Congratulations Graduates!

Today was A's graduation from preschool.  He has been in the same preschool with the same teacher for 2 years and we have loved every minute of it.  The teachers he has had have been so great with him and so understanding of him and his abilities and needs.  When he first started at Jowonio he was unable to peddle a tricycle.  Now he is able to ride a bike with training wheels (I should try him without to see if he can do it).  He was barely understood by people that didn't know him and now, nearly 100% of people understand him!  He couldn't hold a crayon/pencil, let alone write.  Now, he can write his name amongst other things.  He is able to read, sound out words, using those sounds to spell words, and answer "W" questions (those he still frequently says "mom, can you stop telling me about my day" when I ask him questions after school). 

One of the most important things is that he has friends and feels like he belongs.   He never had friends before.  He was never invited to playdates, never mentioned a friend, and never belonged.  That isn't the case.  When we were at a recent school carnival for a local elementary school, he climbed in the bounce house and excited raced over to the door and exclaimed, "Mom, all of my friends are here!!"  He loves his friends and school and because of his teachers, he has learned how to engage with peers (not that he is perfect at it and he still has some learning to do, but he is so much better off).  This is going to benefit him hugely when he starts kindergarten next week. 

I am so proud of him and the accomplishments he has made.  He hasn't had an easy life (I mean, it hasn't been the worst, but not easy either).  He had significant delays in language and motor and an inability to make friends.  He grew up listening to his father and I argue and saw a horrible example of a relationship.  He moved to a new state with me when he was 3 and has seen the drama and stress caused by our court battles.  But, he has persevered and has made huge changes.  He never says he can't do something and always is willing to try it.  So, congratulations A on your graduation!  I know that you'll do great things in life and I'm fortunate to be your mom so I can see what an amazing person you become.

And, thank you to all the teachers he's had over the past 2 years.  Each of you has a lasting impact on him and our family and I can't express to you enough how thankful I am for your help and support.  Jowonio is an amazing resource and you are amazing people to work there.  The world is better off with you in it.

~G

Lunchbox Suggestion and Fundraiser

I pack A's lunch every day and have for 2 years now so I'm always on the look out for containers that are reusable, but easy enough for him to open himself.  I've spent hundreds of dollars on lunch container items (literally) and have finally found something that is easy for him, convenient for me and inexpensive! 

I present you with the Easy Lunchbox System.  The system comes with 4 sectional (3 compartments) containers and lids.  You can also get the bag to hold the container as well.  I generally put the container in the bag, some fresh fruit, yogurt, and a drink on top of the container.  The bag fits in the bottom of his backpack so it is really, really convenient. 

I love the containers so much, I'm running a fundraiser for my son's school.  Please consider purchasing a set to help his school, you won't be disappointed.  

~G

Things I'd never thought I'd have to say:

10. No, you cannot eat poop.

9. It isn't okay to dance in pee.

8. Get your fingers out of your butt.

7. Seriously, stop drinking bath water.

6. Sorry, but I will not let you get hit by a car.

5.  Please, stop eating all the fruit from the frig! (in my defense, I spend easily $100+ a week on fruit)

4. Don't eat bugs

3. Food from the floor is dirty, you cannot eat it.

2. "F&*^ You is not a gentle word."

1. Sorry your 'gina hurts. This is why I tell you to use toilet paper to wipe yourself.

Apparently, my kids are gross kids because most of these are related to eating/doing gross things!

~G

I don't want you to keep me safe.

It's been awhile since I've posted.  It was a quiet few days.  That changed today.  After dinner, we decided to take the kids to get ice cream from Friendly's.  We get there and, as usual, the mayhem begins.  It generally sounds like this, "Sit down on your behind."  "You are inside so that is too loud."  "Calling someone a witch is not a gentle word and it is not okay."  "If you can't sit on your bottom and use your inside voice, no ice cream."  "Great googly moogly, just SIT DOWN!"  Apparently they were freshly churning the ice cream today because it took awhile.  But the ice cream finally comes and it is a sheer bliss, for all of 10 minutes.  Ice cream is gone, clean up begins and out we go.  C runs in front of me.  Now, generally she stops and waits when she gets to a parking lot as she must hold my hand.  Today, she decided to run out into the parking lot.  I grab her arm and tell her it is NOT okay to run into a parking lot.  She immediately starts crying and says, "you hurted my arm!"  I told her I was sorry that I hurt her arm but that I had to protect her from running in the parking lot because there are cars there that could run her over.  Here is the rest of the conversation:

