Aidan's Tool Box

As most of you know, our downstairs bathroom is in the midst of a remodel. I'd say our family does pretty well with living through construction. When the kitchen was torn apart for several weeks, we made due. We're doing the same now. It's a little harder to get Aidan up the stairs in time to potty and I'm sure it's tight when Jason and Aidan shower together. But overall no one has complained much about the inconvenience of having to travel upstairs for all of our bathroom needs.

But then there's the shopping. Jason has spent many hours at the various home stores picking up this and that. Our last two trips have been to buy things that we both needed to judge, so Aidan was forced to come along. He's becoming very familiar with Lowe's.

Last weekend we spent a few hours there and Aidan complained pretty much the whole time. Today I was wise. I packed snacks, coloring books, and the must-have portable DVD player. He laid in the cart watching Scooby-Doo for 2 1/2 hours while we were able to knock out the bulk of the remainder of the things we need.

While we were there, a very nice man who was running a kid's clinic gave Aidan a kit to make a wooden toolbox. Aidan was very excited about it even though he didn't really know what it was. He thought the long dowel that was supposed to be the handle was a hammer and he was confused about why there was no hammer included. Since the clinic was over when the man gave him the kit, we decided to put it together when we got home. It took all three of us to put it together. One parent to hold all the parts together and one parent to hold Aidan's hand while he hammered. In just a few minutes we'd successfully put together his box and now he has his very own little box to put things in!

Spending Time With Mommy

Everything around here has been sort of crazy with the bathroom remodel underway, the school holiday on Monday, and the snow day yesterday. We're all very happy to be getting back to our regular schedule.

On Monday Aidan came into work with me and did his very best to let me get some work done. He watched DVDs a little, asked me questions every five minutes, and drew on the dry erase board as well as the carpet (luckily, I was able to get it up with cleaning wipes). After the torture of being at Mommy's office, we went down to the Carnegie Center for the MLK Day activities. Aidan had a lot of fun. They had crafts, dancing, music, and food! What else could you ask for?

Yesterday we woke up to a yard full of snow and no school! Again, Aidan came to the office with me. I guess it was because he had been in the office with me the day before, but he was much better about it. We stopped on the way to pick up some new movies and toys to play with and he was pretty happy for a good three hours and I was able to get some real work done.

At the end of the day he went over to play with his friend Emma for 2 hours while I read. Busy work with a preschooler I can accomplish, reading not so much! He was so tired when we picked him up that he fell asleep at Chick fil A. What a day!

The Parent Teacher Conference

We met with Aidan's teacher for our parent-teacher conference. We didn't learn anything new. He does everything very well, occasionally loses his cool and rarely listens. All stuff we are already working on. We did talk to her about what we are doing to restructure his days and the little things we are working on at home like letters and days of the week. I always walk away from those things wondering if we look like psycho-parents. Oh well, it's working for us.

In restructuring Aidan's days, we've been waking up a little earlier to get to his school a little earlier each day. That allows me enough time to work so that I can pick him up a little earlier in the afternoon. So far we've had mixed results. On the one hand, he's been far less cranky both at bedtime and in the mornings. Several afternoons, however, he's complained about how he didn't really want to be picked up because he was having fun at school.

This morning we talked about why I've been picking him up early and in the same sentence he said that he A) didn't want to come home early because he has fun, and B) he misses us so much during the day that he's sad at night that he didn't get to see us much. I forget that he's 3 and that 3-year olds have trouble figuring out conflicting emotion. So, I told him that it's OK to want both. To want to stay there and to want to be with me and that I miss him during the day too. And then I told him that I think the sweet spot is 4:45. We'll try that today to see if it works out.

By the way, I just found out that the Rabbi is on sabbatical and won't be back. I don't think Aidan understand this, but I'll have to talk with him if he brings it up.

Is Jason Becoming a Liability?

Last night Aidan and I were putting together this floor puzzle. He points to a boy and says, "Where is he from?" The rest of the conversation went this way:

Mommy: "He's from Spain."
Aidan: "Is he a pirate?"
Mommy: "No. He's a bull fighter."
Aidan: "Is he a man?"
Mommy: "No. They are all kids from all over the world. He's a boy."
Aidan: "He's a bullfighter? That's dangerous! He must have been eating paint chips!"
Mommy: "What?"
Aidan: "Some kids eat paint chips and it makes them dumb. He must have eaten some paint chips!"
Mommy: "Where did you hear that?"
Aidan: "Daddy. We watched a show on TV and they said that when kids eat paint chips with lead it makes them dumb."
Mommy: "OK, let's do the next piece!"

The Right Stuff

Tomorrow is our very first parent teacher conference. I know they won't, but I hope they don't tell us he needs to leave the school. I'm so tired of moving him from one school to another! He told me yesterday that he looks forward to being in Lubbock and meeting new friends at his new school.

