"When I grow up"

Today, Cameron brought home a little booklet that lists all the preschoolers and what they want to be when they grow up. Cameron, it turns out, wants to be a soccer coach. He won't have much competition -- no other aspiring soccer coaches in the school apparently. There were a fair number of your usual "I want to be a doctor" or "I want to be an astronaut" replies. And, among the girls, there were several would-be princesses, cowgirls and one fairy. A few boys who planned to be pirates or race car drivers. But a few of the responses had me laughing out loud!

Several wanted to grow up to be a fictional character.

"I want to be a Bionicle."
"I want to be Sonic the Hedgehog."

Some thought it was juvenille to want to be a fictional character. But another species? TOTALLY reasonable.

"I want to be a kitty cat. A gray one."
"I want to be a catepillar."

Some planned to remain human, but grown up? No way.

"I want to be a three-year-old."
"I want to be a teenager."
"I want to be a kindergartener . . . or a princess."
"I want to be a grandmother." (This wouldn't be so funny if it weren't from a little boy!)

And some, well, they were scarily accurate in their visions of the future.

"I want to show everyone else how to work." (Would have been easier to just say "manager," wouldn't it?)
"I just want to be a regular person."
"I want to be a Chinese restaurant person."

And my favorite: "I want to be a doctor. Or actually, I want to do regular work, when you do projects and be done with work on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Sundays. And Fridays. I am experimental." (I think this is called "working from home.")

The kids also listed their favorite activities. Playing outside and playing with friends were popular answer. Since it is Montessori, however, there were some more interesting works mentioned including baby washing and bean feeling. Hey, if there is a responsible preschooler interested in a summer job of baby washing, send 'em my way!

That's his name, don't wear it out!

The scene: Driving in the car, listening to the news on NPR

Radio: And today Hillary Clinton . . .
Cameron: HILLARY CLINTON! She wants to be president, right Mommy?
Me: Yes, that's right.
Cameron: She's a GIRL right?
Me: Right.
Cameron: And there's a boy who wants to be president, too, right?
Me: Yep.
Cameron: And HIS name is OBAMA CAMPAIGN!

Practice makes perfect

Are you ever so consumed with something that you have frantic, feverish dreams about it? I remember dreaming about derivatives and integrals before a calculus exam or spending a night tossing and turning as visions of physics formulas danced in my head. Evidently, this phenomenon afflicts even the very young. Last night, I heard Matthew crying pitifully. I went in to check on him and found him, eyes closed, crying and clapping in his sleep. Actually clapping. I guess that acquiring this new skill has been more stressful than I realized.

Too much noise

Continuing our musical weekend, we headed to the local parade this morning. The highlight of these parades for the kids is the throwing of candy to the crowd. Now, to me it seems like a bad idea to have a man driving a firetruck down a crowded street throwing candy out the window, enticing small children to run pell mell towards those very large wheels but apparently the city does not share this concern. We got off to a rough start when Cameron darted towards the first candy-throwing vehicle, causing me to shriek "STOP" just as Cameron tripped and fell hard on the street. Empty handed and tearful from his fall, he retreated back to the sidewalk where a very kind older boy took pity on him. "Here you go!" he said, dumping a handful of candy in Cameron's bucket. "You don't have to run for the candy. I will and I'll give you half of everything I get!" And he did! Cameron was thrilled both with the candy and with his new friend.
Matthew was unimpressed with the parade, possibly because no one was throwing Cheerios. But when the marching bands began to pass by, he had HAD it. "Enough with the noise!" he seemed to be saying. So, Matthew and I walked home leaving Cameron and David to enjoy the clowns and mini cars. Maybe by next year Matthew will have developed an appreciation of candy-tossing politicians!

He's got the beat!

We've been enjoying the long weekend by attending every musical event we can find. We began yesterday with a performance by a children's choir visiting the US from Africa. They sang and performed traditional dance, which was fabulous.

It was a hot day and you could see the sweat glinting on their foreheads as they danced. Taking shelter in the shade, I was amazed that these kids had the energy to be out in the blazing sun drumming and shouting! The crowd, whether due to heat or bad manners, was disappointingly unenthusiastic. No one dancing, no one clapping along, no standing ovations. Well, I guess I shouldn't say "no one." Matthew was gettin' down to the beat! In the evening, we went to see a military stage band perform. Seated next to another family, I was left thanking my lucky stars that we will never have a 14-year-old girl! I don't know that teenage boys are necessarily much more pleasant, but, wow, can a teenage girl put a damper on your evening! This particular girl was sulking, apparently because her mother had not specified to her that the military band would not be a bunch of hot guys in camo playing rock music. It's so hard to be fourteen!

When Mommy Says "No" to a Puppy

Cameron is now the proud owner of two catepillars, named Twiggy and Joey. After finding the catepillars roaming our yard, clearly in need of a home, he sprang into action. Dashing inside, he grabbed a Tupperware container to convert into a lavish catepillar mansion. Furnished with grass and twigs, the abode features a skylight and floor-to-ceiling windows. The catepillars were noted to excitedly (some might say frantically) explore every inch of their new home. Cameron has also provided the duo with plenty of attention and opportunity for socialization, as shown here. Apparently exhausted from their adventures, Twiggy and Joey were later noted to rest for a long period of time, occcasionally giving a listless wiggle. Although we suggested, several times, that Twiggy and Joey might be happier in our yard, he is certain that they wish to remain with him. Furthermore, he relays that the pair are interested in coming to school with him on Tuesday. I'm not certain, but this seems to me to be analagous to me stating that I wish to visit Mars in 2152. Perhaps the catepillars have more stamina than I assume.

Four years, two tired brothers, one floppy hat

Matthew, 9 months

Cameron, 8 months