On the Importance of Being a Role Model

I try to be a role model for my kids. I really do. I teach by example, people.

So when Cameron told me he wants to be a scientist when he grows up, I must admit I felt faintly victorious. I guess he paid more attention to those stories of the good ol' days in the neuroscience lab more than I thought! Or those visits to my office in the Perinatal Center really made an impression on him! Whatever it was, he clearly thinks that dear ol' mom's profession is pretty cool!

But I played it off all innocent-like. "Really? A scientist? What kind?" I asked.

"I think chemistry. You know, with all those tubes and stuff?" he expounded.

I deflated slightly. Because, you know, I don't have a degree in chemistry. Hated every minute of Orgo, to be honest. But still . . . science is science, and I can get on board with a calling to chemistry. Plus, I can always hope he ends up in biochem.

"Yep," he continued, "I think I want to mix up chemicals in a lab. Just like Papa Smurf."

Huh?

"Do scientists get to wear any equipment?" Cameron asked.

Gathering my wits, I answered. "Yes, chemists wear safety goggles . . . "

"I know that!" Cameron chirped. "Papa Smurf always wears safety goggles when he's mixing chemicals in his lab. And did you know that his lab is in his HOUSE!?!? He sleeps in his lab! What else do chemists wear?"

"Ummm, well, they usually wear a lab coat."

"Papa Smurf doesn't wear a lab coat! He just wears his pants. A lab coat would be ridiculous! Because smurfs are so small! The lab coat would be WAY too big. It would fill up his whole house!"

I swear, I'm going to stop trying so hard and just order The Smurfs: Season Two on DVD.

Da Doctor

Today, the boys had check-ups with their pediatrician. While not a fan of laying on the table, being measured, having his ears checked or getting shots, Matthew loves nothing more than a good chat. So the following conversation ensued during Cameron's check-up.

Doctor: Cameron, where do you sit in the car?
Cameron: In a car seat.
Matthew: Me too! I sit in da car seat!

Doctor: Cameron, what do you like to play with?
Cameron: I love to play with my Legos!
Matthew: I have da Legos! I play da Legos with Didi!

Doctor: Do you like to play other things, too, Cameron? Do you like to ride your bike or swim?
Cameron: Yes.
Matthew: Daddy ride da bike. I like da soccer. I kick da soccer ball. I kick it -- POW! -- I pop it high!

Doctor: Well, I can see that Matthew's quite a talker! Picks up Matthew's chart and jots something in it. Cameron, can you hop on one foot? Can you show me that?
Cameron: OK. Hops on one foot.
Matthew: Look at me! Look at me! Hops on one foot, then the other.

Doctor: Uh, wow. That's, uh, pretty impressive for a 2-year-old. Huh. Picks up Matthew's chart again and makes a note. OK, Cameron, now I'm going to tap your knees with this little hammer. Tap.
Matthew: I try dat! I do dat too!
Doctor: You want me to tap your knee Matthew?
Matthew: Yay!
Doctor: Tap.
Matthew: Ow! You hurt me!
Doctor: I just tapped your knee.
Matthew: No, you popped me. Dat ouchy!
Doctor: Sorry!

In the end, both children were declared healthy and developing normally. "And Matthew's gross motor skills," said the doctor, "are, well, there's no concern there. And his verbal skills are . . . well, he's certainly putting words together into phrases."

"Okay," said Matthew. "Sticker? I go now."

Back from West Virginia

One week of biking, hiking, throwing rocks in the river and generally having fun.

Expect the Unexpected

I took the boys to a hula hooping demonstration at the park today. They were both fascinated by the hooper who finished off her act by spraying herself down with water and performing with a flaming hula hoop. (Seriously. A hula hoop. On fire. All I could think was, "If my kids see a woman set herself on fire with a hula hoop, the Parks and Rec Department will be hearing from ME!)I thought Cameron would be excited to try out hula hooping (minus flames) himself, but he preferred to catch frogs and fish.

Matthew, however, couldn't wait to get in on the action. First he struggled with a large, heavy hoop.

Awww, isn't he sweet, I thought.

Then he spotted a child-sized hoop and . . .

You do NOT talk to your mother that way, young man!

Every day, Cameron and Matthew each get to choose one, half-hour PBS show to watch. Matthew usually selects "Super Why!" and Cameron always chooses "Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman." "Fetch!" is like a game show for kids, hosted by a cartoon dog named Ruff Ruffman. When Ruff tells the contestant their challenge, he often ends by saying "Go fetch!" Matthew doesn't sit and watch the show with Cameron, but he is often in and out of this room.

Today, Matthew asked me to get him some juice. "Just a minute Matthew, I'm making dinner," I answered.

"Juice please, Mama," he said.

"I'll get you some juice soon," I replied.

"No, Mama," said Matthew. "Want the juice." With this he pointed at the fridge and said, "Go fetch!"

It's All in the Timing

Matthew has developed a sudden interest in the potty, so I got out the training potty. A few days ago, he wanted to sit on it. He sat. And sat. And sat. After about ten minutes of sitting but nothing else, we decided to try again some other time. "Stay right here," I said to Matthew and I ran to his room to get a clean diaper. Clearly, I was delusional, as any parent knows that saying something like "Stay right here" or "Don't touch that" is interpreted by a toddler as a mandate to do the exact opposite. You would think I would know this by toddler #2, but what can I say? We all have our moments.

I was gone, oh, about thirty seconds. I dashed back into the bathroom to find it empty. (If you are reaaallllyyy good at picking up on foreshadowing, you may have been able to predict this.) "Matthew!" I called, with no response. Then I walked into the living room.

This would be a great point in the post to add the photos I took, but I don't think Matthew would forgive me when he's a teenager.

Matthew was sitting in his Elmo chair, wearing nothing but my enormous sun hat, casually peeing on the floor. He looked up and gave me a big grin. "Hi Mama! I go pee-pee in da Elmo chair!"

Because who knows, it might be really good!

Cameron was telling me about two boys who were apparently misbehaving at day camp. "They lost 5 minutes of dramatic play!" he told me. "I am really not going to do anything wrong, because I do NOT want to lose dramatic play!"

"You must really like dramatic play, huh?" I said.

"No," he answered. "It's just that I have NO idea what dramatic play IS!"