...2-year olds.
Even if they are totally obsessed with markers and crayons.
We are so in love with this boy.
Seriously, if there were more people like him, this world would be a lot better place.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Book Tales (chapter two)
This has nothing to do with books. It's just cute.
* * *
In order to check out a new book each week, the students must return their book from the week before. His "media day" is never the same day of the week, so I have to be extremely vigilant at looking on the school calendar to find out when the book is due. I was lax one time and tried to teach him to remember on his own. Well that backfired. Here's what happened.
He came home in a huff one day because I had not reminded him to take back his book so they wouldn't allow him to check out a new one. He was irritated, so I tried to help him realize that it's ultimately his job to remember if he wants a new book. Because hello. I have enough to remember every week.
The next day he tried to convince me to let him take the book back and get a new one in the few minutes between when the bus drops him off for school and when school actually starts. Now I've seen the way he acts when he arrives at school. He is extremely full of energy and usually acts really crazy when he sees all his friends. I didn't think there was any way he'd be mature enough to navigate past his classmates waiting in the cafeteria for their teacher... and the older kids eating lunch in the cafeteria... down the hall to the library... quickly choose a new book... return the old book... check out the new book... and get back to the line in the cafeteria before his teacher showed up. I've seen how that kid moves (not to mention seen how long it takes to choose a book) and I figured there was no way that idea would work. So rather than setting him up for failure, I strictly forbid him from doing that. I told him he'd have to wait for a new book until the following week.
The following day he came home from school and I noticed a new goblin book in his backpack. I asked him where it came from and he proudly told me that since I wouldn't let him get one before school, he decided to check one out after school. Yep -- in those few minutes between when the teacher takes him to the bus and the bus actually drives away he managed to bust his buns to the library and choose a new book. And miraculously he managed to make it on time. If I had known that plan was the alternative, I think I would have rather him gotten one before school rather than risking missing the bus after school.
* * *
And speaking of reading, my New Year's Resolution is to read more this year. I really enjoy reading but really don't make it a priority. It's hard to read with two banshees running and yelling all the time and by the evening I'm too tired and would rather just watch TV. But this is a new year and I'm going to read.
So far I've read "Cry, the Beloved Country," and "The Shack." "Cry" was wonderful in the end so I can see why so many people love it. But it was really slow for 90% of the book and too poetic for me, so it wasn't really my style. But the ending made the read worth it, so ultimately I liked it. "The Shack" was really interesting and thought-provoking actually. Again, I can appreciate why it is so popular. But I didn't love it.
I'm reading three other books at the moment: a biography about Ardeth Greene Kapp, a self esteem book I would like a few of you to read (but it's awkward to recommend something like that to people so take my word for it, it's FANTASTIC). And "Olive Kitteridge," which I unfortunately had to return to library this week half-read. So I'll have to wait until I can get it back to finish it. But I really like it.
I have a running list of other books I want to read this year. Thanks Nicki for the "Three Cups of Tea" suggestion. I have heard really good things about it -- so that's been added to my list. And Myndi-I did read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and very much loved it too.
What other books can you recommend?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Book Tales (chapter one)
When Buddy was a baby I told my friend, Jackie, that I hoped he grew up to love dinosaurs. It seemed every really smart child I knew loved dinosaurs. If they could memorize all those long names and pronounce paleontologist at the age of two, well then they must be smart.
I know hate is a strong word, but six years after making that comment, I now hate dinosaurs. I don't care if a love of dinosaurs is a mark of a smart child. I have officially lost my patience for dinosaurs and I wish my kids hated them too. Unfortunately, they don't.
Buddy showed an interest in dinosaurs very young. So we bought him all sorts of books. (This was obviously before I realized how much I hated them.) He would want me to spend hours reading dinosaur encylopedias until I was literally bored to tears.
Well, guess who else is turning into a lover of dinosaurs? Yep-Sambo. Today when Buddy left for school I asked Sambo if he wanted me to read him a story. He quickly went upstairs and got a dinosaur picture book. I silently groaned, and told him to go get another book too, hoping he'd come back with a story. A few minutes later he came down with the dinosaur encyclopedia. I can't imagine why an active toddler would want to sit and listen to facts and figures about prehistoric creatures that I can't even pronounce. But 15 minutes later G called and invited us to lunch thus saving me from more dinosaur hell/reading.
