Month: June 2010

In speaking with the Wife last night about the remainder of the Summer schedule, I came to the realization that June had basically disappeared in the blink of an eye. It’s funny how a parent’s mind essentially conjures a new sort of time-frame based on the schedule. Time is marked by trips to classes, camps, activities, projects and trips to a friend’s house. Sprinkle in a vacation for good measure and it’s not hard to see the Fall looming. In other words, time isn’t measured in minutes but in large chunks or “busy.”

We’ve done a good job getting projects done, but there are still others to get to. Most notably, there’s a large pile of unstacked firewood and the desire to power wash and stain the back deck and front porch. With the weather turning cooler and drier, I think the deck project might jump to the forefront. Hopefully the neighbor is willing to let me borrow his power washer.

There are plenty of lesser projects as well. I’ve still got the upper half of the armoire to work on; a new coat rack and shoe container project for the front foyer; side tables for the bed room; trying to get a program to a state of satisfactory completion. I’m sure there I’ve left something out.

Whatever it is, it will have to wait. I’m booked.

Upon putting the boy to bed, each night for the past 2 years, the following exchange takes place:

the Boy: Good Night Mom!

the Wife: Good Night!

the Boy: Sleep tight!

the Wife: You too!

the Boy: Don’t let the bedbugs bite!

the Wife: You either!

the Boy: I love you!

the Wife: I love you too!

And then he repeats with myself. Sometimes I’m first and then the Wife. He’s not too picky.

The lass doesn’t have something so formalized, though she’s trying. Of late, it’s been something like:

the lass: Good Night Mom!

the Wife: Good Night!

the lass: Sleep well!

the Wife: You too!

Though she’s often content to perform this with just the Wife.

They sleep well.

We’re now up to chapter 5 and I think it’s safe to say the boy and the lass are hooked. Without any prodding on my or the Wife’s part, both have made sure I continue to read the story to them. Last night, they insisted I read 2 chapters.

Obviously, we’re delighted. I was concerned that we wouldn’t make it past chapter 2. Heck, I even thought there was chance they’d phone-it-in during chapter 1. Who cares about the Dursely’s anyway? We’re at the point in the story now where things only get more interesting.

Their doing a pretty good job of following along as well. They don’t remember all the names yet, but their recollection of the events is pretty good. Although I was forced to admit that I’d taken the review a little too far last night. The boy asked at one point “Dad, when are you going to start reading the story?”

I’ll keep that in mind for tonight.

Based on the title, one might think I’m going to trumpet the successes of the boy in some latest accomplishment. Alas, such is not the case.

Rather, I just thought I’d mark the day that we attempted to introduce him to the world of witches and wizards. I read him the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I figured since he’s about to enter the 1st grade, and Harry’s story begins as Harry enters the 1st grade, it would be an interesting experiment regarding his attention span, memory and imagination.

He’s not capable of reading such a book yet- he was disappointed to learn the book has no pictures. But perhaps it can serve as motivation to make him more interested in improving his reading skills on his own.

Incidentally, I’d never picked up on it before, the motorcycle Hagrid rides in that first chapter was borrowed from Sirius Black. In hindsight, a detail that might have seriously altered the revelations in The Prisoner of Azkaban had I remembered it.

Just now (shortly after dinner), playing with his erector set the boy and the lass had the following exchange:

the lass: Do you wanna make a crane?

the boy: No. I’m too tired. I’m still waking up from this morning.

I’ll have to remember that one…

The boy and the lass have had exclusive rights to each other for basically 4 years now. Even during school, when the boy came home, there was his sister ready to play. The flip side of all that play together is they know each other’s weak spots as well as they know anything. Being one of three siblings myself, I know that this is just the way of the world.

But all that is going to start changing. Yesterday, the boy was invited over to a friend’s house for a portion of the day. A little later, a second chum for the past school year called and another play date is set. Added to our own efforts to get him together with some friends and the summer is shaping up to be more hectic than I had anticipated.

But the boy’s gain is, for the now, the lass’ loss. She hasn’t had the opportunity to develop a cadre of girl friend’s to play with. She was mystified that her brother was going to someone’s house to play, while she had to remain home with me. The notion that he could have something while she could not did not compute. Telling her that her day would come wasn’t satisfying because today wasn’t that day.

So the process of forging independence from one another begins. So one chapter of their lives slowly comes to a close. The initial words of the next begin to be written.

When I got up this morning, the boy came dashing in with a half-filled mug of coffee. Not a bad start.

Then when I got downstairs, I was quickly ushered into another room and then abandoned for several minutes. No matter, fire up the laptop and what not.

Then they returned, all wearing my Father’s Day gifts- new UA t-shirts! I also got a large pack of handmade cards from the lass, a pinch-pot from the boy, and a grill spatula from the Wife. Not a bad haul.

