Me: Owen, come here, I need to talk to you about something.
Owen: What?
Me: Mama isn’t happy with something you did downstairs last night.
Owen: What?
Me: You know what you did.
Owen: Looking sheepish. I sprayed hair gel all over the bathroom.
Me: Yes, and it made a sticky mess.
Owen: I’m sorry.
Me: Well it was kind of funny because I went to the bathroom and the seat stuck to my butt.
Owen: Giggle.
Me: But you made a mess and you have to clean it up.
Owen: Why?
Me: You know.
Owen: Because we clean up our messes.
He knows. 🙂
So I gave him a Clorox wipe and he did a cursory wipe over the sink, toilet, and floor. I would have made him do more (or better) but it was a school morning and we didn’t have that much time.
He sang a funny on-the-spot made up poop song for me so I asked him to sing it again so I could record it. Of course it wasn’t anything close to what he originally sang, but it was still cute. PLUS! I got the bonus of a pee song. (It’s obviously school-related since he talks about teachers and going back to your “center” which is the different learning areas of the classroom like Library, Housekeeping, Art, and Science.)
I tried to have a talk with Owen about getting rid of some of his toys to donate to kids who don’t have as much as he does—especially since Santa will surely be bringing him some new toys for Christmas.
He seemed to really think about it and agree that would be a good idea.
Me: So what toys do you want to give away?
Owen: My costumes…my blocks…my guns…my swords…my trains.
Me: All of those things? You know you won’t get them back, right?
Owen: Yep.
That’s pretty much a list of ALL his favorite toys. I’m thinking he didn’t quite understand and was more concerned with the tower he was building at that moment. 🙂
So of the items he listed, I picked the toys he played with the least. I asked what specific trains he will donate and asked him to separate them into piles. I figured this would be interesting since he RARELY plays with them.
He picks out the Ikea trains to give away and his Owen train letters to keep. Okay, not bad. Then I dig for the Thomas trains he hasn’t even seen in at least six months and ask about those. Nope. HE LOVES THEM ALL AND THEY’RE ALL SPECIAL TO HIM! Of course they are. 😐
So it looks like I’ll be doing the toy purge by myself.
The good part about buying kids shoes ahead of time? You can get good sale prices. (It was still a crazy price for kids shoes, but they were $10 off and SOOOOO cute.)
The bad part about buying kids shoes ahead of time? You are only guessing at the sizes and by the time the season is right to wear them, they could already be outgrown.
At least these still fit, but they are a bit tighter than I’d hoped for (they are a 6.5 and I think she’s almost at the limit of her size 6s).
So, since she was wearing boots, that required tights—her FIRST tights, in fact! She didn’t think twice about them and didn’t try to remove them at all! And then it was picking a dress which she might not fit in when it gets to be warm again—a size 18m. But first, we tried shoes because I thought I might be able to exchange the boots for a bigger size (at Amazon) but they are out of stock.
When Owen saw her, he said “Katie! You are so adorable!” 🙂
So he asked to watch TV and I said no (Why? Why mama why?) and I asked him if he remembered what happened last night and he said yes, he was being snotty. And then he decided ON HIS OWN to put away toys! I said I liked that decision and would help him once he got started. It lasted about three minutes before his attention was elsewhere. But I was fine because he was playing with Katie and I hadn’t asked him to do it.
Fast forward about an hour and there was a toy he wanted to play with but it required floor space so I said we needed to pick up first. I only had to remind (prompt) him twice and it was done. EASY PEASY!
Color me flabbergasted. And happy.
So he got to play with his toy. And then later he asked to watch a show so I said yes. And we had a talk at bedtime about how I was very proud of him and he made me very happy tonight (as opposed to last night) and he seemed excited. I hope it continues.
Owen: Mama I want to go to the pirate cracker.
Me: The what?
Owen: The pirate cracker.
Me: I have no idea what that is.
Owen: We went the other day. The pirate cracker.
