Yes, Jamie lost his first baby tooth on Saturday. It had been loose for quite some time and the permanent tooth, about twice the size, was already well up behind it. Jamie was a little ambivalent about the whole business. On the one hand, with so many of his friends losing teeth, he has the distinct impression that this is a big kid thing to do, so that's good. Also, he has learned of the tooth fairy and is interested in the acquisition of wealth so that he can buy Star Wars legos or Bakugans without being subjected to the whims and vagaries of his undependable parents. On the other hand, he was a little disquieted by the feeling of looseness in his mouth and genuinely apprehensive about whether it would hurt when it came out. By Friday night it was very loose indeed and he couldn't stop messing with it, but the more he did so the more upset he became. He wanted me to pull it out but recoiled every time I got near.
Unfortunately, we never actually saw the tooth come out and it was lost. We assured him that the tooth fairy knew the deal and didn't need the actual tooth. He was clearly doing some thinking about the nature of the tooth fairy and his beliefs that night, though he did not say so exactly. Just before bed he asked me if I believed in Santa Claus. Yes, I said quickly, aware that I meant this metaphorically, but that even so I was lying a bit.
Anyway, he was very pleased about the $1 so alls well that ends well. Except that this is only the beginning. Parenthood is a process of perpetual inexperience as we seem to be unready for each new phase. We actually had to borrow a dollar bill to avoid a highly awkward situation and even so very nearly forgot to put it under his pillow.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Scary things
Jamie is a very brave little boy. He used to be so timid, but now he just dives headlong into new situations. It's quite inspiring. We are always asking him if TV shows or movies scare him and he just laughs at us. The key for him seems to be a very clear sense of real and imaginary. The only things, in fact, that seem to upset him are historical events. He's been very into the Magic Tree House books lately. These are great for him and he absolutely loves them, but at times they can get a little intense. The Titanic one, for instance, gets pretty graphic about the situation at sea and Jamie needed to take this very slowly. As is his wont, he memorized a number of salient details, as you'll see below.
Generally, Jamie reacts in a reassuring way to these things, talking about how he would run away, or get on a lifeboat or something sensible like that. One night after we read a bit and the boys headed off to bed, Connor started talking about the same thing, saying that if he were on the Titanic, he would stay on the life boat. Jamie, with his great older brother knowledge, then said, ever a little impatiently, "Connoooo. The life-boats are used to get AWAY from the boat. And I hate to tell you this but there were only 20 lifeboats and they needed 40 to get everybody off the boat. It's very sad..." Here the voice cracks a little and the pedantic tone shifts to uncertainty. "It's making me really sad, right now. Now...I'm...crying..." And indeed he was. Poor little fellow, when he knows things are real, he feels them acutely. Connor, meanwhile, had already moved on.
Generally, Jamie reacts in a reassuring way to these things, talking about how he would run away, or get on a lifeboat or something sensible like that. One night after we read a bit and the boys headed off to bed, Connor started talking about the same thing, saying that if he were on the Titanic, he would stay on the life boat. Jamie, with his great older brother knowledge, then said, ever a little impatiently, "Connoooo. The life-boats are used to get AWAY from the boat. And I hate to tell you this but there were only 20 lifeboats and they needed 40 to get everybody off the boat. It's very sad..." Here the voice cracks a little and the pedantic tone shifts to uncertainty. "It's making me really sad, right now. Now...I'm...crying..." And indeed he was. Poor little fellow, when he knows things are real, he feels them acutely. Connor, meanwhile, had already moved on.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Heartbreaking Connor story of the day
Poor Connor. It is hard sometimes being the younger brother. Jamie is, of course, the most fascinating, funny, inimitable character in the world and endlessly more interesting than Sarah or I. Connor wants to be with Jamie and do what he does all the time. Very often this works out well because Jamie is forever in search of a partner in crime and Connor is all too happy to be co-opted. The problem is that if another partner presents his or herself to Jamie, Connor is frequently jettisoned.