I've been taking the boys to story time at the library once a week to get Sambo out of the house and to do something he enjoys. And so I can learn some new rhymes, which I hope will help him learn to talk. The story time is designed for children three and younger. Buddy has to tag along, and is by far the oldest child there. He doesn't mind, though, and spends the entire time shouting out the answers (questions designed for 2-year olds). Every week I prepare him and remind him that this is for his brother and he can participate, but he needs to stand in the back and allow the younger kids to say the answers. He loves every minute of it and is so engaged he can't help himself from yelling things out.
Sambo is another story. He doesn't have any fun at all. He sits cowardly on my lap the entire time and refuses to make eye contact with the teacher. For the first time he actually left my lap today to go listen to a story (about a dog), which was a huge miracle. It's important to note, Sambo is most definitely not shy. I have no idea what his problem is. Even the teacher told me today that he's very "quiet" -- and I kid you not, she said he's the type to be class "valedictorian." That made no sense to me, and is far from the truth, and I'm still laughing.
All this story time business reminds me of when Buddy was a baby. We were always bored at home, so I started taking him to baby story time when he was six months old. All of us moms bounced our babies and sang silly songs. Buddy loved it, but a few months into our weekly routine, he was crawling all over the place pulling books off the shelf and having nothing to do with the "baby time." He could not be re-directed, but I saw all sorts of older babies there quietly and happily engaged. So I stuck with it and we went almost every week for a year -- thinking any day he'd start to learn the routine and sit in the circle like the rest of the babies. By the time he was about 18 months the teacher pulled me aside and told me some children "learn with their hands and feet" and story time might not be the most effective use of my time. I was mortified to say the least and actually was a little offended. It was BABY story time, for crying out loud. Needless to say, I never went back and actually several years later and a library re-model later, I've never returned to that particular library. When he was almost three I started going to story time again but at a different library. He was still crazier than most children, but at least story time at the new library was/is more interactive.
This is the library I'm taking Sambo too and he doesn't like interactive -- go figure.
One interesting note to this story is that first librarian, as untactful as she was, hit the nail on the head with Buddy's learning style. He does learn with his hands and feet and passive learning is extremely ineffective for him. Circle time in Kindergarten is proving to be just as torturous.
Now I have a couple deep questions. Is story time the most effective use of my time with son #2? And why are my kids so unconventional that neither of them just follow along with the routine of library story time?
I read the "Kite Runner" about three years ago and it became my favorite book. Since that time I have been begging G to read it because I knew he'd love it. I've begged and pleaded and even gave it to him for Christmas one year. He down-right refused unless I read some marriage book he really liked. I don't like reading marriage books, so we were at an impasse. The other week we were lounging around on a Sunday afternoon and I suggested he just read the first chapter to see what he thought. He sighed dramatically, walked upstairs and got it off the shelf.
A few hours later he was totally unresponsive to the rest of the family because he was so into the book. He stayed up pretty much all night reading, went to work that Monday, and by that night he had finished it. We requested the author's other book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" from the library and he had that one finished by the next week.
And now he's lent our copy of the "Kite Runner" to all his work friends and encouraged everyone he knows to read it.
All I have to say is booyah. I knew he'd like it.
I know hate is a strong word, but six years after making that comment, I now hate dinosaurs. I don't care if a love of dinosaurs is a mark of a smart child. I have officially lost my patience for dinosaurs and I wish my kids hated them too. Unfortunately, they don't.
Buddy showed an interest in dinosaurs very young. So we bought him all sorts of books. (This was obviously before I realized how much I hated them.) He would want me to spend hours reading dinosaur encylopedias until I was literally bored to tears.
