My Son Oozes Awesome

Seriously.  I'm sitting here with him on one my first days off in ages, and so far this afternoon we have played at swordfightiing, Duplos, and this:

That's right.  Knights riding dinosaurs.  And jousting each other.

Oh, and later, he asked me rather clearly if we could watch Buffy.  Yeah, I love this kid. :)

Lessons of Mommyhood

Oh, the many things I've learned from my son recently.

1. Coffee tables are not for coffee or magazines, as I once thought.  They are for holding scraps of banana and crashing trucks on.
2. Anything can be a sword, so long as your opponent has a matching one.
3. There are never enough trucks or trains.  Even if you run out of space to play with them.
4. Learning tends to be messy, but it's worth it.
5. Toddler kisses tend to be messy, but they're worth it.
6. There is no excuse not to take a walk.  Even if it's thirty-two degrees out.
7. When in doubt, melodrama is always the answer.
8. Straws do, in fact, fit in toddler-sized nostrils.
9. All obstacles are meant to be climbed.  Even sleeping parents.
10. Toddlers can go from fully dressed to stark naked in 2.5 seconds.

My Child Has a Brain of His Own, Thank You.

It's a phrase I've heard a few times already, and it's starting to irritate me.

The first time involved his fingers and his nose, grossly enough.  He was digging for treasure one morning, and I told him "Fingers out of your nose.  That's gross."  He giggled and stuck both index fingers up his nose to the first knuckle.  I'd love to say that was it, but instead, it has become his favorite joke to play on me when he's feeling the least bit mischievous.  So, of course, it was only a matter of time before he did it in public.

Some random woman asked, "Who taught him that?  Was it Daddy?"

No.  He has a brain of his own, and he did it spontaneously.

Since then, I've heard it several times.  Any time Miles does something particularly silly or ingenious or (in more than one case) absolutely disgusting, I hear it:

"Who taught him that?"

As though my bright, inventive son is incapable of figuring out anything on his own.  Or even thinking for himself.  Let me be clear: there are plenty of things we do teach him - letters, numbers, self-care, care for our cat, etc, etc  But sticking his fingers up his nose is something he figured out all on his own.

I think the reason it bothers me is the perception that children - especially small children - are incapable of original thought.  That they must be taught everything.  That ingenuity is the sole claim of the adult.  And in my experience, it is exactly the opposite.  Children - especially young children - have a much greater capacity for ingenuity because no one has taught them that certain things are impossible.  When you view all things as possible, you find ways to make them happen, rather than giving up on them.  Adults are the ones who have to be taught.  Children absorb, and think, and create.

So, the next time someone asks, "Who taught him that?" I think I'm going to respond:

"No one.  Who taught you how to breathe?"

Sigh of Relief

Festival is over.  It is bittersweet, as always, but it is also a breath of fresh air.  A welcoming back of my weekends to spend with my son, and a sign that the cuddly at-home winter months are nearly upon us.  I can't wait to spend more time with this little man.

And maybe, just maybe, get a little sleep. :)

Friday Photos!

30 by 30 Update

Just because.

1. Read thirty books off of the list of top 100 banned books. - 0/30
2. Make thirty crafts I have not tried before.  Bonus points if each serves a practical purpose. - 1/30 - I made a cloth diaper wet bag!
3. Choreograph a dance for my children's group.  All by myself. - This will probably have to wait until next year.
4. Take 30,000 pictures. - 1,500/30,000
5. Cook or bake 30 dishes I have never made before. - No time. :(
6. Watch 30 classic movies I've never seen. - No time. :(
7. Learn to knit or crochet. - No time. :(
8. Take a dance lesson, or preferably, a dance class. - Not yet.
9. Take Miles to a new museum/event/activity/experience at least once a month. - So far, so good
10. Simplify my life by getting rid of things I do not need. - I've started, but it's slow progress.
11. Organize all of our household paperwork, and keep up on it. - Um, yeah.  Haven't even thought about it. . .
12. Start my own business.  Even if it's just selling a few craft items online from time to time. - Done some research, but that's about it.
13. Finish illustrating the children's book I wrote in college. - Nope.
14. Open a savings account for Miles. - Nope, though I have started collecting his money all in one place, so I can. . .
15. Send birthday cards to everyone in my immediate circle of family/friends for at least one year. - . . .I'll start in January?
16. Take Dominic through obedience classes. - Moot.  He moved in with a new family.
17. Decide if/when I'm going to go back for my Master's degree, and what I'm going to study. - Given it some thought, still clueless.
18. Audition for a musical. - No time.
19. Quit my Festival job and become a full-time stay-at-home mom. - Not sure I really want this anymore.
20. Compile my music collection into one place. - Nope.
21. Get a digital copy of every important photograph I have, and store them in a safe place. - Started.
22. Finish my digital family tree. - Um. . .yeah.  Kinda forgot. . .
23. Exercise every single day for at least 30 days. - I got through about ten days, and gave up.  I'll have to try again.
24. Learn at least 30 new signs for use at Special Olympics. 5/30
25. Learn to play at least ten new games. - Not really.
26. Become more involved in the financial planning of our household. - Slowly.
27. Set up our wills, and arrange for custody of Miles, should anything unfortunate happen. - Nope.
28. Find a church where my family is comfortable, and become an active member. - Nope.
29. Participate in a flash mob. - Hoping to do so this on Sunday.
30. Contact at least ten of my teachers from elementary, middle, high school, and college, and tell them how they have influenced my life. 2 of 10 contacted.

4:00 AM

A soft crying invades my dream, and I am suddenly wide awake.  I am opening the door to Miles' room before I am fully conscious of what is going on..  His light is on, and there he stands in the center of the room, sobbing in his white t-shirt and diaper.  I go to him, trying to figure out what is upsetting my poor little boy in the middle of the night.

I never do figure it out.  I pick him up, turn off the light, and hum lullabies as he snuggles in and the crying subsides.  For a time, this continues, until his little eyes finally droop and his soft body becomes heavy.  And laying there, in the dark, I make a decision to stay here just a little longer, treasuring this moment when Mommy can cure any ill, knowing that this time is fleeting.

The Perfect Birthday Party

Lots of fun

An awesome cake.

Sword-fighting with the cousins.

Opening gifts

Eating cake.

Feeding cake to Mommy (or, at least the frosting). :)

Popsicles instead of ice cream.

Reading one of the many books.

Sword-fighting with Grandfather

Happy Birthday to my boy. :)