Last weekend a family that lives down the street came over for dinner. They have a 5-year-old boy, who is great friends with Jamie, and a 2-year-old girl who is just heavenly. Every time we see them, which is not infrequntly, we are rewarded for our decision to move. Anyway, Connor couldn't care less about the little girl, of course, and just wants to play with the big boys. At best, he has trouble physically keeping up with them and at worst the game becomes getting away from, or otherwise torturing, Connor. On this night in question Jamie's friend got really into playing with Legos, which Jamie didn't want to do, so that made him sad. Connor meanwhile, just wanted to play with Jamie, who had no interest in him. We were in the other room when we heard Connor start to wail. We went in (not quite rushed in, I'm afraid, because in these post-pacifier days this happens often enough not to be alarming). I found him on the couch absolutely inconsolable. I asked what was wrong and it took a good 30 seconds for him to calm down enough to blurt out: "Jamie doesn't want to be WIFF me!!!!" before dissolving again. Poor little fellow. I offered myself, Sarah, our friends, the Obamas, and double chocolate brownies all as substitutes. None would do.
Last weekend a family that lives down the street came over for dinner. They have a 5-year-old boy, who is great friends with Jamie, and a 2-year-old girl who is just heavenly. Every time we see them, which is not infrequntly, we are rewarded for our decision to move. Anyway, Connor couldn't care less about the little girl, of course, and just wants to play with the big boys. At best, he has trouble physically keeping up with them and at worst the game becomes getting away from, or otherwise torturing, Connor. On this night in question Jamie's friend got really into playing with Legos, which Jamie didn't want to do, so that made him sad. Connor meanwhile, just wanted to play with Jamie, who had no interest in him. We were in the other room when we heard Connor start to wail. We went in (not quite rushed in, I'm afraid, because in these post-pacifier days this happens often enough not to be alarming). I found him on the couch absolutely inconsolable. I asked what was wrong and it took a good 30 seconds for him to calm down enough to blurt out: "Jamie doesn't want to be WIFF me!!!!" before dissolving again. Poor little fellow. I offered myself, Sarah, our friends, the Obamas, and double chocolate brownies all as substitutes. None would do.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Beware! Science!
Jamie has been going to a science class after school one day a week. When we first informed him of this (as with many kids, it is sometimes best to package something new as a fait accompli) he was resistant. But when I picked him up after the first day he was bubbling with enthusiasm, and said "I wish I could go everyday!!" Every week now, he proudly brings home the results of experiments with chemistry, magnets, colors, sounds, etc. One never quite knows what he will emerge with from week to week. Case in point: this week Sarah picked him up and he came running out with a bag of white powder and proclaimed "Mommy! We have to make sure to tell Daddy not to sniff this!!!"
Seems it is the hyper-absorbent chemical they put in diapers to soak up liquid, and would do bad things in one's lungs.
Seems it is the hyper-absorbent chemical they put in diapers to soak up liquid, and would do bad things in one's lungs.
Brotherly love
We have been discussing summer camp plans with the boys. There is, by and large, great enthusiasm. Contrary to his increasingly obsolete reputation as a non-joiner, Jamie claims to have loved camp last summer. We assumed this was because of having his brother from another mother, Will, there. But he says he wants to go even if Will isn't there this year. As it happens this group is running a camp from the boys' old pre-school, as well as a place very near our house. We asked them and they were actually tickled by the prospect of being at their old stomping ground, perhaps because they can feel like distinguished alums now.
As we were talking about this, Connor suddenly says, in his sweetest, most heart-breaking little three-year-old voice: "Jamie? Will you take care of me at camp???" Jamie, of course, deferred answering by saying, "Connoooor (accompanied as often by eye rolling). You won't even be in the same group as me." We agreed, however, that Jamie could keep an eye on him in the playground and during camp-wide activities. Jamie wasn't overly excited about it but Connor then came after Jamie, arms extended for a rare fraternal hug. Reluctantly it was returned and good feelings abounded. For a little while.
As we were talking about this, Connor suddenly says, in his sweetest, most heart-breaking little three-year-old voice: "Jamie? Will you take care of me at camp???" Jamie, of course, deferred answering by saying, "Connoooor (accompanied as often by eye rolling). You won't even be in the same group as me." We agreed, however, that Jamie could keep an eye on him in the playground and during camp-wide activities. Jamie wasn't overly excited about it but Connor then came after Jamie, arms extended for a rare fraternal hug. Reluctantly it was returned and good feelings abounded. For a little while.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The donut train
The boys and I have a Sunday tradition of going to get kolaches before Sarah gets up. For the non-Texans out there the kolache is a wonderful breakfast item of soft bread that can be filled with a variety of things including egg, cheese, sausage, potatoes, etc. It is significant in our household because while Jamie would never eat eggs under any ordinary circumstances, the egg and cheese kolache, which is in fact quite a substantial thing, is the one breakfast food he eats absolutely without fail.
