggles with the concept of math anyhow but having a teacher belittle you and insinuate that you're just pain dumb to the whole class does not inspire learning. The good part is Rae's homeroom teacher is the best. The day she found out she will be getting Ms. Baker again next year was very exciting for her. Her Science and Social Studies teacher is pretty cool too. At the beginning of the school year she had some trouble finding where she fit in with her peers, but all of that issue seems to have cleared up.

Rae's interest include horses, (actually pretty much any kind of animal but especially horses) swimming, reading, movies and hanging out with friends. Her and Shane spend more time watching documentary's than anything else. The biggest argument is whether it will be an animal doc. or a scientific doc.. Shane's interests lie in the cosmos were as Rae's are directed more toward the living things.

When she grows up she wants to be a teacher. She gets her ability to interact well with younger kids from Jeremy. She does great with the little girls, and puts up with a lot from Shane. He seems to be most amused buy pestering and bugging the tar out of her. She does have her limits though. Her latest defense has been to emit very loud obnoxious screeches! I understand the not being able to stand Shane's pestering any longer, but my nerves can't handle being shocked like that either. I came up with a great consequence for Shane when he pesters too much-do all of Rae's chores for a week- one reminder usually does the trick. Now I just have to think of a good one for the screeching.

From a mothers perspective she has been, so far, the easiest child to train and get along with. She generally has a happy outlook on life and truly wants to do right. Most times when she's out of line all I need to do is quietly reminder her to think before she acts or speaks. There is no rebellion in her she just stops and reassesses herself. She confesses and shows signs of a true belief in God the Father and God the Son. Her willingness to redirect her attitude comes from her wanting to please God as well as her parents.

This summer from June-August we have leased a pony named Camy for Rae. This way she will be able to show in 4-H at the Darke County Fair. She's been taking riding lessons for about 4 months now. In March she entered her first horse show and got two ribbons. BIG BIG day for our little Rae.