Lessons Learned the Hard Way

While playing at a friends house on Saturday night, Timothy got a little wild. He was bouncing around on a chair, despite being told MANY times to get down. He tempted fate one too many times and ended up flipping over the arm of the chair and hitting his head on the ledge on the bottom of the chair. 2 hours and 5 stitches later, we were able to get our little jumping bean out of the KidsCare clinic and home. All things considered, he was very brave during the whole thing, but he is 3! (I'm sure you can imagine the scene). In true Timmy fashion, he caught on very quickly that this was a way to get some sympathy coming his way. All week, when asked what happened, he would hang his head, put his lower lip out and say "I fell." Maybe he'll follow Dad's footsteps into drama? Luckily, the stitches came out today and he is well on his way to having a small scar, although it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully this will be a lesson that only has to be learned once!

P.S. We have a family website with LOTS of pictures on it. If you don't have the website address, leave me a post or email me and I'll email it to you. We just like to know who has access to it!

Pay Attention to Me!

So Timmy and I had sat down to play Mario. Timmy had his Wiimote without batteries; Kassie sat next to me with her XBox DVD controller (hey it's white and somewhat like a wiimote). As we started the game, Kassie would scoot closer and closer, until she was in my lap. Ok, fine, I can play with her in my lap.

She then stood up grabbed both my cheeks and nose-to-nose says "Hi."

Of course, in this time frame Timmy's saying, "No, Mario! Don't do that!" while Mario turns into a lemming and heads for the closest cliff.

I smile, sit her down in my lap again and start the level again. After a few rounds of lemming-ville Mario, Kassie wanders off and does her own thing. I actually thing she's addicted on the preliminary excitement with *Boing*s and finds the actual game a let-down.

Luckliy, Mario starts with 5 lives. 4 usually go to Kassie.

It's hard to argue with a cute kid that wants your attention.

Update:
After reading the above, I didn't want you to think that I ignore Kassie. After Mario, she jumped into my arms and directed me around the house. She actually requested we play 1-2-3-Go, which is one of Mom's least favorite games. More on that later.

I've been waiting for this!

Earlier today, I had something happen that I had always wanted.

I was in the process of getting ready, when Timmy came in.

Timmy: *Boing* *Boing* *Boing* Daddy, *Boing* Play *Boing* Mario! *Boing* *Boing *Boing*

Now, how do I react? While my first instinct was to scream: "YEAH ... YOU ROCK!" I instead went for the subtle route.

Dad: We should play one game, don't you you think? Hey Mom, Dad and Timothy are going to play one game of Mario, OK?
In my mind: YESSSS!

Timmy: *Boing* *Boing* *Boing* Yay! *Boing* Play *Boing* Mario! *Boing* *Boing *Boing*

Not only did I feel like a cool dad, but I started to want whatever mom had just fed him.

*Boing*

You can't have a fashion opinion?!?

My sweetheart was off to jury duty the other day and I became responsible for the kids until Grandma picked them up in the afternoon. We had a grand time at playing and I really thought that I had picked up some Dadad brownie points.

As the time was fast approaching, I told the kids that they had to get ready to go with Grandma. Everybody put on their socks and shoes and Kassie grabbed her jacket. I told Kassie that the jacket was too light and we'd be putting on her winter coat.

I'd never seen an 18-month old give a "Hell No!" until that specific moment in time.

While she never specifically uttered the words, her angry screams and refusal to cooperate were very clear. Add that to the fact that she would hold out the other coat to me as a peace offering and an intense look, and the message was clear. "My behavior is tied to the choice in coats. Choose wisely."

Obviously, I discovered that coat choice was an effective behavioral tool. I plan on letting her choose her coat in the future, in exchange for my happiness.

Timothy's Double Entendre - Unintentional

Our family was heading to do some shopping just recently. As some of our items are specific to specific chains, we go to specific stores for specific things. As we have curious kids, they often ask where we are heading.

Timmy: Hey Mom, where are we going?
Mom: Target.
Timmy: (Silent while thinking). They have toilets there?
Mom: I suppose so.
Dad: [Howls]

If you don't understand the meaning of target, you missed the earlier target post.

I love my kids.

At least SOMETHING is sinking in!

It's so great when you see the results of what you've been trying to get these little sponges we call children to take in! In the car tonight, Ben was singing a song we had heard in the store. Kassie chimed in with the "yeah, yeah, yeah" part, gaining much praise and applause. So then Timothy decided to make up his own song (a talent he inherited from his dad and has been practicing extensively). Ben took up the "yeah, yeah" part for him, making the song go something like this:
T: Kassie is great!
B: Yeah, yeah!
T: Kassie is great, great!
B: Yeah, yeah!
This continues for a few minutes until the grand finale:
T: Kassie is WONDERFUL! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
What a sweet boy! I'll have to remember this for the times when I'm telling him not to hit, push, boss, or otherwise torment his little sister!

Little by little...right?

So even though we did get to have a great lunch as family yesterday, Ben still had class until 10pm. Since we weren't going to be able to go out for Valentine's, I agreed to watch some friends kids so they could go out. (They're watching our kids tonight...better late then never!) The kids had a great time playing with their friends and I managed to get everyone in bed at a reasonable time, except my son. Now to be fair, he was the only one trying to sleep in the hall while everyone else had a bed, but he still did not go to sleep until well after 10pm. Then we had to get him up to come home about 11:30.

When we arrived home, we discovered we had left his bear at the friends house. Now this bear had JUST been received that very afternoon from Aunty Becky in Boston and it hadn't left Timothy's sight since he got it. When he asked for it, we had to admit (guiltily) that it had been left, but that since he was going there tomorrow, he could get it then. Ever tried reasoning with a 3 year old at midnight? I don't recommend it. We had a VERY sad Timmy and he was not about to be distracted from his misery. Ben finally handed him the game he had received at lunch that day, thinking it would make him happy. Unfortunately, it reminded him that he wanted to PLAY the game and it hadn't been installed on the computer yet. The cry went something like this: "Want my bear AND play my game!" repeated loudly and often.

Daddy tried going in to console him, but it was not to be. Timothy decided that only Mom would do, so at approaching 12:30, I went into his room and sat on his bed.

Mom: Are you sad?
Timmy: Yes! Want bear and play game!
Mom: I know, we'll do both tomorrow.
Timmy: (Wail)
Mom: Do you know Mommy loves you?
Timmy: Yes.
Mom: Do you know Heavenly Father loves you?
Timmy: Yes.
It was at this point that I thought "Aah! A teaching moment!"
Mom: Do you think that if we said a prayer to Heavenly Father you would feel better.
Timmy: Ok, you say prayer Mom.
So I helped him to say a prayer to be happy and sleep well. Feeling quite pleased with myself for thinking of it and thinking of how much he would learn from this experience, I gave him a kiss and said "Do you feel better?" And that is where it all fell apart. Timothy looked up at me with an innocence that only a child can have and wails "NO!".
Oh well. He did fall asleep shortly after that. Guess we'll have to keep looking for those teaching moments!