On some mornings, we go next door to the donut store and bring those back as well. The boys like this of course and clamour for it constantly. Apparently it stays in their minds during the week as well. Last evening Sarah was sitting in her study listening to Connor playing with his train tracks in the next room. Both boys have the very appealing habit of voicing different characters when they get really into playing. Here's what she heard:
Connor says in an exaggerated, deep voice:
On some mornings, we go next door to the donut store and bring those back as well. The boys like this of course and clamour for it constantly. Apparently it stays in their minds during the week as well. Last evening Sarah was sitting in her study listening to Connor playing with his train tracks in the next room. Both boys have the very appealing habit of voicing different characters when they get really into playing. Here's what she heard:
Connor says in an exaggerated, deep voice:
"Thomas, I want you to get the donut train. To bring donuts to people."
"Yes sir!"
(Sound of trains moving on track)
The kid has the makings of a great public servant!
The kid has the makings of a great public servant!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The joys of Texas winters
We had a three-day weekend this week with MLK day so Jamie's BFF Will came over for the day. Now, time was having Jamie and Will together was an exercise in crowd control in miniature, because unless directed in some very defined way they could spin out of control fairly quickly. But suddenly, big boys of 6 and 5 that they are, they just disappear and play nicely for hours. By great good fortune there was a the day before and it's become quite warm. So Will arrived at about 9 and immediately announced he wanted to go outside and Jamie and Connor followed. We then watched in amazement as they stayed outside for the next 5 1/2 hours almost completely without a break. The real miracle was that not once did we have to tell anybody to include Connor, be nice to Connor, not to hurl any kind of projectiles at Connor. This was a nice change from the last time we hosted a play date when there were actually two friends plus Connor and Jamie. The only way I could keep them from turning on Connor was to put them all on a team against me in freeze-tag. This actually turned out to be a great exercise in team-building but 2 hours of it is exhausting. For me of course. They were fine.
Of all of Jamie's friends Will is by far the sweetest with Connor and as a result Connor thinks Will is his best friend too. It's a little heartbreaking because he never quite understands when Jamie goes over to Will's why he doesn't get to go to. When the doo opens and Jamie runs in, Connor just follows, only to be told that no, he can't stay. Whenever we ask if he wants to invite a friend over he just says "Will." He clearly has some buddies in his own classroom (in fact Sarah spotted a little girl kissing him repeatedly while they were waiting outside to be picked up yesterday) but Will is just cooler I guess.
Connor and Jamie's relationship continues to evolve. They are often at odds over toys and Connor's tendency to want to copy and repeat everything Jamie does and says it's true, but more and more they have a great time together. Jamie can be really sweet and supportive of Connor. When he's in the right mood, if Connor reads something or does something well he'll say so genuinely, "Way to go bunny!!!" He's even starting saying, "Connor you're a genius!!"
Of all of Jamie's friends Will is by far the sweetest with Connor and as a result Connor thinks Will is his best friend too. It's a little heartbreaking because he never quite understands when Jamie goes over to Will's why he doesn't get to go to. When the doo opens and Jamie runs in, Connor just follows, only to be told that no, he can't stay. Whenever we ask if he wants to invite a friend over he just says "Will." He clearly has some buddies in his own classroom (in fact Sarah spotted a little girl kissing him repeatedly while they were waiting outside to be picked up yesterday) but Will is just cooler I guess.
Connor and Jamie's relationship continues to evolve. They are often at odds over toys and Connor's tendency to want to copy and repeat everything Jamie does and says it's true, but more and more they have a great time together. Jamie can be really sweet and supportive of Connor. When he's in the right mood, if Connor reads something or does something well he'll say so genuinely, "Way to go bunny!!!" He's even starting saying, "Connor you're a genius!!"
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