The pinch pot held about and 1/8th of a cup of milk- which I drank much to the boy’s delight.

It was unconventional, but nice.

Happy Father’s Day to all you other Dad’s out there.

The boy got himself sent to bed early tonight. We had a full day between his MA class and the beach. By the time we finally sat down with all the chores done, it was to late for a movie. But he didn’t want to hear that. So he blamed Mom.

When I corrected him that there was no blame, he got ornery and doubled down. So I sent him to bed. I don’t take kindly to that sort of willful disrespect. Especially when his Mother is the target.

Then, when Mom went up to check on him he gave her more attitude, so she left.

And that’s when the tears started.

The boy and his teammates got their trophies last night. Great job, thanks for playing and all that sort of thing.

Afterwards, the boy was wondering if he could use the trophy like money. The parents all had a good laugh from that one. The realization that all he could do with it was set it on his dresser just wasn’t satisfying apparently.

It was a nice little ceremony. The boy is in one of 3 kindergarten classes. One of the classes made a movie called “Dirty Blonde and the Ever Increasing Zombies.” At least, I think that’s it. I could be off be a word or two. Upon first seeing the title, I mentioned to the teacher that I was pretty sure the minimal rating for a movie whose title had the word “zombie” in it was ‘R.’ I was assured that not only was it quite ‘G’ rated, but also totally not scary.

I suppose if you ignore the fact that it starred 5 year old actors working on a shoe string budget, then yeah, it wasn’t scary.

The movie was very entertaining. The boy’s class did not make the movie though. His class had a slide show with pictures from throughout the year. It was funny to see pictures of him without his front teeth- that seems SOOOOO long ago now. Anyway, slide shows are generally pretty fun and this one was no exception. The music was well chosen.

Then came the big moment- when they got their name called, were handed their diploma and walked across the bridge, waved to the parents, and then went to sit and wait for chow time. This spectacle provided plenty of amusing moments. Several kids had stage fright- including one of our T-baller’s (one whom I wouldn’t have pegged as susceptible to stage fright). A few others showed off their moxy- blowing kisses to the crowd and the like. One was completely confused- he couldn’t figure out which hand to shake with, then he forgot, then remembered, then dropped his diploma, walked half-way across the bridge and decided that was a good time to stop and see the sights for awhile, then went back to get his diploma and finally crossed the bridge. All of this done in that oblivious, moment-to-moment sequencing that 5 year olds are accomplished at. He was the hit of the night. The boy, for his part, played his part with dignity- walking across the bridge, smiling to Mom, and then walked off to his seat. No muss, no fuss.

Then it was chow time, which led to the big disappointment of the night. All of my stromboli was eaten. Not even a crumb left. Maybe I’ll make 4 next year when he graduates from first grade…

Technically, it was yesterday I suppose. The boy’s last 3 days of school. Tonight he “graduates” from kindergarten. I get to make a main dish of some sort for a kindergarten party. Should be a good time for all.

At this point, after a fair amount of gnashing our teeth, the Wife and I have basically mapped out the summer. It’s actually more difficult than it might at first seem. As the kids get older they’re capable of more and figuring out what “more” is directly affects the schedule. At the same time, it’s the summer and I think we’re both on the same page where we think the kids should be allowed a fair amount of latitude. They just spent 9+ months on a pretty restrictive schedule, time to let them decompress.

The lass will continue with her dance lessons, but with a different teacher at a dance school. We’ve lucked out in the regard that her first teacher has emphasized keeping it fun while teaching her kids the rudiments of dance. The new teacher looks like she’ll build on top of that while still keeping it fun. It’s a once a week thing. She also offers a camp sort of program where, for one week, she takes the kids for the morning and does projects and incorporates dance into it. The lass seems to truly enjoy dancing so we’ll continue encouraging her in that endeavor.

The boy will continue with his MA lessons. Anywhere from 2 to 3 times a week. He’s enjoyed them so far and the meta lessons that MA offers are compelling enough that it’ll be worth it to keep him at it for awhile. Last night he discovered that a friend of his from school is in his class, so now he has more motivation to stick with it.

Dropped from the schedule are the swimming lessons at the Y. Because of their difference in abilities, there was no easy way to get them both into classes that fit well schedule-wise with the afore mentioned activities. The closest would have been to commit to Friday night at the Y for about 3-1/2 hours. We really wanted to keep up the lessons, but ultimately decided that it wasn’t worth the cost to our sanity as well as stretching the kids thin. By the time camps, vacations, weekends and day-trips are figured into the equation, they’ll have plenty to occupy their time, as will the Wife and I.

So Summer, ready or not- here we come!