Well, guess who else is turning into a lover of dinosaurs? Yep-Sambo. Today when Buddy left for school I asked Sambo if he wanted me to read him a story. He quickly went upstairs and got a dinosaur picture book. I silently groaned, and told him to go get another book too, hoping he'd come back with a story. A few minutes later he came down with the dinosaur encyclopedia. I can't imagine why an active toddler would want to sit and listen to facts and figures about prehistoric creatures that I can't even pronounce. But 15 minutes later G called and invited us to lunch thus saving me from more dinosaur hell/reading.
* * *
I've been taking the boys to story time at the library once a week to get Sambo out of the house and to do something he enjoys. And so I can learn some new rhymes, which I hope will help him learn to talk. The story time is designed for children three and younger. Buddy has to tag along, and is by far the oldest child there. He doesn't mind, though, and spends the entire time shouting out the answers (questions designed for 2-year olds). Every week I prepare him and remind him that this is for his brother and he can participate, but he needs to stand in the back and allow the younger kids to say the answers. He loves every minute of it and is so engaged he can't help himself from yelling things out.
Sambo is another story. He doesn't have any fun at all. He sits cowardly on my lap the entire time and refuses to make eye contact with the teacher. For the first time he actually left my lap today to go listen to a story (about a dog), which was a huge miracle. It's important to note, Sambo is most definitely not shy. I have no idea what his problem is. Even the teacher told me today that he's very "quiet" -- and I kid you not, she said he's the type to be class "valedictorian." That made no sense to me, and is far from the truth, and I'm still laughing.
All this story time business reminds me of when Buddy was a baby. We were always bored at home, so I started taking him to baby story time when he was six months old. All of us moms bounced our babies and sang silly songs. Buddy loved it, but a few months into our weekly routine, he was crawling all over the place pulling books off the shelf and having nothing to do with the "baby time." He could not be re-directed, but I saw all sorts of older babies there quietly and happily engaged. So I stuck with it and we went almost every week for a year -- thinking any day he'd start to learn the routine and sit in the circle like the rest of the babies. By the time he was about 18 months the teacher pulled me aside and told me some children "learn with their hands and feet" and story time might not be the most effective use of my time. I was mortified to say the least and actually was a little offended. It was BABY story time, for crying out loud. Needless to say, I never went back and actually several years later and a library re-model later, I've never returned to that particular library. When he was almost three I started going to story time again but at a different library. He was still crazier than most children, but at least story time at the new library was/is more interactive.
This is the library I'm taking Sambo too and he doesn't like interactive -- go figure.
One interesting note to this story is that first librarian, as untactful as she was, hit the nail on the head with Buddy's learning style. He does learn with his hands and feet and passive learning is extremely ineffective for him. Circle time in Kindergarten is proving to be just as torturous.
Now I have a couple deep questions. Is story time the most effective use of my time with son #2? And why are my kids so unconventional that neither of them just follow along with the routine of library story time?
* * *
I read the "Kite Runner" about three years ago and it became my favorite book. Since that time I have been begging G to read it because I knew he'd love it. I've begged and pleaded and even gave it to him for Christmas one year. He down-right refused unless I read some marriage book he really liked. I don't like reading marriage books, so we were at an impasse. The other week we were lounging around on a Sunday afternoon and I suggested he just read the first chapter to see what he thought. He sighed dramatically, walked upstairs and got it off the shelf.
A few hours later he was totally unresponsive to the rest of the family because he was so into the book. He stayed up pretty much all night reading, went to work that Monday, and by that night he had finished it. We requested the author's other book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" from the library and he had that one finished by the next week.
And now he's lent our copy of the "Kite Runner" to all his work friends and encouraged everyone he knows to read it.
All I have to say is booyah. I knew he'd like it.
Monday, February 15, 2010
I Couldn't Make This Stuff Up If I Tried
Yesterday I visited another ward's conference. Sambo was a just getting over being sick, so G decided to stay home with him. I invited Buddy to join me at the other ward.
I was asked to teach the 4-year old primary class in that ward, which I happily did. Buddy was very put out having to attend a younger class, by the way. He made sure to tell as many people as possible that he is SIX -- not FOUR. But that's beside the point.
