Dylan,
Now that you're dressing yourself most mornings -- with an assist from Mom who lays out clothes for you to find -- you're finding that you have time to play with your toys, usually your trains, before we head off to work and school.
Dad
Friday, February 27, 2009
beautiful boy
Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,
Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Dylan.
--John Lennon (mostly)
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,
Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,
Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,
Darling,
Darling,
Darling Dylan.
--John Lennon (mostly)
Monday, February 23, 2009
conflict resolution skills
Dylan,
You've got a Good Friend (GF) -- a bit younger than you -- who is still learning that it's not okay to hit.
After a prior, recent, visit you and I had a conversation about how the dynamic between you two usually plays out; GF tries to take something, you yell or scream at him, then he hits you in the face. I explained to you how the yelling and screaming helps to escalate the situation and advised you to help defuse it by using words to tell him what you mean.
I watched GF, empty-handed, follow you into the next room yesterday as you drove a tractor which you'd each had a turn with earlier. I suspected a confrontation and followed at a distance sufficient that neither of you noticed.
Within five seconds, GF had reached for the toy then whacked you in the face when you didn't relinquish it. I was very pleased to see you react by standing up, stepping back and saying "GF, will you please don't hit me?"
I had my own conversation with GF at that point.
As I walked out of the room you approached GF and asked him again to not hit you.
*****
There are a number of effective ways to respond to bullying behavior -- and I will teach you more of those ways as I deem it appropriate -- but it's critical that you first master stepping back and speaking your mind. I'm really proud of you and the progress you've made to that end.
You've got a Good Friend (GF) -- a bit younger than you -- who is still learning that it's not okay to hit.
After a prior, recent, visit you and I had a conversation about how the dynamic between you two usually plays out; GF tries to take something, you yell or scream at him, then he hits you in the face. I explained to you how the yelling and screaming helps to escalate the situation and advised you to help defuse it by using words to tell him what you mean.
I watched GF, empty-handed, follow you into the next room yesterday as you drove a tractor which you'd each had a turn with earlier. I suspected a confrontation and followed at a distance sufficient that neither of you noticed.
Within five seconds, GF had reached for the toy then whacked you in the face when you didn't relinquish it. I was very pleased to see you react by standing up, stepping back and saying "GF, will you please don't hit me?"
I had my own conversation with GF at that point.
As I walked out of the room you approached GF and asked him again to not hit you.
*****
There are a number of effective ways to respond to bullying behavior -- and I will teach you more of those ways as I deem it appropriate -- but it's critical that you first master stepping back and speaking your mind. I'm really proud of you and the progress you've made to that end.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
dressed
Dylan,
For what I think is the first time ever, you got up and dressed yourself from head to toe before Mom and I were even out of bed. You came marching into our room shortly after I turned off the alarm, and showed off your self-reliance. We were very impressed and appreciative.
The whole morning was easier (and earlier) because of it. I hope this becomes a habit, and fast.
Next up, we get you to make breakfast.
Dad
For what I think is the first time ever, you got up and dressed yourself from head to toe before Mom and I were even out of bed. You came marching into our room shortly after I turned off the alarm, and showed off your self-reliance. We were very impressed and appreciative.
The whole morning was easier (and earlier) because of it. I hope this becomes a habit, and fast.
Next up, we get you to make breakfast.
Dad
Monday, February 16, 2009
safekeeper
Dylan,
At lunch yesterday you leaned over and whispered in my ear. You said, "I love you and I'm keeping you safe from monsters and lions and tigers."
Thanks.
Dad
At lunch yesterday you leaned over and whispered in my ear. You said, "I love you and I'm keeping you safe from monsters and lions and tigers."
Thanks.
Dad
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Story of Quack
For Christmas my cousins sent us a gift which included the book "Make Way for Ducklings", placemats with the story's artwork, and a scruffy nubby little stuffed duck. You were totally enamored by the book, which is set in Boston, because as you exclaimed excitedly when I read it the first time "I've been there!". The book remains one of your favorites. You also immediately took the duck under your wing, and it became your necessary sleeping cuddly.
I was happy to have it replace any one of your bears, as the duck is much smaller and easier to pack for overnights and such. The best thing about the duck is that it had this worn and loved look from the get-go, like it's been with you since day one, and you treat him like he has. When I asked you what your Duck's name was, you barely hesitated..."Quack" you said. Quack is the last of the eight ducklings in the book, and you no doubt had decided this was the one and only. Now, every time I read the story and it names off all the ducklings, you give me this little look and wriggle with excitement because the book is talking about YOUR quack. And many a night as we're settling into bed, a slightly concerned "where's Quack?" escapes your lips as you try to re-locate your little friend amongst the entangled sheets.
