School starts in two days. Alex is excited. I am not. I have the pit in my stomach I have gotten every single August since I can remember. Every time I hear a cicada, I get sad. They come out late in the summer, and it's nature calling an audible that summer is over. And now this year, my buddy is going to be gone most the day.
I realize there has been many a time this summer that I thought one of us was going to end up in the hospital and the other in jail, but I've gotten very used to having him home with me. I don't want to go without the random snuggles and I love you's and yes, even the random Nerf gun shots.
Alas, he is excited. I need to get over it. And I will, but I'm gonna let myself be sad a little bit.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Little Nutty
Alex and I had to stop at Target super quickly after my eye exam this afternoon. Alex did not want to go, and the only way I could get him to stop being a jerk was to be silly which then lead to him thinking it was funny to smack my butt. Continually. For the entire time we were walking through the store.
I pleasantly told him to stop a bunch of times and when it was clear he had no inclination of listening to me, I stopped both of us in our tracks, got to eye level with him, put on my I'm Serious Now face, and told him to stop. He begrudgingly obliged.
We got in line to check out and were standing there for a whole 32 seconds before I feel a big ol' smack on my butt. I spun around to see Travis standing there grinning ear to ear. He just happened to be in that particular Target for work, saw us in line, and came up and smacked my butt instead of just saying hi.
Talk about some acorn and tree shit right there.
I pleasantly told him to stop a bunch of times and when it was clear he had no inclination of listening to me, I stopped both of us in our tracks, got to eye level with him, put on my I'm Serious Now face, and told him to stop. He begrudgingly obliged.
We got in line to check out and were standing there for a whole 32 seconds before I feel a big ol' smack on my butt. I spun around to see Travis standing there grinning ear to ear. He just happened to be in that particular Target for work, saw us in line, and came up and smacked my butt instead of just saying hi.
Talk about some acorn and tree shit right there.
Suzie Homemaker
I am not a good housekeeper. Like at all. Like this is what I found when I tipped a chair up to move it:
Yes, I did say, "That's where that nail clipper went!" And no, Sam hasn't recently been teething...it's been about a year since he's needed that blue phone teething thingy. Whatever.
The other hint that I might need to clean? Last night while taking a bath, Alex asked what the specs on the tub were. Yeah, those were specs of stain from when I let him help me stain the play set...in June. Whoops! So yeah, when the 7 year old who consistently doesn't flush the toilet is noticing things are dirty, perhaps cleaning is a bit overdue. Or maybe if he's noticing it means he should pick up a sponge!
The other hint that I might need to clean? Last night while taking a bath, Alex asked what the specs on the tub were. Yeah, those were specs of stain from when I let him help me stain the play set...in June. Whoops! So yeah, when the 7 year old who consistently doesn't flush the toilet is noticing things are dirty, perhaps cleaning is a bit overdue. Or maybe if he's noticing it means he should pick up a sponge!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Prep
At bedtime last night, Alex jumped up on my bed to say goodnight to Aiden and he noticed her nose was dry. I laid his concern to rest (I thought), and he headed to his room. While getting into bed, he reminded me that he wishes Aiden could live forever. And then he went on to say he just didn't understand why things and people and animals have to die (aside from the immortal jellyfish thankyouverymuch Wild Kratts). I told him I didn't get it either, and that it is sad and hard to understand but we would work through it when the time came. Then he asked if I thought Aiden was going to live until Alex's 10th birthday. I said I didn't know, but I didn't think so. While quietly crying, he settled into bed.
A couple beats later, this happened:
Alex: Mom? When Aiden does die...can we like...keep her around?
Me: How do you mean?
Alex: Well...I mean...can we like, hang her on the wall?
Me (shocked, mortified, trying not to hysterically laugh): You mean how people sometimes do with deer heads?
Alex: Yeah!
Me: Ummm, no.
I did say we could do a plaster paw print that he could keep. He thought that would be alright and then laid this one one me: "Can we also please bury her in the yard so I can go be with her any time I need to?"
And then there were two people crying in Alex's bed last night.
A couple beats later, this happened:
Alex: Mom? When Aiden does die...can we like...keep her around?
Me: How do you mean?
Alex: Well...I mean...can we like, hang her on the wall?
Me (shocked, mortified, trying not to hysterically laugh): You mean how people sometimes do with deer heads?
Alex: Yeah!
Me: Ummm, no.
I did say we could do a plaster paw print that he could keep. He thought that would be alright and then laid this one one me: "Can we also please bury her in the yard so I can go be with her any time I need to?"
And then there were two people crying in Alex's bed last night.
Alternatives
Alex loves taking toys apart. Usually it's because he wants to see how they work, and usually it isn't an issue because we can put them back together. But not lately. Lately the taking apart has turned into straight destruction.
He bought an awesome remote control car with the money he earned from the lemonade stand and a gift card he received for his birthday. It was about $30. Way more than I would ever spend on a remote control vehicle outside of birthday or Christmas presents. But it was what he wanted and it was his money, so that's what he got. And it was great! ... For about a day and a half.
We got it all set up and calibrated, and he took it outside to play. I warned him the instructions said to avoid grass and gravel. He did great with that, but came back in holding one side view mirror and the rear spoiler in his hand. Apparently those break off when your buddy tries to throw a ball at the car while you're driving it. Who knew, right?! So, we had another discussion about being careful with the car and how much money it cost.
The next day, he had it in the playroom and I walked through to see he had removed all four tires. S.O.P. for Alex. I shook my head and said, "Ya know what? It's your money." Dumb dumb dumb Mama. Later that evening I found him holding the car by the wire that transmits the remote signal (which he had pulled from the car), while two of his buddies whacked the car with plastic golf clubs. I frustratedly asked just what he thought he was doing and was answered with, "Well, it is my money." My face almost exploded with rage, but instead I walked away and waited for the eventual fit when the car no longer worked.
