Tag: parenting

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Big Dreams

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Both my boys are convinced that they are amazing at everything.  It doesn’t matter what it is.  THEY. ARE. AWESOME.

I’ve thought long and hard about how I should temper this perceived awesomeness with reality.  Then, I decided, what the heck?  Does it really hurt anyone or anything if they have a solid belief in themselves? Won’t time, reality and wisdom show them what they truly are and aren’t awesome at?  As long as they treat others with respect, I’m going to let it go.

As our first flag football game approached, Full Speed was convinced he would be raining down touchdowns.  T.Puzzle was convinced his defensive rushing abilities were unparalleled.  I, did not say a word about it.  All I said is go out there and have fun.

In a matter of minutes it was clear we were the underdogs (I’m being kind here).  After two, painfully long games, we were allowed the relief of leaving the field.  We were on our way to meet friends and could overhear the excited chatter of the boys from the backseat of our car.

FULL SPEED:  I’m pretty sure I’m going to be a professional football player when I grow up.  I’m going to play for Ohio State in college and then maybe the Packers after that.  T.Puzzle will like that because he was born in Wisconsin so he will like to come visit.

T.PUZZLE: Yep, I’m THE best rusher on our team.

Mad Dog and I seriously wondered if they had actually paid attention to the two games we just saw them lose.  Yes, there were moments of potential.  Full Speed did score a couple touchdowns and T.Puzzle sacked the QB ONCE, but that was about it.

So, I may have some reservations that they will play professional football but since no one ever knows what tomorrow holds, I’m letting them keep that dream intact.

If you can dream it, you can do it. -Walt Disney
If you can dream it, you can do it.
-Walt Disney
children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Shower Space

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Siblings often are the people you love to hate.  When you are growing up they are your biggest competitors for just about everything.  If you are lucky, they are your biggest supporters, too.

Recently, Full Speed has become more and more frustrated with T.Puzzle.  I’ve definitely noticed the developmental gap widening between them.  Somehow, second grade seems almost light years away from kindergarten.   Eventually, T.Puzzle will catch-up to Full Speed and this gap will be much less noticeable.  Until then, it is T.Puzzle’s absolute delight to torment his older brother.

After a particularly challenging afternoon of brotherly quarreling, Full Speed was done.  We were all upstairs when Full Speed marched up to me and declared, “I’m going downstairs to take my shower.  I want to do it by MYSELF! T.Puzzle can do his after.”  The normal routine is to have them both head in to shower at the same time, but sensing Full Speed was ready to snap I acquiesced to his request.

He proceeded to trounce determinedly downstairs to get started.  T.Puzzle and I remained upstairs while I finished putting away some laundry.  I started to feel a little sad seeing Full Speed wanting his independence from his brother.

About two minutes later Full Speed comes racing back upstairs and zips into my bedroom.  I looked up, startled, and asked him what he needed.

“Um, actually, it’s pretty scary downstairs all by myself.  I think I want T.Puzzle to come with me.”

And just like that, the bonds of brotherhood were renewed.

Brothers for life!
Brothers for life!
children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Growing Pains

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ry=400-4Somehow, my boys have the nerve to keep growing up.  Not only are they more self-sufficient, they keep getting taller and taller.  How do pants shrink overnight?  How is it that one minute pjs fit, and the next day T.Puzzle and Full Speed could be in a Chris Farley ‘Big Kids in little PJs’ skit?

How, as Moms, do we not see this?  Maybe because we are with them every day and the changes are subtle.  Or, maybe, as Moms, a part of us feels our kids will never grow, therefore, they will never outgrow us.

Full Speed recently had a revelation.  One of his teachers was talking about her grown kids and told him that her son was taller than her.  Full Speed thought this was hilarious.  “Mom, someday, I’m going to be taller than you!”  His eyes gleamed at the thought while my stomach dropped to my shoes.

As Full Speed turned to leave the room I said, “Well, I guess I better be extra nice to you now so when you are bigger, you will be nice to me.  By the way, did I mention how incredibly handsome you look today?”

He looked back, paused and said, “Wait a minute, are you saying that so I will be nice to you when I’m bigger?”

“Yep!”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that all I was really doing was using humor to deflect the tears that were welling up inside me.

children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Choked Up

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We had friends over this weekend.  As the adults were sitting outside on the lanai, my friend’s son comes racing out to announce that “T.Puzzle is choking!”  We weren’t too concerned as he had just been reprimanded for being a poor sport over a Wii game.  He was full of tears and snot so we figured he was ‘choking’ as part of his tantrum.  Mad Dog went upstairs to investigate.  What did he find?  T.Puzzle straddling Full Speed with both of his hands wrapped tightly around his older brother’s neck.  Full Speed was so stunned by this choking attack he wasn’t even trying to defend himself.

Thankfully, Full Speed was uninjured.  And, thankfully, this happened around the kind of friends who understand that kids lose it and still love us anyway.  I tried to imagine if we were only acquaintances how T.Puzzle’s behavior would have gone over.  Something like, “Their house was lovely but man, that T.Puzzle is CRAZY!  Watch your backs!”

Of course T.Puzzle was punished for his temporary loss of sanity.  Mad Dog and I tried to keep it in perspective.  Imagine no matter how hard you tried or how fast you ran, you never, ever get to beat your older brother at anything.  That has to be a pretty frustrating way to live.

So, even though we understand his motivation, we will never condone choking your brother out.

Technically I guess that is one thing T.Puzzle is better at.

T.Puzzle as a toddler showing 4 year old Full Speed glimpses of attacks to come.
T.Puzzle as a toddler showing 5-year-old Full Speed glimpses of future attacks.
children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

A Wrinkle in Time

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I don’t know what it is about being six years old in this house that makes you full of opinions and unsolicited feedback.  Here are a few examples of what T.Puzzle has recently shared with me:

“What’s that on your forehead?” he asked seemingly innocent.

“What?” I responded certain I had a zit or something else equally annoying forming on my brow.

“That crack right there!” he said as he shoved an index finger in the direction of a wrinkle.  Needless to say it was hard to feel warm and fuzzy towards him after this observation.

He also recently experienced a scraped knee while playing outside.  When it was time for dinner he decided he didn’t like how his dinner looked.  He promptly shared that he could not eat it because “it was too spicy and it made his knee hurt more.”  Again, I wasn’t feeling real charmed by his logic.

So, when he became sick at night and needed to stay home, I thought it would be a good chance for us to hang out.  I hoped his need for feedback would dissipate some.  It certainly worked.  We had a very low-key day and even watched a movie together.  It was nice to be reminded that underneath all his opinions lies a really awesome kid.

The next day as he got ready for school he faked a cough.  “I’m a little bit coughing today, I guess I better stay home again.”

Finally, an opinion I appreciated.  I sent him to school anyway.  Wrinkles make me stubborn like that.