Age Appropriate

Cameron: Mommy, can we have a dance party?
Me: Sure! What should we listen to?
Cameron: Well, Daddy made us a list of songs on the computer last night. It's called "Kid's Dance Party" and it's all our favorite songs.
Me: Wow, that's great!
Cameron: Yeah, I want to dance to that. Because I'm really in the mood to hear "Tootsie Roll."
Me: Uh, "Tootsie Roll" is on the "Kid's Dance Party" list?
Cameron: Yep. It's my favorite. Matthew's favorite is "Who Let the Dogs Out."
Matthew: Woof, woof, woof, woof!

Cameron, B.D.

When Cameron was 3 years old, his bear Henri required surgery. His stitching had come loose, resulting in a stuffing hernia. (Which I'm sure you know is pretty serious . . . ) Cameron was deeply concerned for Henri's well-being, but felt confident that he would be in good hands. You see, as luck would have it, Cameron and I are both bear physicians. We considered going for an M.D., but B.D.s are in such demand these days. And, we both felt a real calling to care for bears.

So, on the big day, Cameron prepped Henri and checked his vitals. (Unlike M.D.s, B.D.s don't rely on nurses and assistants. We're VERY hands on.)

I'll spare you the surgical photos. They're pretty gory. But rest assured that, despite a scare when Henri's temperature suddenly skyrocketed mid-procedure, he came through with flying colors. Cameron took him to recovery and tenderly applied an icepack.When Henri awoke, groggy and nauseated from the anesthesia, Cameron was so happy. Henri's recovery was long and arduous, but he was well-cared for and made a complete come back.In fact, we hardly even think about Henri's surgery these days! Until, a few days ago, when, during a well-bear visit, Cameron made the grim discovery that Henri had another stuffing hernia. And no, it wasn't a recurrence -- my original repair has held up quite nicely, thank you very much, and Henri's fur even hides his unsightly scar. No, this was a new injury.

"Do you want to wear your scrubs?" I asked Cameron.

With the scorn that only a five-year-old can muster, Cameron said, "Noooo, mom. Just get a needle and sew him up!" There was no ice pack, no monitoring pulse and respiration this time. Just a few quick stitches with little fan fare. But I know that Cameron isn't as tough as he pretends to be. When it was all over, he gave Henri a fierce hug and said, "Phew. I'm going to remember this day for the rest of my life."

True Giving

Today, as I was making dinner, I was chatting on the phone with my dad. The boys were playing together and, incredibly, not causing any trouble or in any imminent danger. But then Matthew decided he wanted a snack and took matters into his own hands, climbing on a chair and pulling a box of cereal off a shelf. "Gotta go, Dad," I said. "Matthew got himself a box of cereal and I'm going to have to get it away from him before he eats the whole thing." As he heard me say this, Matthew began frantically shoveling handfuls of cereal in his mouth. I began to walk toward him he reached into the box, double fisted. As I grabbed the box away, he crammed one full hand into his own mouth and reached over with the other to put a handful in Cameron's mouth!

How to do the zoo

Matthew has a growing interest in animals. Each night, he picks out books to read and lately he's been heavy on the animal stories. He wowed me the other night by pointing and naming seventeen different animals in one book. This morning he pointed to and named the yak (the yak!) in "Animal Alphabet." Time to get this boy to the zoo.

Sadly, the last time I took the boys to the zoo Cameron was fairly uncooperative. He whined and dragged his feet and repeatedly asked for Icees. It was not my most rewarding parenting moment. When, this morning, I suggested we head to the zoo, Cameron was again unenthusiastic. Until I mentioned that there would be an animal scavenger hunt. NOW we were talking!

Oufitted with a pen, a list of animals to find ("Find an animal with a tail," "find an animal that is nocturnal") and a camera to document his progress, he fairly skipped into the zoo. It was a wildly successful family outing, with Cameron looking at the map, plotting our course ("OK, we have to find a reptile. Hey! The reptile house! OK, let's go.") and snapping photos. Meanwhile, Matthew pointed and laughed at every animal and even remarked, "Dat funny!" at the pygmy marmoset display.

This scavenger hunt idea has real possibilities . . . grocery trips, the library . . . I could get some real mileage out of this one!

Love is in the Air

The other day, Cameron and I were listening to our book on CD as we drove to school. On of the characters, a young boy, says that he thinks he's in love. "How old do you think people are when they fall in love?" I asked Cameron.

I expected disgust -- "Yuck! I'll never fall in love!"

Instead, Cameron replied with quiet confidence. "I'm pretty sure it happens when you are four years old," he said.

Note that Cameron is five years old. How did I miss this?

A Mystery

Today, Cameron and Matthew were running around, chasing each other and screaming and kicking around a beach ball. Suddenly, I heard Matthew begin to wail. He came toddling around the corner, sobbing, with Cameron close behind. "Cameron, what happened?" I asked. "Why is Matthew crying?"

"I have no idea," Cameron said, looking perplexed.

"Did he get hurt?"

"I don't know!"

"Well, what were you two doing when he started crying?"

"Well, let's see. I whacked him with the ball and then, next thing I knew, he was just crying and I don't know why!"

Lament of the Stay At Home Parent, Part 2

The boys and I often play in our front room, which features a very large window that looks out onto our street. Many times, when David comes home from work, we will spot him from the window. Matthew screams in excitement, jumps up and down, waves and yells, "Daddy, Daddy!" and then makes a mad dash for the front door. Even if David has only been gone an hour or two, Matthew acts as though he's going to collapse with joy.

Today, I went out to a cafe to spend a few hours writing without interruption. As I pulled into the driveway, I saw Matthew and David in the window. David pointed at me and I eagerly awaiting Matthew's response. Nothing. I opened the car door, began to walk up the front walk and waved at Matthew. He stared, motionless. When I walked in the front door, I said, "Well, that was quite a greeting."

David said, "I know! I said to Matthew, 'Look, it's Mommy!' and he answered, 'I know.'"

I guess when you spend all day every day with me, you just don't get all worked up to see me.