Language Developments

Everett has advanced remarkably in his language skills. He has a slew of obscenities- "Go-to-bed", "I-hate-you", "I-want-to-hit-you".

Mason has learned a couple choice colorful words this week. I was shocked even more that he used them in context.

Oh, and if you did not get the memo, a fork is pronounced "flork" per Adelin.

Pay Backs

A few days ago we lost the littlest Partridge. I was dutifully helping Mason finish his homework then fixed him a snack and sent him on his way so I could start prepping for dinner. Adelin came down a little while latter asking if she too could have a snack. Happily I obliged suggesting that she share some with her baby brother, Everett. She retorted that Everett was not upstairs. Thinking she was mistaken or at least he was in Mason's room playing I took my time to go look for him. Well, he was not in the loft nor in Mason's room. I check the bedrooms calling his name and still nothing. Fear struck as I imagined him in the hot garage passed out. Nope not there either. The car was empty too. Backyard? Check. Now by this time my calls have risen from code green, soft voice, to code red, psycho mom screech. I was in the back yard at the time that I realized the kid was really missing. I called Stephen and maybe it was the tone of my voice when I spoke the words "Everett is missing" because he did not badger me for details he just said "I am on my way."

I walked back into the house calling for the kids commando style. "Kids get down here we have to go find Everett!" Mason thought it was exciting while Adelin was still thinking about missing her TV show. We started down the street and came upon a college age kid who asked "Are you looking for a little boy?" My heart dropped. I just started running toward the house he was pointing to. When the door opened there was little Everett happy as could be. Apparently he saw their little dog while he was out on his walk and followed him home. The two girls and young man found Everett in their backyard banging on the sliding glass door. She was a bit leery about letting him go with me because as she put it "he seems really comfortable with strangers." Yes that would all three of my children. Scary, I know. Then she asked where I live in case it happens again. The words could not come to my mind. I am was such a basket case. I reassured her explaining to her that my husband is a cop. He will be here any minute. Since they called the police I knew they would have to come out and check on the situation so I wanted Stephen there. The occupants of the home were renters, Students at the University here in town. They were so taken by his cuteness they offered their services if I ever need a babysitter.

After I got the screaming Everett home, we live right down the same street, I bolted all the doors and the back gate. Dinner was later that night.

As I thought about the situation later that evening I had two thoughts. One how blessed we were that Everett was safe and we got him back. We came to the conclusion that he had been gone at least 30 minutes. That possibly after Stephen left for work Adelin opened the front door to appease the crying Everett who wanted his daddy. My friends found it amazing that the dog was there and lead him to that house. Divine intervention. The house belongs to three university students who just a week before had a party that ended with a fight and the arrival of the police. Because they are university students Stephen had to take the case and he was not happy. So it was interesting that the rescuers happened to be the very people he was complaining about the day before.

The other thought I had was about the day before when Mason refused to do his chores and homework. He asked why and I explained that we are all a team, as I always do, so we work together. He was not buying it. The conversation led to him not wanting to be part of the family. Trying to be cleaver by using reverse psychology I said well I guess you will be leaving then do you want me to help you pack your bag. (Some bad advice I got from someone once) He started crying saying he does not know how to tell if someone is good or bad. Would I help him find a good place to live. Yeah that backfired royally. I told him we did not want him to leave. We love him. Please stay. He would still have to do chores and his homework. After some snuggles and kisses we got the work done together.

Where You Are...

Today I experienced pure hell. The churning in the stomach and a welling fire in my chest accompanied by tragic longing to be somewhere but unable to get to that place fast enough. I forgot to pick Mason up from school. Absolute agony. I remember sitting down at the computer to work on something for parent preschool that starts next week. The clock read 12:58. I logged it in the lump of jello in my head that I have one hour before I have to pick Mason up. Next thing I know Adelin and Everett are up. I was downstairs fixing them a snack when the phone rang. The caller ID blazed with the name Principal. I answered an unaccustomed "I forgot to pick up my son!" The voice on the other end seconded my assessment. The world trickled along at a lazy pace. I urged the car forward desperate to reach my son. I felt like I was driving through sludge; a force of nothingness trying to keep me from him. Once I parked I ran to the office devouring him in my arms. We sat wrapped in each other crying. Him asking why and me offering my only defense that I was so sorry.

Sugar and Spice and Bugs

Adelin is probably the most interesting and curious child of the three. Everett is the jokester while Mason is the fun loving socialite. Little Adelin is the only girl stuck between two rambunctious boys yet I think it has worked to her advantage. When she was a baby she was extremely shy. No one could hold her except I, not even dad. Somehow being best friends with her outgoing brother has helped her transition into a preschooler who is gregarious and independent.

Adelin is a tough. She is not someone you want to cross. However, in the next breath she is nurturing and cuddly as a cat. What makes me laugh the most is her feminine persona. She is all girl from frilly dresses to the color pink, but; at the same time she hates anyone to touch her hair which ultimately ends in a death match trying to get her to comb it. She is disinterested in bows and ponytails but loves make up, nail polish, bugs and purses. She is the little girl who at a play date chased all the other little girls dressed up in their finest princess gowns with a snake sss-ing at them. And most recently referred to her fluffy pink bath robe as her "karate robe". She is quite the character who fits nicely in our quirky home.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

Today I walked into the kitchen to find the two little ones engaged in a water and ice jubilee. It was almost like the time they fluttered around the kitchen shaking a large bottle of gold glitter. Only water is much easier to clean up. I just laughed it off. The floor needed to be mopped anyway.

What Do You Say To That!

Kids have this uncanny way of knowing just how to pull at our heart strings. Tonight an hour past bedtime Mason is still awake. I was more upset about his screaming fest than the hour. After a short lecture about the time and the long day ahead of him and how tired he must be I caved in, sang him a song and held his hand while he drifted off to sleep. Between heavy breaths he tells me he is happy now. What do you say to that?

Uncertainties

Today has been a hard day. I am dealing with the uncertainties of my first kid is going to kindergarten part of my life. We went to take a walk around the school and meet his teacher. I have to tell you I feel worse now than I did before. It is like I want to yank him out of school and home school him. My fanciful self dreams about how much fun we would have going on field trips and learning while we play.

This year with the budget cuts all kindergarten classes have changed to full day instead of half day. I don't really see how it helps save money. It is not so much a problem as I went to all day kindergarten when I was a kid. Thing is, we had naps, recess and centers. Not today or at least not where we live. So I ask what are you going to be doing for 6 hours? The children will have two 15 minute recess periods. The play kitchen is reserved for Friday's only and centers consist of 4 medium sized boxes of legos and one large wagon of wooden blocks. In my day daily centers consisted of a large kitchen area, blocks, a reading area and science area. We took naps and had a decent 45 minutes of playground time. My worse fear is Mason hates school. Boys failure in school has been a growing concern in the Unites States for at least the last decade. Psychologists and politicians are aware of the bias in the educational system yet nothing has been done to stave off the adverse effects the current model has on boys. Programs such as No Child Left Behind that require teachers to teach to the test rather than the kid only contributes to the problem.
Our little boys are not made to sit and listen or work on worksheets for hours at a time. They need hands on learning. They need to be able to explore, run and play.

We need a school of thought that accepts individuality rather than curses those who do not conform. Less drugs and government involvement and more teaching. I used to beat myself up because my kids have spunk and can think outside the box. They may not sit quietly for hours on end but they are happy and they are creative. I'd rather be subject to that than have three little robots.