Dylan,

Right now your pants are on backwards and your shoes are on the wrong feet. Happens a lot, especially the latter.


Dad

pause

Dylan,

I showed you where the 'pause' button is on the DVD remote. I did it to keep you from peeing in your clothes while watching a Thomas the Tank Engine or Bob the Builder video. Now you'll gladly put that video on hold and run to the bathroom.

Not long after, you adapted the action to apply to other contexts. Recognizing the need for a potty break while you and I were playing trains -- and not wanting to miss out on any of the fun -- you stood up, your arm outstretched and pointed my way. With a motion not unlike zipping a tent closed, and an accompanying "whoozj" sound, you paused me.

I froze.

You reversed the process upon your return, thankfully, with an upward motion and sound effect. Now you make a regular practice of this with Mom and I.


Dad

Amazing

Dylan,

Before this school year ends I must ask your teacher how casually she uses the word "amazing", because she uses it every time she and I talk about you.

Yes, you are amazing.

To me you've been amazing since the day Mom told me, standing in our garage, that you even existed. And of course, few boys are reading at your age and maybe fewer still can be trusted to work autonomously with a roller and tray while painting the front of the house, but I still have to wonder (if for no reason other than to keep my swollen pride in check) whether you are "amazing" in a routine sort of way, or if you're exceptional even among her vast experiences with exceptional children.

At the end-of-year picnic she was telling me about a lesson on the decimal system she was giving a 5-yr-old while you looked on, following everything and correctly answering questions that hadn't actually been aimed your way. She asked me when your birthday was again and said, "Turned three in November. Amazing!"



We'll tackle the porch next:



A vacuum salesman came to the door while we were working. He stopped mid-spiel when he got a look at you and concernedly blurted out, "Uh, he's got paint on his mouth!" You can see it in the second photo (click to enlarge). It's actually Greek yogurt from lunch, heehee!

UPDATE:
I spoke with your teacher. You are amazing among her experiences with children. She pointed specifically to the fact that very few students begin reading in their first year with her. I think that's why she was all the more impressed by your November birthday.

outdoor cookin'

Dylan,

You seemed to enjoy the chocolate chip pancakes we made together on the outdoor griddle.

Dad

tree planting

Dylan,

This morning you and I joined some other volunteers to help plant trees in a "park" that had been badly neglected.

We spent about 90 minutes there in total and planted two trees, each about 8 feet tall. One was a buckeye, the other was unidentified.

I was concerned about how well-suited this activity would be for a guy your age but you handled it like an ace. When the digging started, you told me in a cautious voice that you just wanted to watch. Pretty soon, you warmed up to the idea of getting your gardening gloves dirty and made good use of a very heavy shovel.

This non-profit outfit holds events like this all the time. I think we'll be back for more.












Dad

BRAW*

Dylan,

While you revel in the repetitiveness of reading the same board books night after night, I long for the time when I can cuddle with you in bed as we make our way through a children's novel night after night, chapter by chapter. Don't get me wrong, I cherish the reading time, and you've taken to it so well, often climbing into bed to get a head start on your own and "reading it in my head" as you say, while I tear myself away from the post cooking clean-up to come in your room and settle in with you. But I'm anxious to get to Harry Potter and the likes.

A couple weeks ago I came across a collection of short stories brought back from Scotland for you last year by Aunt Lisa's Mom, Nora. I had set it aside for some time in the future when you would be ready for a book without pictures and many paragraphs per page. As I looked, I wondered when that would be, and ultimately decided to give it a try soon.

Climbing under the covers I explained to you we were going to read a different kind of book, one for older children. I reviewed the no pictures and lots of words on the page thing, explaining that you had to just listen to the story and imagine the pictures in your head. I also explained that the stories in this book were all written by authors living in Scotland, and that some of the language and words would be unfamiliar to us because different countries have different expressions for the same things. I worried that all this was a little abstract to you, but you took it in stride and seemed eager to start.

Reading through the first story, you listened intently, and not once did it seem you were bored or having any difficulty following what I was saying. I was really impressed, while at the same time excited about the possibilities your ability might bring to our reading sessions. I was also a little frustrated with myself for not trying this sooner. I enjoyed the story, and it was fun to explain to you the language variations it presented. A few days later you asked for the same story again, describing the general plot of the story so as to help me understand which story you were referring to. Now I was very surprised. Your comprehension and retention were truly impressive.

Now we're slowly making our way through the book, and I'm on the prowl for "series books" for the 5 and up crowd.

I'd love to entertain suggestions...

Love,
Mom

* BRAW is a network of Scottish children's writers and illustrators, who originally came together to promote books, reading and writing, by authors and illustrators living in Scotland, to Scottish children and young people.

cookin'

Dylan,

You had fun making strawberry-banana mini-muffins while wearing the cooking gear you got from GiGi.







Dad

fishin'

Dylan,

Mom sent this from the beach today...





Dad

white footprints

Dylan,

We're doing some painting in the house right now. Mom even let you help out with the primer, which ended successfully even though it started out on the wrong foot.

The first thing you did when Mom tried to incorporate you into the effort was to step on the upturned lid from the paint can, then track stark white partials across the floor. Fortunately, Mom had taped down some heavy paper in a six foot wide swath, so your artwork made no threat of permanence.

Painting with you is fun, but it takes about 3x as long.


Dad

reading

Dylan,

You're teacher called home last week. She says she likes to let parents know, since they don't always notice, when their child has started reading.

She knows you're reading because when she writes multi-syllabic words -- like "pelican" -- on a piece of paper, you are able to find in the classroom the thing described.

She says we should still keep working to improve your ability to focus, especially to finish one thing before moving on to the next, because you are distracted particularly easily. What's especially "amazing" about you, she says, and sets you apart from other distractable children is that you're attention span is there. Rather than being unable to maintain focus for an extended time, you are eager to engage every new thing or thought that comes up.

She also said you recognize all the letters in the alphabet -- both upper and lower case -- and know their sounds, and have an understanding of quantities into the teens.

You make me very proud.


Dad

3.5

Dylan,

You turned three and a half yesterday.


Dad

posturing

Dylan,

Sometimes, posturing makes all the difference. Other times, it just makes you a poseur.


Dad