We were learning a new song in primary with the lyrics "How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness? He sent his son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness." The teacher talked to the children about how Jesus came as a baby so we would understand love. Right then Buddy whispers to me "What is tenderness?" I told him it's loving somebody gently or touching them softly.
I could tell for the next five to ten minutes he was thinking and was no longer engaged in learning the new song.
Then he leans over and whispers again, "Why would Jesus touch somebody inappropriately?"
As you can imagine, I was a little confused and slightly horrifed. But I was relieved that I was his teacher that day and he didn't say that to somebody with less knowledge about the way he thinks.
So I calmly replied, that Jesus would never touch anybody inappropriately, and then I made a mental note to finish discussing this later.
Later that night during dinner I started the conversation again and asked Buddy to tell daddy about the new song he was learning at church.
He shifted in his seat, obviously feeling uncomfortable about the subject. He said he just didn't understand why Jesus would do "that."
I said, "do what?" And he proceeded to point to his crotch.
This conversation was really strange to me because we've had lots of conversations lately about "privates" and not saying and doing "innappropriate" things. We've established a rule that G and I are his "safeside" adults, so he can only talk to us about such topics -- and he is not allowed to discuss such things with his friends or any other adult. He normally talks very freely about his privates, so I was so confused why he was suddenly so uncomfortable.
So I pressed him on it, reminding him we are his safeside adults.
That's when he came clean. "I don't understand why Jesus would touch people's 'tenders,'" pointing again at his crotch.
And that's when I started laughing harder than I've ever laughed in my entire life. Even now, 24 hours later, I still can't stop laughing.
I asked him where he learned the term "tenders" and he reminded me it's in Kung Fu Panda.
And that's when I recalled the conversation in Primary. He asked what tenderness meant, just to clarify that the tenderness we were learning about was the same as his definition of "tenders." So when I naiively told him it's "loving somebody gently or touching them softly," well, that's when things started to unravel for him.
Just another reason I love this kid. And another reason why we use proper anatomical terms in this house.
I was asked to teach the 4-year old primary class in that ward, which I happily did. Buddy was very put out having to attend a younger class, by the way. He made sure to tell as many people as possible that he is SIX -- not FOUR. But that's beside the point.
We were learning a new song in primary with the lyrics "How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness? He sent his son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness." The teacher talked to the children about how Jesus came as a baby so we would understand love. Right then Buddy whispers to me "What is tenderness?" I told him it's loving somebody gently or touching them softly.
I could tell for the next five to ten minutes he was thinking and was no longer engaged in learning the new song.
Then he leans over and whispers again, "Why would Jesus touch somebody inappropriately?"
As you can imagine, I was a little confused and slightly horrifed. But I was relieved that I was his teacher that day and he didn't say that to somebody with less knowledge about the way he thinks.
So I calmly replied, that Jesus would never touch anybody inappropriately, and then I made a mental note to finish discussing this later.
Later that night during dinner I started the conversation again and asked Buddy to tell daddy about the new song he was learning at church.
He shifted in his seat, obviously feeling uncomfortable about the subject. He said he just didn't understand why Jesus would do "that."
I said, "do what?" And he proceeded to point to his crotch.
This conversation was really strange to me because we've had lots of conversations lately about "privates" and not saying and doing "innappropriate" things. We've established a rule that G and I are his "safeside" adults, so he can only talk to us about such topics -- and he is not allowed to discuss such things with his friends or any other adult. He normally talks very freely about his privates, so I was so confused why he was suddenly so uncomfortable.
So I pressed him on it, reminding him we are his safeside adults.
That's when he came clean. "I don't understand why Jesus would touch people's 'tenders,'" pointing again at his crotch.
And that's when I started laughing harder than I've ever laughed in my entire life. Even now, 24 hours later, I still can't stop laughing.
I asked him where he learned the term "tenders" and he reminded me it's in Kung Fu Panda.
And that's when I recalled the conversation in Primary. He asked what tenderness meant, just to clarify that the tenderness we were learning about was the same as his definition of "tenders." So when I naiively told him it's "loving somebody gently or touching them softly," well, that's when things started to unravel for him.
Just another reason I love this kid. And another reason why we use proper anatomical terms in this house.
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