I feel like over the past few days I am suddenly spiraling out of control with Owen. There’s a lot of stubbornness and snottiness on his part and a lot of ensuing frustration and yelling on my part. Maybe he’s just becoming a normal 4-almost-5-year-old but he’s really been so good overall thus far that anything out of the ordinary really throws me. And he is definitely acting out of the ordinary. I almost feel like I’m at the end of my rope with this issue…and it’s only been a few days.
You know he’s always been VERY good about doing his chores (helping with Maggie, picking up toys, clearing the table) but lately he just flat out refuses to help pick up toys at bedtime (yes, I said help, because I do it with him). He starts playing with every toy, he starts playing with Katie, he whines that Katie is stepping on him or otherwise in his way, he suddenly can’t figure out how to put the boxes together, he whines at every step, and then he always says some variation of “I am NOT going to pick up toys…I don’t wanna.”
He knows talking back and being grouchy will lose him TV privileges (his favorite thing) but he continues to do it. He knows he won’t get his chore badge (which with enough missing badges he loses his weekly reward toy). He knows he will have to go to bed early and won’t get a bedtime story (which I reiterate every night—I remind him of it all EVERY night). It doesn’t matter. Tonight I even broke down and played the “I might have to talk to Santa card” which kind of got his attention and he said he didn’t want me to talk to Santa so I told him I’d give him one more chance… But every night he promises he’ll be a good boy the next night…and it doesn’t happen. I gave him a “last chance” while he was brushing his teeth, telling him he could stay up to his regular bedtime if he went back downstairs and picked up the toys and he interrupted me to tell me he’d just go to bed.
Of course, after having first been calm and patient for 15-30 minutes with all the repeated warnings and waiting for him to pick up toys on his own…and then with him being grouchy to me…I end up getting frustrated and yelling. It just sucks because he’s GREAT from the time he gets home through dinner…but the last 30 minutes make me want to throttle him.
We don’t have enough time to put toys away in the morning. We could try to put them away earlier in the day, but it’s hard because Katie just pulls them all out again anyway. I guess it’s possible he’s acting out against Tom being gone, but why now? Why the last few days?
I want to stop yelling. I don’t want to be frustrated. I want my good little boy back.
Owen: Mama, what does that sign say?
Me: Season’s Greetings, City of Jacksonville.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because that’s what it says.
Owen: Why? Why mama why?
Me: I need to go out at the light.
Owen: What does that mean?
Me: It means I need to exit the parking lot at the traffic light so it’s easier to take our turn.
Owen: Why?
Me: So we don’t have to wait as long.
Owen: Why? Why mama why?
Me: Owen, you need to pick up some toys.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because I asked you to and it’s one of your chores.
Owen: Why?
Me: You need to get dressed for school.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because you have to go to school today.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because it’s a school day.
Owen: Why?
Me: Owen, it’s time to pick up toys.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because it’s one of your chores.
Owen: Why?
Me: Owen, please drink your juice.
Owen: Why? Why mama why?
Me: Owen, you need to put your shoes on.
Owen: Why?
Me: Because you want to go outside.
Owen: Why?
Me: I don’t know, why do you want to go outside?
Me: Owen, you need a jacket.
Owen: Why?
Me: It’s chilly out.
Owen: Why? Why mama why?
Owen: There’s no wind no rain no storm?
Me: No.
Owen: Why?
I swear it was snowing last night before bed but it couldn’t have been because it was still like 38 degrees…but it really looked like it. This morning, I woke up to this:
Owen was VERY exited! When I got out of the shower at 6:50, he already had one flip flop on because he wanted to go outside to play! So we got him dressed quickly, put tennis shoes on, and off he went! “Mama! I love snow!” He’s obviously not my kid.
Much closer to home this time—the elementary school just down the road. 🙂
Katie’s first slides! I missed her very first one but she kept coming back (though not one right after the other). A few times I thought she’d go down frontward but always flipped over.
She also really liked swinging with me. She’d say “Wheee!” And would swing back and forth a few times then want down. She’d wander off then come back and put her arms up. 🙂
On the way home.