That fit was delayed a bit because he and his buddies decided the plastic golf clubs weren't the proper tools for the job, so they graduated to pillow armor for body protection while they smashed the car with an aluminum baseball bat. Yeah. That happened.
That night, the regret sank in for Mr. Alex. He started crying that he wanted a new one and I said no and that he wasn't going to get any new toys until he could show me that he can treat our current toys and belongings with respect. I didn't yell, I didn't take away other privileges, I didn't make him sit in his room. Just treat current toys with respect.
That was kinda working. More working than not, but still needing reminders. Until yesterday.
We were having a great day until I noticed two blue gems on the kitchen table. I asked where they came from, and Alex sheepishly told him he pulled them out of a sun catcher he made for me for Mothers' Day last year. Yep. For no discernible reason, he plucked two of the gems from a gift he made for me. When he saw how upset I was, he quickly assured me he could make a new one. I told him I didn't want a new one, I wanted that one. It was mine and he ruined it. My feelings were hurt and I didn't want to talk about it anymore.
I had just finished making lunch so we sat down to eat through quivering chins. He looked up with tears in his eyes, and told me he knew what he should lose as a consequence for ruining my sun catcher. And I said no. I told him he wasn't losing anything because that clearly doesn't make a difference for him. Nothing was being taken away, but he was gaining something. He now got my disappointment in the choice he made. That opened the waterworks floodgate, and we had a tear stained lunch.
I think I solidly earned the Guilt Trip badge of motherhood with that one.
We moved on from that and everything was going smoothly. Then Sam came up to tattle that Alex pushed him. Alex quickly said, "Weeeeeeeell, I didn't push him...I just kinda shook him a little." So I replied, "Weeeeeeeeeeeell, put on your shoes and run three laps around the house." He just stood there blankly looking at me, so I repeated myself, and sent him outside.
A new day of consequences is dawning in the Julius house.
He bought an awesome remote control car with the money he earned from the lemonade stand and a gift card he received for his birthday. It was about $30. Way more than I would ever spend on a remote control vehicle outside of birthday or Christmas presents. But it was what he wanted and it was his money, so that's what he got. And it was great! ... For about a day and a half.
We got it all set up and calibrated, and he took it outside to play. I warned him the instructions said to avoid grass and gravel. He did great with that, but came back in holding one side view mirror and the rear spoiler in his hand. Apparently those break off when your buddy tries to throw a ball at the car while you're driving it. Who knew, right?! So, we had another discussion about being careful with the car and how much money it cost.
The next day, he had it in the playroom and I walked through to see he had removed all four tires. S.O.P. for Alex. I shook my head and said, "Ya know what? It's your money." Dumb dumb dumb Mama. Later that evening I found him holding the car by the wire that transmits the remote signal (which he had pulled from the car), while two of his buddies whacked the car with plastic golf clubs. I frustratedly asked just what he thought he was doing and was answered with, "Well, it is my money." My face almost exploded with rage, but instead I walked away and waited for the eventual fit when the car no longer worked.
That fit was delayed a bit because he and his buddies decided the plastic golf clubs weren't the proper tools for the job, so they graduated to pillow armor for body protection while they smashed the car with an aluminum baseball bat. Yeah. That happened.
That night, the regret sank in for Mr. Alex. He started crying that he wanted a new one and I said no and that he wasn't going to get any new toys until he could show me that he can treat our current toys and belongings with respect. I didn't yell, I didn't take away other privileges, I didn't make him sit in his room. Just treat current toys with respect.
That was kinda working. More working than not, but still needing reminders. Until yesterday.
We were having a great day until I noticed two blue gems on the kitchen table. I asked where they came from, and Alex sheepishly told him he pulled them out of a sun catcher he made for me for Mothers' Day last year. Yep. For no discernible reason, he plucked two of the gems from a gift he made for me. When he saw how upset I was, he quickly assured me he could make a new one. I told him I didn't want a new one, I wanted that one. It was mine and he ruined it. My feelings were hurt and I didn't want to talk about it anymore.
I had just finished making lunch so we sat down to eat through quivering chins. He looked up with tears in his eyes, and told me he knew what he should lose as a consequence for ruining my sun catcher. And I said no. I told him he wasn't losing anything because that clearly doesn't make a difference for him. Nothing was being taken away, but he was gaining something. He now got my disappointment in the choice he made. That opened the waterworks floodgate, and we had a tear stained lunch.
I think I solidly earned the Guilt Trip badge of motherhood with that one.
We moved on from that and everything was going smoothly. Then Sam came up to tattle that Alex pushed him. Alex quickly said, "Weeeeeeeell, I didn't push him...I just kinda shook him a little." So I replied, "Weeeeeeeeeeeell, put on your shoes and run three laps around the house." He just stood there blankly looking at me, so I repeated myself, and sent him outside.
A new day of consequences is dawning in the Julius house.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Be Still My Beating Heart
You guys! It happened! I can't believe it, but it actually happened. I asked Alex to clean up the play room, and...and he did it. All of it. And he did it the first time I asked him. And he didn't complain about it while he was doing it. And as I'm typing this, I just heard him put his dishes in the dishwasher.
What. Is. Happening.
What. Is. Happening.
New!
From time to time I get antsy and feeling boring. This usually leads to me putting some unnatural color in my hair. Not yesterday though. Yesterday that led to me allowing my hairdresser to bust out the shears.
Regular beautiful haircut:
And then BAM! Funky undercut:
Regular beautiful haircut:
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