C: I don't want you to protect me.
G: C, it is my job as a mommy to protect you.  This is why I grabbed your arm to keep you safe.
C: I don't want to be safe. 
G: If you aren't safe, you run the risk of getting run over by a car.
C: I don't want a car to run me over.
G: I don't want that either, that is why I need to keep you safe.
C: I DON'T WANT YOU TO KEEP ME SAFE!  I WANT THE CAR TO RUN ME OVER.
G: C, I'm not going to argue with you about this.  It is my job to keep you safe as a mommy and I'm going to do my job, period.
C: I don't want to be safe (mumblings under her breathe).

Honestly, I never thought I'd have to argue with my kid about the importance of keeping her safe.  

For the love of radishes!

We belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which means that we pay for a share in a farm and then get lots of vegetables each week.  Yesterday was out first box of veggies for the season.  I was too busy to clean anything yesterday so I cleaned it all today.  C was in heaven!  I knew she liked veggies, but holy cow, apparently she LOVES veggies!  She wanted to know what each item was and she wanted to taste each one.  Each time I washed a new vegetable and put it to dry, she took some of it it eat.  Today, she ate a sample of the following:

Boston Lettuce
Spinach
Romaine Lettuce
Radish Greens
Radishes
Turnip Greens
Beet Greens
Chinese Cabbage

Her favorite was all the lettuces.  She is a HUGE fan of salad and was just thrilled to have so much of it available to her.  After her salad appetizer, she decided she wanted granola for dinner.  She is a vegetarian hippie in the making.

~G

Pee and the Tree

Wonders why it is that we can all go to the bathroom just before we get outside, yet the minute we get outside, A needs to pee?  And, he needs to pee on a tree.  I mean, I know it is a man thing because I've peed outside and let me tell you, its no fun and its hard work.  I don't find it liberating at all.  But, A just loves it.

It all started when we were at an ice cream shop with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew.  A suddenly needed to pee and there was no bathroom.  So, my brother-in-law showed him how to pee outside.  It was instant love.  From that point on, when he was outside, he dropped his pants and peed, wherever he was, it made no difference.  He has peed outside at my sister's house and my house, at numerous parks and at his school. 

So one time, he was at our house when he decided he needed to pee.  As a side note, I'm grateful we have a 6 foot tall wooden fence so our neighbors don't see him peeing all over the place.  He dropped his pants and started to pee.  J told him he had to pee on the tree.  So, he raced over and peed on the tree.

Due to this fact, we now have trees with different purposes.  We have a climbing tree and a peeing tree.  Fortunately, they are easy to tell apart.  The climbing tree can be climbed.  The peeing tree has no branches for a good 15-20 feet up. 

Now, unfortunately, my daughter also wants to pee outside.  And, she wants to pee standing up and get her pee on the tree.  I've tried holding her so she could pee through my arms (I'm a great mom, most wouldn't risk getting peed on like this), she was NOT happy.  I tried explaining anatomy so she understood why she couldn't pee like A.  This just resulted in her screaming at the top of her lungs while crying, "I want a PENIS!"  I tried just letting her pee, but the pee went down not on the tree, which left her unhappy again.  I think that penis envy is due to the peeing outside issue.

~G

Candy solves everything

Today, C slipped getting out of the tub.  She brushed her nose on the padded potty seat.  Now, I have no doubt it scared her and probably did hurt for a second.  So, of course, she is crying and crying.  I tell her I'm sorry she got hurt, offer hugs and kisses.  She is still crying.  So, I ask what I can do to help her feel better.  She instantly looks at me, puts on her best frown face with big eyes that say Please do what I say and says "Candy!  I need candy to make me feel better."  I laugh and tell her nice try. She laughs and says "well, where's my candy?"  I tell her she can't have candy and she says "pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese?  It will make me feel better."  I laugh again, ask her who gives her candy when she gets hurt (she replies "linda" (her teacher at school) tell her no and change the subject.  The irony is that she isn't a huge candy fan.  She'll choose salad over candy any day of the week, but apparently, she's learned through school that candy solves all.