Owen: Mom, that was AWESOME! Thank you so much for taking me to the playground!
On the way home from school one day, Owen was telling me about how Joshua went to the doctor and got a shot in his finger (not sure if it was a finger prick or an actual shot) and he kept jumping around to different stories about the day.
Owen: Mama, I’m not done with Josh’s story yet—it has more words.
While Skyping with daddy.
Me: Tell daddy who won the two games today.
Owen: Owen and Owen!
Driving home after school one day he started naming school buses.
Owen: That one’s Holly!
Me: Like Holly from your class?
Owen: YES! All the yellow ones are Holly.
Me: They’re all yellow.
Owen: No, some are blue. Those are named Jazzlyn.
After Katie throws stuff off her high chair tray.
Me: No no Miss Katie.
Owen: That’s not good.
Today we had a birthday party at a bowling alley for one of Owen’s classmates.
He had great fun using up his allotted tokens:
And I played one game for him and won over 100 tickets! He liked feeding them into the counting machine! (I thought we were done at this point which is why I turned them in so early. By the time the day was done, I had three redemption slips!)
Then it was time for pizza, cake, and opening presents. Overall it wasn’t too bad, but the party room was SUPER tiny for all the kids and let me just ask: If you were having a birthday party at a bowling alley on a limited time schedule with little kids with a short attention span, why on earth would you bring ALL your personal presents (at least 10-12)? Bring maybe 2-3 from mom and dad (if any at all) and open the rest at home. But anyway.
Owen was really very patient, and finally it was time for bowling. He wasn’t thrilled with the shoes but I told him he had to wear them. The first few frames went pretty well (they had the bumpers up) but honestly, trying to corral ten or so ~5-year-olds into bowling is like trying to herd cats. Kids running here, running there, between lanes, down the lanes while others are bowling, not waiting their turns, wanting to punch all the buttons on the display… And the noise level? Eeesh. Owen started complaining that the shoes hurt his feet and even though they felt fine, I let him take them off. I bowled in socks as a kid and so could he.
Here was his first go at it!
Then they brought out the helper stands—which made a HUGE difference in the success of each turn.
So it was only Owen and another kid on the last lane. This kid seemed to be a little older and a little bit of a brat—and I have NO idea who his mother was/parents were because no one was ever once close to him the whole time I was there. Well, in about frame six, this kid grabs a ball off the ball return and I guess was trying to be nice and bring Owen a ball for his turn… And just as I’m realizing this could go horribly wrong…yep, bowling ball to the toe. Screaming, wailing, tears, and a little boy sobbing in my lap.
A few moms and kids came over to see if he was okay (he was, he just had to cry a bit and settle down) and one offered to get some ice (oh, yeah, that would be good—I was so concerned with calming him down I had completely zoned on getting ice). Anyway, that was the end of the fun and he just kept saying he wanted to go home. I said we could but we had to leave the ice on for a bit first. The other kid never apologized (I’m sure he didn’t think anything of it) and whoever was there with him never came over (I recognized the few moms that did come over) so that was kind of annoying.
We did have to stop and redeem his tickets on the way out. He had picked out what he wanted earlier and of course they were out of that item. But the guy said we could pick ANYTHING in the case! (I mean it’s all cheap crap, but Owen was excited!) So he picked handcuffs! 🙂 Then it was a slow hobble to the car (I obviously can’t carry him) and he really was a trooper for as painful as I know it was. On the way home I tried to get his mind off it it and had him smiling and laughing. And since he can take pills now, I stopped at Walgreens to get some children’s Advil.