Tonight, we were reading "The Tooth Book" and one of the pages shows a boy gobbling up a bunch of junk food. It sparked a conversation about how too much junk food can make your teeth sick, and give you a tummy ache. We've had this conversation many times before, but you were re-processing it again tonight, when you announced that if Quack got sick, you'd take him to a "duck doctor". You then proceeded to explain to me in more detail what you would do.
"If Quack was sick I would carry him in my arms out to the car (complete with demonstration of how Quack would be tucked under our right arm). I'd put him in the car, strap him in my car seat, get in my car and drive him to the Duck Doctor. Then I'd take him out of the car, carry him into the Duck Doctor (gesture again), and um, and um... and um... put him up on the table. Then the doctor would make a really tiny hole in him and he would go in and fix his tummy ache. Then I'd put tape over the hole and the hole would go away, and then quack would be all better."
Besides that little "and, um" section, this story flowed freely from your lips with pauses not to think up what was to come next, but where one would expect to hear them when listening to a story.
Your eloquent explanation of what you'd do in this scenario is the epitome of coalescence. I could almost see the bits and pieces of your past experiences, and guess at conversations you've had with other children and probably adults. There was something truly powerful about what you were saying. You weren't just making up a story, you were really walking through what you would do, telling it directly to me as it came to you. Is this early signs of complex problem solving...
Never under-estimate the capacity of a three year old.
Mom
I was happy to have it replace any one of your bears, as the duck is much smaller and easier to pack for overnights and such. The best thing about the duck is that it had this worn and loved look from the get-go, like it's been with you since day one, and you treat him like he has. When I asked you what your Duck's name was, you barely hesitated..."Quack" you said. Quack is the last of the eight ducklings in the book, and you no doubt had decided this was the one and only. Now, every time I read the story and it names off all the ducklings, you give me this little look and wriggle with excitement because the book is talking about YOUR quack. And many a night as we're settling into bed, a slightly concerned "where's Quack?" escapes your lips as you try to re-locate your little friend amongst the entangled sheets.
Tonight, we were reading "The Tooth Book" and one of the pages shows a boy gobbling up a bunch of junk food. It sparked a conversation about how too much junk food can make your teeth sick, and give you a tummy ache. We've had this conversation many times before, but you were re-processing it again tonight, when you announced that if Quack got sick, you'd take him to a "duck doctor". You then proceeded to explain to me in more detail what you would do.
"If Quack was sick I would carry him in my arms out to the car (complete with demonstration of how Quack would be tucked under our right arm). I'd put him in the car, strap him in my car seat, get in my car and drive him to the Duck Doctor. Then I'd take him out of the car, carry him into the Duck Doctor (gesture again), and um, and um... and um... put him up on the table. Then the doctor would make a really tiny hole in him and he would go in and fix his tummy ache. Then I'd put tape over the hole and the hole would go away, and then quack would be all better."
Besides that little "and, um" section, this story flowed freely from your lips with pauses not to think up what was to come next, but where one would expect to hear them when listening to a story.
Your eloquent explanation of what you'd do in this scenario is the epitome of coalescence. I could almost see the bits and pieces of your past experiences, and guess at conversations you've had with other children and probably adults. There was something truly powerful about what you were saying. You weren't just making up a story, you were really walking through what you would do, telling it directly to me as it came to you. Is this early signs of complex problem solving...
Never under-estimate the capacity of a three year old.
Mom
swimming
Dylan,
Mom told me last week that you were able for the first time to take a breath while swimming on your own.
This week she sent this great pic of you jumping into the pool:
You're the blur in the middle, wearing black trunks and a blue shirt.
Dad
Mom told me last week that you were able for the first time to take a breath while swimming on your own.
This week she sent this great pic of you jumping into the pool:
You're the blur in the middle, wearing black trunks and a blue shirt.
Dad
Thursday, February 05, 2009
31 Flavors
Dylan,
I donated blood at work the other day and got a coupon for a free pint of ice cream (which, the coupon explained, in our state actually meant a 12 oz. container -- go figure) so I took you on your very first trip to the ice cream store.
I picked you up so you could see all the flavors. You gravitated toward the pink ones, but ultimately surprised me by choosing the chocolate fudge. It was a joy to watch you eat it.
Dad
I donated blood at work the other day and got a coupon for a free pint of ice cream (which, the coupon explained, in our state actually meant a 12 oz. container -- go figure) so I took you on your very first trip to the ice cream store.
I picked you up so you could see all the flavors. You gravitated toward the pink ones, but ultimately surprised me by choosing the chocolate fudge. It was a joy to watch you eat it.
Dad
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