Active volcano on the back porch

Predictably, R had a hard time waking up in the morning and did not wake until 8:45-9.  So breakfast was slow and took until about 9:45.  K was much happier and seemed back to her usual chipper demanding self.  She and I hung out in the kitchen while I made everyone breakfast.  Dad did dressing duty.  She ate several (soy) sausage links even before we got to the table so it was nice to see her appetite return.  She had some waffle with butter and a little powdered sugar.  I am trying to expand both of their repertoire's and while sugar is nothing to be excited about, i figure salt and pepper have been popular so perhaps powdered sugar might prove helpful too.  And then some dried cherries and some of sausage with cheese.  A hungry girl is good to see in the morning!

R is now speedy in the morning so I have been congratulating him for being a cheetah in getting dressed.  As many of you know we have struggled with the speed issue.  His dawdling had been driving us crazy.  At one level, I am proud of respect his speed -- he has his way of going through the world.  He notices many things and asks questions and explores.  He is relaxed in the world.  that is what kids are supposed to do.  On another level, I live in a capitalist world in which my time is marked and measured according to increments that demand that i be somewhere as well. and that his pace is not possible to live by. So we have been trying to figure out when is it appropriate and helpful to be a turtle and when to be a cheetah.  as my son reminds me "I can't be a cheetah all the time mom." no son, nor should you be.  But now that his fine motor skills have advanced enough to get his clothes on easily, he does not dawdle in going to the bathroom or getting his clothes on so much.  We have it down to 10 minutes (down from 40). And let me tell you, we notice the difference.  The only slow and time consuming part of the day now is eating which is still a good 30 minutes and sometimes 40.  Since the foods are more varied now, I think he is more interested in the food.  but in the bigger picture, i often want him to hurry to my/his next activity and he is on his own journey.  as a parent, it is difficult balance to respect, honor, and nurture the child he is and at the same time help him survive and thrive in the world we live in.  

Right now the repercussions are small but significant.  many of you know about trials and tribulations with the center and the observer who were giving us the red flag on his development.  i want to protect him from that and nurture who he is.  he does not often see the connection himself.  today we got to school around 10:30 and his peers were at the park.  and he wanted to go.  by the time we got going to the park, they were on the way back.  of course, he was immensely disappointed.  i let him thrash it out in the car by himself and this was a full blown tantrum -- kicking, screaming, and flailing and waited patiently where he could see outside of the car.  a few minutes later, he came out and i hugged him and tried to talk to him about him getting up earlier and how he could do more with his friends if he can get up earlier.  i tried not to browbeat him with it (which is probably my tendency).  and then gave him hugs and helped him find a special baby pine cone to take inside.  he was still sad but able to recover.  these lessons are hard, especially as i do not know what he learns and therefore is likely to repeat the situation.

k was sad at drop off even with lily there.  i am hoping that the transfer to older toddlers is going well.  i know she is curious but she tends to be quiet and observant when in a new situation.  she will thrive and her language will take off as she is with older kids.  but it will take her a while.

the waterworks was, i think, fascinating.  and of course, r did have a million questions.  his evaluation of it to me was "mom, the st. paul waterworks are so cool." so there you go.  that is pretty high regards. he was exhausted because of missing nap but it sounds as if he got to see big machinery, learn that we drink water from the mississippi nadi (his friend the river), and see the various stages of cleansing (some of which are identical to the ones in the magic school bus) made for a pretty good time even for an exhausted kid.  perhaps his silent lurking dad can fill in a few more details when he checks in on the blog.  

as my eyes were dilated, i was home in the afternoon and packed a picnic dinner for the park.  i met the rest of the gang there and we had a picnic dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, spanikopita, cole slaw, pirate's booty, and dried cherries. not too bad.  the kids ate well and it was nice to be outside.  R was exhausted and even K seemed very tired (only a half hour nap for her!).  we saw uncle david, aunt andrea, and zora at the park as well. uncle david brought their new dog milo.  k who loves doggie woo-woos is also terrified by them so she started crying when milo was at her feet sniffing for food.  

they ate and ran around the park.  we did not listed to the music as much as everyone was tired and came home. we had promised R a treat.  our netflix of IMAX: Ring of Fire had arrived.  So everyone watched 15 minutes of volcano eruptions before bedtime.  K also worked on some ice cream.  and then it was off to bed. I think mom was the first one asleep out of everyone sitting in the big recliner chair.  so i am afraid i do not know how long it took for the rest of the gang.  but my sense is that the monkeys were asleep by 9:30 so early for him and late for her.  let's keep our fingers crossed that this means a good night sleep for all.  tomorrow R wants to be there to go to the pool with his friends, dad has lab meeting, mom needs to work, and k needs a good day to transition to older toddlers so it will be busy for all.  and then of course more swimming lessons after school.  (i am hoping my ears de-clog.  they have been congested with fluid for about 10 days and everything has been muffled for several days.  not a happy mom today with blurry eyes and muffled ears.  weird sensory experiences!)