Of course he couldn’t wait to get home to tell Gramma and Grandpa about it and show them. We asked him if he knew the kid and he said no, but he always drops the bowling ball on his foot. 🙂
Gramma Jean wanted to go to the ocean and take the kids, so we picked Owen up from school and headed out! I knew Owen hadn’t eaten much lunch (the menu for the day was mostly stuff he wouldn’t eat) so he ate turkey rolls and cheese on the way. We were going to the beach on base since we were already part of the way there from picking Owen up. So, it occurred to me to call the commissary and find out if they had fresh lobsters (the last time mom was here and we wanted them, no place had them). And they did! So we stopped off there first—and what should have been a 10 minute or less stop turned into at least a half hour since no one was in the meat department to help me, no one was answering the buzzer, the sushi guy went off to find him, and then it still took a good 10 minutes for him to come back, then he had to catch the wily critters. Then the traffic was pretty bad (even though we were going the opposite direction)…so we finally got to the beach about 4:00 (we picked Owen up at 2:30!). GRRR.
But all was well because Owen was very excited:
Owen: Where’s my suit? Can I get my suit on?!
Me: I didn’t bring your suit. It’s too cold to swim—but you can get wet because I brought a change of clothes.
Owen: OKAY!
Off and running! No looking back!
Okay, maybe a little looking back. 🙂
The weather and water were actually pretty nice for it being November—both were warmer than we had in Myrtle Beach in March!
Katie had NO fear of the water and went right for it. Unfortunately…the ocean got the better of her…a few times. She just lost her footing and was rolling around in the water and then would get up and fall over again. The water wasn’t deep and she wasn’t in any danger and never once made a peep! Mom and I were both recording her, but mom’s video is better:
So, we weren’t at the beach for more than five minutes before she was completely soaked. 🙂
She loved grabbing handsful of sand and carrying them around and giving them to grandma!
We were only there about a half hour before we needed to call it quits—damn time change has it getting dark at 4:30 plus the kids were both wet and sandy.
Unfortunately, we then had a looooooooong ride home in after-work base traffic so we all got to experience what Tom goes through every day. One hour and 15 minutes to drive 26 miles (but really one hour to drive 15 miles because the last 15 minutes was smooth sailing).
But both kids had a great time and before we even got home Owen was asking to go back!
Owen: Mama, is it okay to go outside and play?
Me: Yes.
Owen: Cool. Is it okay to wear my Crocs?
Me: Yes.
Owen: Cool. Mama, is it okay to take Gramma Jean outside?
Me: Laughing. Well I think you need to ask her.
Grandpa: Just wait until we get her harness. 🙂
Playing guns with Gramma:
Gramma put a pair of Katie’s old socks on her hands—and she loved it!
Owen: Why is Gramma Jean coming?
Me: Why is she? I told you. [I had a conversation with him today about how they were coming for a vacation.]
Owen: She’s coming to have fun with me!
So off we went. He put on his new fast shoes so he could run…but then didn’t do too much running because he said his legs hurt. I asked where and he pointed to his shins. I’m wondering if he’s having growing pains…? I think I was a bit older, but I remember my legs hurting and my parents telling me my bones were growing… So I told him his bones are probably growing. Of course he asked why and I told him that’s how he gets taller. Ohhhhh! I told him not everyone can feel their bones grow so he’s special…just like mama. 🙂
Then he wanted to push Katie. Needless to say we had to wait until we were back on our less-travelled street because he cannot manage anything resembling a straight line. Of course he’s hamming it up doing circles in the video, but it’s not too far off. Then he even had to stop to put oil on the wheels (using his sunglasses that he found in the stroller pocket). Unfortunately I didn’t get that in the video.
Owen was so excited about trick-or-treating that he started asking about 3:30. 🙂 I told him it would be after dinner, so that put him off until about 4 before he started asking if it was dinnertime yet. Since the kids have a somewhat early bedtime, I figured we’d start on the early end (“official” time was listed as 5-9). So I got dinner going at 4:30 and we started getting dressed at about 5.
Of course there were wardrobe malfunctions—unfortunately, the wonderful idea I had about permanently adhering the red criss-cross leg straps to the costume wasn’t so great in practice. It helped, but we should have done a trial run because the ties still hung weird and slid down because the legs were too long. I fixed some of it by hiking it up and holding it with the belt…and it still wasn’t really great but it was good enough for a four year old. 🙂 But, I was exasperated because I thought it would be a quick two minutes to get his costume on…and it turned into a 15-minute debacle that included me running upstairs to madly search for my fabric tape with Katie screeching the whole time because she was tired of being in her high chair. And I was sweating, which never makes me happy.
