The Ego

I suppose I'm not going to win mom of the year of performing the opposite of what's considered acceptable parenting these days, but I compliment my children. Sure, I do the mindless 'good job' a lot (which I've recently read is the equivalent to pouring drano down their throats, so now I attempt to give a 'you did it' which is much more socially acceptable), and we hi-five a lot, and I hug on a regular basis (nightmares, I'm causing). I had always believed that lots of positive reinforcement would equate to a confident and well-adjusted adult (that probably always needs their mommy around to give copious amounts of hi-fives).

Until recently I hadn't seen the actual affects of said positivity. But it all changed last night. Sylvia went to a schoolmates house after school to play. When she got home, she told me how well they played, how they got along splendidly, how her house is way more awesome than our house and why can't we have a house like theirs, ect ect... I digress. She did mention of a slight hiccup that occurred in their JOYFUL evening of BLISS: they got in a disagreement.

Syl: Camille (name not accurate for sake of karma or something) and I got into a fight and we had to take a few minutes away from each other.

Me: Oh, that's too bad, but it happens. We all can't get along all the time.

Syl: Well, she gets really bossy.

Me: And you don't?

Syl: Well, I told her that when you have company over you have to do everything they say.

Me: That's a bit of a stretch, Syl. What we usually say is that you need to try to share and play kindly with your guests, not dictate everything you do together.

Syl: That's what she was doing, she wanted to do everything her way.

Me: Did you work it out?

Syl: She got really whiny, so I walked away and said I couldn't play with her. And you know what I sat and thought about?

Me: What?

Syl: I thought about all the things I know and Camille doesn't. I'm so much smarter than her, mom (chuckling proudly). It's unbelievable mom, it really is.

Me: (stunned, silent)

Syl: You're always saying how smart and special I am, and this just proved it to me.

Me: Listen (you little spoiled brat, though I kept that to myself) honey, we all know what we know and we can all learn more. You have no idea what she knows and she doesn't know everything you know. It's impossible to know whom is smarter, and it is so not important.

Syl: Then why do you tell me all the time?

Point taken, I guess I need to kick her down a few pedestals:)

Easton, 3 year check-up

I would throw up a random photo of my son but I don't have one handy. But you guys remember what he looks like: short, shaved head, a spitting image of his daddy. Easton turned 3 almost 1 month ago and I had his appointment planned well in advance, too well in advance in fact. Yes, I totally spaced it and had to reschedule for over 3 weeks later. Which is why I scheduled it so early, dammit.

Anyspacecadetmotherway, he is as healthy as the crazy nut could be. He weighed in at 33 lbs and was 38" tall, which translates into 85% height and 50% weight, long and lean. Awesome, my son eats cookies for breakfast and somehow maintains and "long and lean" physique. Meanwhile, mama pounds her ass off at the gym 6 days a week and is considered "curvy." Standards.

I love our pediatrician, she is a down to earth mama of 4 (boys) and totally gets it all. Whatever issue I think I have, she always puts me at ease and blames it all on the age, the gender, or something beyond my control. I like that about her, it makes some guilt melt away.

So yes, Easton is 3, the ever-running ball of monkey energy. And I'm exhausted.

From the mouth of Sylvia

We've been going through a particularly "emotional" patch with Syl these days. One would think that being on a holiday break from school for over 2 weeks would boost one's happy quotas. But alas, Syl is a difficult one to please.

When having a trying morning with her brother, I started to lose my patience with her. Here's how the conversation went down...

Me: Syl, you need to try and verbalize your emotions. It seems like lately you're constantly on the verge of tears all the time, what is going on?

Syl: (tears welling up, bottom lip trembling, on the verge of said tears) I'm not sure

Me: Well, maybe you need to go into your room and have a moment to gather your thoughts.

Syl: Mom, there's something I've been meaning to tell you.

Me: (scared shitless that it's going to be something totally insane and awful) Go on babe.

Syl: (maintaining total and complete seriousness) I'm different than everyone else Mom. You see, you just don't know everything about me.

Me: (trying with ever muscle in my body to not start hysterically laughing) Oh, I didn't know. What is it that makes you different, besides the fact that everyone is different?

Syl: Well, are you ready? Mom, when I close my eyes at night, I see sprinkles... Sparkly sprinkles... and they carry me off to dreamland. And sometimes, I feel as though I'm falling into a hole and I jolt awake.

Me: (still trying to hold my shit together and kicking myself for not always carrying a recorder on me)

Syl: It makes me different Mom, and I'm sorry I never told you about this.

After waiting a few moments to contain myself from laughing to the point of tears, mainly because of her absolute naive sweetness, but kind of because of how dramatic my kid is, I explain to her that this happens to me too. Her aunt was there also, and she agreed that is happens to her also.

Me: I hope I didn't burst your bubble that this doesn't only happen to you, that this is totally normal. I love you and I still think you're really special.

SYl: Thank you for still loving me.

Open House

The school Sylvia attends is having it's annual open house. If you live in the city and are seeking an alternative to the schools offered to your children, please come visit Soulard School. It's a small, private school that works on a sliding scale (which for our family made it about half the price of the catholic school she had previously attended). This place is truly magical, inspiring, and amazing. The teachers are the best, and the staff strives to be on the cutting edge of educational strategies. Plus, no homework! Let me know if you have personal questions/concerns about the school and I'll be happen to answer them to the best of my knowledge.