Just a really good day

Mom was working today, so Dad was on call.

- Breakfast of bacon and eggs.
- Cooperative imaginative play deconstructing and rebuilding flying machines.
- Cooperative imaginative play hiding from the "monster" (that is, Dad).
- Cooperative imaginative play in the (long overdue) bath, "formulating chemicals" and rescuing survivors of shipwrecks.
- Lunch of sausage and bread outside in the sunshine.
- Cooperative imaginative play in the yard rescuing baby monsters with our homebuilt helicopter.
- Cooperative imaginative play building tunnels, bridges, and other civil engineering projects in the sandbox.
- Snack of ice cream.
- Light reading with Dad.
- Dinner of manicotti with a little Peep and Chirp.
- Treat of chips with Mom.
- Lots of books with Mom, followed by one each with Dad.
- Bed.

Now that's a really good day.

the first r

dad, here.

we've been working a lot lately with r to help form basic literacy skills, especially around sound-letter relationships, including sounding out words when reading together. so, it was quite moving when, over the weekend, i found r looking intently at a cartridge for an electronic puzzle he was working on and sounding out the letters in the title to himself. he couldn't quite get through it, so we did it together, but i was struck by the realization that this was the first time i had seen him try to read something because he wanted to know what the words were. it was a turning point (at least for me), because i recognized that he had to have understood not only that the letters were a code for a word, but that he had the tools to break that code, and that he had the confidence to try to do it, all by himself. i am immensely proud of him.

k is for krypton

there are few moments in life in which k gets prime attention. for better or worse, r as the older and somewhat more dependent child sets the tone and pace for the whole family. what this means is that we treat both children similarly, i.e. how we would treat r.

this week, i have gotten to see k in her own element. and she is a joyous, mature, and kind child. i am continually impressed by her empathy and her deductive capabilities. she has been taking good care of me this week as she says "you don't feel good." she gives sips of water, helps carry things, and is generally amiable. she has a wonderful sense of humor as well and a great deal of patience. it is nice to see her out of her brother's shadow once in awhile.

of course, she can be trying and not listen. but when i corrected her today about getting ready to go, she was incredibly apologetic and she adjusted her behavior. perhaps this is a gendered phenomenon. i am not sure. i only have two kids in my sample. i'd like to think it is k herself. either way. it has been a good week with my bundle of energy and laughter. one in which i have not done as many special things with her as i would like. but that just might be the case frequently. i feel the unfairness of the situation for her. but i see that she is also a bright and independent being who is affectionate and good-spirited. so i believe she is doing ok.