So then I needed to get pictures of him so I left Katie screeching in the high chair while we went outside.
“Give me a ninja pose!”
Then I had to go get Katie ready. I hadn’t done it earlier since it was WARM out and her chicken costume would also be warm. Luckily she sat pretty still for a few pictures.
Then we were off.
Owen: I can’t believe I’m going trick-or-treating! It’s my big day!
And of course, the excitement quickly turned into shyness as we hit the first house. He didn’t want to go up the driveway (I had to cajole him and go up with him), he didn’t want to say trick or treat, and he didn’t say thank you. After three houses of that, I told him if he didn’t start being brave, we were going home. So the next house he tromped off saying “I’m going to be brave!” 🙂 Then it was all good!
This is how Katie was traveling in style:
The only bad thing was (as I learned later) we were out too early. Yes, the official hours were 5-9 but there were so few houses participating I almost wondered if Halloween had been cancelled and I just didn’t know it. I was remembering last year when the streets were packed with raucous kids and I thought we were out at about the same time…but I was off by about half an hour because things started picking up around 6 and were quite busy when we were headed home at 6:30.
Katie was a big hit—almost everyone commented on her costume and she was happily saying “bye bye” to everyone and waving.
We made it home about 6:35 and went right upstairs. I didn’t want to have any lights on downstairs lest anyone think we were home and ring the doorbell (we didn’t have a pumpkin or any lights on, but that didn’t stop people last year). I let Owen and Katie share a bag of mini cheese balls and a mini Nestle crunch bar, which they both really enjoyed!
Then it was Katie’s bedtime—and she didn’t even squawk and was out in under 10 minutes. Yay!
I let Owen ramble on about how much fun he had while eating a few more treats, and he got to bed a mere 10 minutes late.
Again, I had to ask for help in figuring out just what Owen could wear for 80s Day. We don’t have any neon, I can’t peg his pants (too hard for him to get out of if necessary), no big sunglasses, no legwarmers, no parachute pants, no penny loafers, no pastel tees and white jackets…and I refused to spend any money. I still can’t get over why they don’t have simple days like “hat day” or “backwards day” — seriously, 80s day? I’m guessing most of the parents were BORN in the 80s or later. :/
Anyway, these colors are much darker than I wanted them to be, but it was the only “set” that came anywhere close to matching. I tried putting gel in his hair but I have no experience with that and his hair is a little long. If I had planned ahead and practiced it might have worked better, but again, that’s a lot of work for pre-k spirit week. 🙂
The thing he was MOST excited about was his new ninja shoes (they’re ninja shoes because they came with a comic book that has ninjas in it). All morning he kept saying “I can’t wait to show everyone at school my new ninja shoes!”
Since school started, Owen has been better about trying new foods. He often comes home saying he tried something new—and I generally confirm it by looking at the teachers’ notes on the menu (remember, I’ve asked them to notate what he eats). This has led to him also trying new foods at home (though he often says “No, new foods are for school!”)…or at the very least, we don’t have to FORCE him to try something.
So, tonight at dinner.
Me: Owen, I’d like you to try cauliflower.
Owen: No thank you.
Me: Yes, please.
Owen: I don’t want it.
Me: You’ll earn a badge and a piece of chocolate.
Owen: A BADGE AND CHOCOLATE? BOTH?!
Me: Yes. I’ll eat it with you.
Owen: Let’s race.
Me: Okay, go! He eats his 1/2″ piece while I eat my 2″ piece.
Owen: Mmmm. Who won?
Me: I think you did—I’m still chewing!
Owen: Yay!
Me: YAY! Owen tried cauliflower!
Me & Owen: YAAAAAAY!!
Owen: Yay for myself!
