(Right now I could disown my son but instead of venting I'm going to focus on the positive because well, it's almost Friday.)
(And really I'd never disown him, but I can no longer judge parents who do.)
(We all have breaking points.)
In the buffet line at Glenna's wedding:
"What's you favorite fruit?" the woman behind us asks Elias.
"Cheese."
In bed last night as we snuggled:
Elias touches the top of my head, "Are you wearing your Mommy hat now?"
"Yes, I'm wearing my Mommy hat."
Earlier in the day I sat on a chair in front of his first grade class reading Todd Parr's book It's Okay to Be Different.
Elias sat in front of all the other kids and stroked my sandled foot as I read. He couldn't sit and snuggle with me. All the kids can't fit in my lap! I'd said the night before. I'm wearing my Ms. Christy hat when I visit your class.
His eyes roam my face and he touches his own soft hair, "I'm wearing my Elias hat too."
At home in the kitchen:
"I made you a gourmet cheese sandwich," Nick says handing him cheddar and mayo on whole wheat bread.
"You make the best gourmet cheese sandwiches Dad!"
The next day Nick hands him the same sandwich. Elias touches it and peers down close, "Is there gourmet in this?"
Standing before his class to present his picture of his selection for class pet:
Elias proudly pushes himself up from the floor, wobbles to the front, leans against his teacher, all smiles, holding a piece of paper with four purple dots. He pauses...
...grins, and says: "I got nothing."
And the class laughs with him.
Happy Friday Eve and Day !!!!!
My daughter LOVES that book! Oh and the way we get through every day is to recite our favorite "Maggie-isms" of the day. You can't help but laugh when a 3 year old says "Daddy, I'm going to toot (pass gas) and you are going to laugh - OK?".
Posted by: Bren | 09/03/2010 at 03:17 AM
Wishing you a happy Friday and hoping that feeling of wanting to disown Elias has passed. In fact, I'm sure it must have passed...all the way to my house. Want another small, ornery boy for the weekend? ;-)
Posted by: niksmom | 09/03/2010 at 03:26 AM
Why is it that we can't wait to have babies and then once they are trying to break away from us and be their own person and the battles start we want nothing more than to sell them to anyone that will take them!!?!?! (-: I had a garage sale last week and by the end of the weekend I was trully ready to put my 6 year old in the "free" box!!! Happy Friday and know that your feelings of wanting to disown your six year old is completely normal!!
Posted by: Jaki | 09/03/2010 at 07:04 AM
I am ready to sell my whole family AND my job :P It is a good thing these kids do cute things too or we would have to make a second hand child store.
Posted by: Jessica | 09/03/2010 at 07:25 AM
I meant to tell you before, about the Behavior Analyst recommendation, that if you want to talk about it more.. what ABA is, how it can help, what makes a good therapist, etc, email me. I'm happy to offer whatever support I can from Florida. I know how frustrating life can be when you live with someone who is not in control of his body. I also know that progress is possible and even the most challenging of behaviors can be overcome! Hang in there and keep focusing on the positive =)
Posted by: Emily | 09/03/2010 at 03:52 PM
I love anything by Todd Parr!
Posted by: whirled_peas | 09/04/2010 at 09:56 AM
We love Todd Parr books too! I got a bit teary reading "It's Okay to be Different." It not only reassures our daughter, but me as well, and sometimes we need that.
Posted by: Kimberly | 09/04/2010 at 03:56 PM