Alex was "helping" me make out the grocery list last Saturday. He actually is kind of helpful. I give him a cookbook of easy weeknight meals and make him pick something. Of course, that meant one night last week we had Taco Dogs (hot dogs wrapped in tortillas with lettuce, refried beans and cheese) but it was one less night I had to decide what to cook. Anyway, when I tired of all the assistance I was receiving, I sent him into the kitchen to ask Art if he needed anything from the store. I listened from the living room as Art went through the list of toilet paper, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash and so on, how much he had of each and then concluded that no, he didn't need anything. When Alex walked back into the living room, I asked him, "Did Dad say he needed anything?"
"No," Alex replied, "but HE said it in a way more complicated way." Therein lies the danger in asking Dad questions. It's better that he learn now!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
A New Way to Climb the Anthill
On the way out of school one afternoon last week, I asked Alex how his day went. "Well, I got to the second anthill." I asked what had happened. "Oh, well, is today the day we go to art class?" Yes, it is. "Oh...I just pulled two ants for talking." Hmm, that doesn't sound suspicious at all. I'm really grateful that the boy doesn't lie well AT ALL.
My suspicions might have died there but when I was going through his homework folder I found a note. Now, I have an extensive collection of notes from this kid's teachers, camp counselors and other various supervisors (and, yes, I'm keeping them for posterity's sake), but this was the first one of its kind.
"Alex reached the second anthill today. The first one was for talking but the second one was for calling the art teacher by her first name." At this point the boy came be-bopping through the kitchen. "Hey, Alex, what's Ms. Pernell's first name?" The look of shock and dismay on his face was priceless. He turned a little gray and stammered, "How...how did you know?" I told him that I was a mom and I KNOW EVERYTHING. (I'm trying to keep that little fallacy alive at least through the first grade.) We then discussed how we not only do not address adults by their first name, we also don't call them dude or bro, and we most definitely do not fib to our mom about how we climbed the anthill.
As to how he knew the teacher's name, he cleared that up for me. She has a monogrammed lunch bag which he saw, and read, as he is now reading everything. He reads signs along the highway, TV commercials, newspapers, etc. In fact while he and Art were out and about the other day he was reading signs for him. Alex told Art "There's one sign that Mom doesn't like me to read." Art said, "Really? Which one?" Alex replied, "Well, I won't say it, but it's spelled H-O-O-T-E-R-S." I'm surprised Art didn't drive off the road. Art told him that it was a restaurant where the girls didn't wear very many clothes. Alex wolf-whistled from the backseat. I'm so glad I wasn't with them.
My suspicions might have died there but when I was going through his homework folder I found a note. Now, I have an extensive collection of notes from this kid's teachers, camp counselors and other various supervisors (and, yes, I'm keeping them for posterity's sake), but this was the first one of its kind.
"Alex reached the second anthill today. The first one was for talking but the second one was for calling the art teacher by her first name." At this point the boy came be-bopping through the kitchen. "Hey, Alex, what's Ms. Pernell's first name?" The look of shock and dismay on his face was priceless. He turned a little gray and stammered, "How...how did you know?" I told him that I was a mom and I KNOW EVERYTHING. (I'm trying to keep that little fallacy alive at least through the first grade.) We then discussed how we not only do not address adults by their first name, we also don't call them dude or bro, and we most definitely do not fib to our mom about how we climbed the anthill.
As to how he knew the teacher's name, he cleared that up for me. She has a monogrammed lunch bag which he saw, and read, as he is now reading everything. He reads signs along the highway, TV commercials, newspapers, etc. In fact while he and Art were out and about the other day he was reading signs for him. Alex told Art "There's one sign that Mom doesn't like me to read." Art said, "Really? Which one?" Alex replied, "Well, I won't say it, but it's spelled H-O-O-T-E-R-S." I'm surprised Art didn't drive off the road. Art told him that it was a restaurant where the girls didn't wear very many clothes. Alex wolf-whistled from the backseat. I'm so glad I wasn't with them.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Rare Frog(gy) sighting
Or maybe not - can you sight things that are imaginary and/or invisible? For those who have known Alex his whole seven year life (can you believe he is 7 today?!), you probably remember Crabby and Froggy who were his constant companions through preschool. Crabby and Froggy were an invisible crab and frog (duh) who were usually with us at all times. They seemed to be about real size but could talk, had frequent birthdays and were only visible to Alex. Crabby was a troublemaker who often pestered Alex, Froggy and anyone else unlucky enough to catch his attention. According to Alex, he also briefly worked at Subway. Anyway, as imaginary/invisible friends go, thus went Crabby and Froggy. We had fewer and fewer mentions of them until school started. Now we rarely hear anything about them.
So imagine my surprise last Saturday when Alex and Froggy came to my bedside to announce it was Froggy's 46th birthday. I asked if we needed to have any particular kind of celebration but Froggy is a modest sort and told me he really didn't need anything. Art was really surprised when I told him about it - he hadn't heard from Froggy in many months. I don't remember the last time I'd "seen" him. As the junior partner Froggy was usually relegated to the background while Crabby was their spokesperson. I guess Alex was preparing for his birthday this week and Froggy came to mind. We haven't had any other sightings since but it's good to hear from old friends!
So imagine my surprise last Saturday when Alex and Froggy came to my bedside to announce it was Froggy's 46th birthday. I asked if we needed to have any particular kind of celebration but Froggy is a modest sort and told me he really didn't need anything. Art was really surprised when I told him about it - he hadn't heard from Froggy in many months. I don't remember the last time I'd "seen" him. As the junior partner Froggy was usually relegated to the background while Crabby was their spokesperson. I guess Alex was preparing for his birthday this week and Froggy came to mind. We haven't had any other sightings since but it's good to hear from old friends!
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