And Mr. Bowels of Steel just erupted. All across my carpet, him and his clothes, the bathroom floor, the toilet, etc. And he was even wearing a pull-up. A complete disaster. (He had diarrhea once already this morning and made it to the potty without incident…so I was not expecting this.)
Of course he doesn’t like having poop all over him so I ask “Wouldn’t it be easier and cleaner to just poop in the potty like a big boy so we didn’t have to do this?”
“BUT I DON’T LIKE POOPING IN THE POTTY.”
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Now if you’ll excuse me, he needs a bath and I need to sanitize the bathroom and clean the carpets.
We’ve reached the stage where he CAN put his shoes on (I’ve seen him many times) but when it’s just me and him: “It’s no use! I can’t do it!” Complete with whining…and often stomping and always a grouch face. Drives. Me. Batty.
I ask if he whines at school. No.
Does anyone help him at school? No.
Then why do you whine at home and say you can’t do it? [Crickets.]
Tonight I was having him try on a new pair of shoes that were EASIER than his current shoes…and OMG THE WHINING. He barely even pretends to try before saying he can’t do it. So I told him I’d send them back because whiny kids don’t get new shoes. He immediately says “I’ll be good. I promise” (his new mantra when I threaten to take things away). Sure, until I ask him to try again 10 seconds later.
When I picked Owen up from school today, he asked where Papa and Grannie were. I reminded him they went home today and that I took them to the airport after we dropped him off at school.
Owen: But I don’t want them to go home!
Me: I know, buddy. I miss them…and Katie misses them.
Owen: I miss them, too—heh heh—I mean me three!
An assignment came home in Owen’s folder today. I told him he had homework.
Me: Do you know what homework is?
Owen: No.
Me: It’s work your teacher sends home that you need to do before you go back to school.
Owen: I don’t want to.
I assured him it would be easy and fun. Of course, he was done in about 15 seconds. 🙂 The only assistance I gave was reading the instructions and suggesting he make his circles a bit smaller.
Since he flat out refuses to take liquid medicine and turns into a screaming crying snotty hot mess, we had to try something else. So we’ve been practicing swallowing mini M&Ms and he’s gotten good at that…so I decided it was time for the real thing. I’m pretty sure he has allergies (I definitely do and Katie was diagnosed yesterday) so he needs to take something.
I was just going to split mine in half (because they’re small to start so would be super small broken in half—plus wouldn’t require me to buy anything) but all the dosing info I could find said even half was probably too much…plus my parent friends said a jagged half-pill would be harder to swallow. So it was off to a Walgreens where I stood like a zombie in front of the allergy section, looking for the tiniest pill he could take. I settled on Claritin, which is actually smaller than a mini M&M.
When Owen got home from school, it was time. I set the pill down along with some of the mini M&Ms and explained he had to swallow the pill and then he could have the M&Ms. I told him it was medicine (I had debated that, but thought I’d better be honest) and as soon as he heard that, the refusals and hot mess started. Nothing I was saying mattered. Papa got to witness it and was amazed. (I’m not sure he fully understood or believed my stories about how Owen reacts to medicine.)
I told him the pill would help his runny nose. Nope.
I told him it would make him feel better. Nope.
Then I told him that daddy takes pills for allergies, mama takes pills for allergies, Grannie takes pills for allergies, and Katie takes medicine for allergies. He says “So everyone takes pills?” Yes, buddy, pretty much.
Then like it was no big deal whatsoever he popped it in his mouth, took a drink, and was done in three seconds.
Of course I made a huge spectacle about it, saying “Wait a minute. You did not just take that pill. Let me check your mouth. I think it’s hiding!” And of course I was making sure he really did swallow it. 🙂
So now I’m just hoping each day goes a little smoother…and that we work up to larger sizes (because not everything comes in teeny pills) but I’m actually amazed at how well he did.
The good part about buying kids shoes ahead of time? You can get good sale prices. (It was still a crazy price for kids shoes, but they were $10 off and SOOOOO cute.)
