filling daddy's sandals -- not so easy

morning seems so long ago, i can barely remember. i do recall that there was one enthusiastic preschooler who bounded out of bed ready for the day. "I am very hungry; my tummy is very empty." He was sent with dad to take care of that issue. Meanwhile, the little one woke up and said "Bug downstairs, me too." Well there you go. Soon everyone was dressed and downstairs. Not that R's hunger made him eat any faster. He refused to eat until dad was sitting down. K did not eat any breakfast (or dinner for that matter) but she manages just fine. I knew there was hope for her as there were french toast sticks at school and even I like those. K and her daddy left for school and R and I had a little while before we had to leave for music class. Now that we have a digital box, we get PBS. I looked for sesame street but found super why instead. R was delighted to watch 10 minutes of what used to be his only tv.

It started raining as we drove to class. He went off to music class very quickly and seemed to have a good time. Today's theme was animals and they played the memory game. i think he did fairly well at that as we used to play that on the thomas the tank engine website. we got to school and he was pretty happy when we got there. i knew he had not missed pool time so i was a little relieved that there would be no tantrum. he got there and we were able to schedule a castle turn with ezra based on yesterday's promise. there was a quick good-bye (unlike the day before when i had gotten 3 hugs all the way to the door). Luckily i ran into molly, the head teacher of bungalow c -- k's bungalow. Molly's exact quote to me was "That daughter of yours." Yes, I know she is a spitfire. K's meow was in the car and i thought she might want it for nap time so i was able to pass it on without having to enter the bungalow which is a dangerous risk. i tried to peek in on her. it is such a rare opportunity to see our children without them seeing us. i always want to know who they are when we are not there. she was drawing with chalk on black banner with the other kids. of course, my daughter has some immense mommy-radar because even though it was just my eyes peaking over the top of a diamond shaped window, she zoomed in on me right away and ran to the window. i had to zoom around the corner so she would not see me. she must have been easily convinced that i was not there because i got one last glance at her playing before i left again.

at pick-up, ugly whining and screaming was my welcome. R just started with the high-pitched "no." so far i am trying the gentle route of tlaking and trying to calm him down. but i am losing my patience with this screaming and resistance. if he could just ask me, "mom i am working on a project, can i have 3 more minutes." i would say sure. but this high pitched, crying, screaming, thrashing, etc. is just annoying. i have to talk him through it and keep giving markers for stopping which he wants to challenge and then i have to get firm and physical. he was also covered in sand and i had to desand his legs, clothes, and shoes. what a mess. and i still got screaming. he and ezra were doing construction in the sand. this is a common theme and partly because we see so many construction projects to and from school. he was apparently doing a construction project in the sky.

i checked in with one of r's teacher to see if we needed to have a meeting with his transition and she seemed to suggest that he was doing well. she mentioned that he was toileting well and the meals were going fairly well. he at least tries things. so i am not sure if there are concerns anymore or if he has improved. hard to tell. i am hoping that they are pleased with his improvement.

K leaped out of the sofa when she saw us. the teachers were reading books and she seemed to be enjoying them. her note said that she had had a good time in the multi running around. she also had her longest nap at school that i can remember 12:15-3. must have been a tired girl.

R and i had a talk about his whining and breaking rules (rule: "don't say no when it is time to go). i told him that ezra's dad was probably not too happy about letting ezra play with a kid who broke the rules. i said i think ezra's dad will probably say that ezra could not have a playdate with R until he could follow the rules. funny how rule governed R is in so many ways and then the resistance that kicks in. the regret -- "i want to do it again" -- is difficult too because it does not mean that he is actually ready to transform immediately. i would be happy with immediate improvement. but instead the inability to start again or do it over is a mechanism for more anxiety and whining.

they both ate well in the car and apparently both had had good servings of macaroni and cheese for lunch among other things. they had sausage and cheese and smoothies when they got home. R and I had a talk and we hypothesized that his behavior might be difficult because he is hungry and not eating enough lunch. i am not sure that this is correct, but he and i are sticking to our story.

K came home and decided that daddy's sandals were the first activity of the evening. so on they went, on the wrong feet. this did not stop her from stomping around. K would not eat anything for dinner and R had a hard time settling in. he was very wound up. but finally i was able to get him to eat calmly with a princess rohan and khayaal the giant go to the beach story. he ate his enchilada and corn bread.

ruskin had a head ache and k was boisterous so they both went upstairs to rest/wrestle. there were some gleeful sounds. r played trains and had a nice surprise visit from masee who came bearing gifts -- a digital watch (and who says that blogs are not profitable!). he was excited and talked about his watch upstairs. k and i went to the store to get "milk bug, mine" and "tea, daddy, mommy." apparently among all the other things she keeps track of, our preferred beverages are on the list also. as we got closer to home, k said "boobie, home, night night."

R had a hard time going upstairs. K looked tired. We read the rest of the junie b. jones book. he was "scared" by her breaking the rules. his anxiety was very high and i did not stop reading. (junie b. gets her kindergarten graduation gown dirty, playing in it when she is not supposed to.) he was so "scared" about her violation of the rule. i will keep working on it. he seemed to fall asleep a little later than usual 10ish instead of 10. but that is pretty close.
no pictures again. maybe next time.