I don't know if Jason has been working on him or what, but he actually said that he remembers how he didn't know anyone at his current school before he went there and now he loves all of his friends and teachers. He also indicated that he wasn't quite as happy at the prior school. Live and learn, I guess. I only worry that he'll miss pretending to be Jewish. He is really enjoying those Jewish traditions!

Jason and I had lunch today and we were discussing how important it has been for us to find the right preschool for Aidan. Even though it's not super convenient for us (or Nana)-- they have many days off and only part time summer sessions-- he couldn't be happier to be there. And that makes it worth the extra money and time!

For The Love of a Rabbi

So yesterday I pick Aidan up at school and he tells me all about his day. And like all Fridays, he tells me all about the songs they sang and the bread they ate for Shabbat. He really loves their Friday Shabbat rituals and has often told me all about the goings on. But yesterday was full of complaints of the cutest kind.

First he said "today's Shabbat was little." Then he clarified, "The Rabbi was gone. She was on vacation but now she's on a trip someplace in Kentucky talking to families. So, she was gone. And Ms. Susan sang the songs with us and it wasn't very long." And then we talked for a long time about how much he loves the Rabbi and how he misses her when she's not there. I told him he should tell her that he misses her, but he's pretty shy about those types of things and I'm guessing he won't do it.

I have to say that I'm very happy and proud that he has such a strong female role model. I mean, how much more of a leader can you have than a religious leader? Regardless of all the other religions he'll be exposed to in the future, now he knows a female can be a religious leader. He's seen it in the synagogue and he's seen it at the Unitarian church.

It's a given that he'll have plenty of strong male role models throughout his life, especially in West Texas. But a strong female leader is harder to find. Minority leaders even harder to find, but that will take a little more effort to incorporate into his life. Looking at the current state of the country and the diversity of the presidential hopefuls gives me hope as well. Maybe we're becoming more inclusive in our "melting pot." And maybe we'll be able to raise a child who sees no boundaries based on gender, race, or religious affiliation. A far cry from the generation in which his parents were brought up.

A Day Of Raising A Child

You never know what's going to make Aidan feel "off." We were having serious issues with whining and crying, so we started investigating. He delays in the morning because "school is a very long day." He delays at bedtime because he "just got home from school." So we decided to deal. If Aidan gets up and gets going with no delays in the morning, he will not only get a sticker but I will pick him up early in the afternoon, which means that we'll have more time to play in the evenings. It doesn't seem to be the total length of time he's there as much as having the afternoon sort of drag on, so we decided to redistribute the time.

So far we've seen progress. Not perfection, but definitely progress. We also avoided a dinner squabble yesterday by letting him go with me to the grocery to pick out the food. Interestingly, he chose a good mix of starches and veggies to go with our baked chicken (which was fine with me--- but we rarely eat starches). Although I had to scale things way back from his original request of macaroni and cheese, broccoli, apples, rice, stir fry, squash, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cucumber, and spaghetti.

Oh, and one more thing. People should be very careful about what they say to kids. Aidan informed me the other day that he didn't want to use his spiderman wash cloth because "Mommy, you wiped your butt with that." Astonished, I deny it because it's not true! Aidan informs me that Daddy told him. Fast forward to me asking Jason about it and Jason laughs. Why did he say this? Because he didn't want Aidan to use that wash cloth. Anybody think he should have come up with a better strategy?

Welcome to Aidan's Nightmare

As I was lying there feeling all cozy and warm, I could hear Jason in the shower. I knew I had to get up soon so I was really savoring those last few minutes. And then I heard Aidan. I was a little disappointed because he rarely wakes up until we get him up on school days. And he was yelling for Mommy!

I started to get up and then he stopped. I waited. I heard Jason get out of the shower and then Aidan said something about his toys. Jason went to check on him and I heard Aidan say, "Mommy won't let me have my toys." And then Jason says, "You're asleep." In an effort to get Aidan to go back to a happier dream I yell out to him, "It's OK, Aidan! You can have your toys!" He continued. He tells Jason that his toy is lost in his pillow. Jason tells him to get it out of the pillow but Aidan insists that the toy is "stuck in a pipe."

What a nightmare! No matter what he did, he couldn't seem to hang on to his toys!

The Daily Discovery

I guess I forget that kids are new here. If they haven't seen something in their short lives, they don't know anything about it. And sometimes I forget that Aidan is only exposed to the things we have exposed him to. Some people (like the Nana) have said that he's a very lucky boy to be exposed to all the things he's seen and done. He's been on an airplane more time than some adults. He's been to the Smithsonian, the National Zoo, Chinatown, Yellowstone. The aquarium is a regular event. He sees a lot and he learns a lot. But sometimes there are simple, basic things that he doesn't know about and I'm caught off guard.

OK, so let's get this straight. I'm darn proud that Aidan didn't know what Little Debbie or what vending machines are but it still reminded me that he misses out on basic things.

The truck was in front of us this morning when we were waiting to enter the New Circle entrance ramp. It had pictures on the back of dancing swiss cake rolls and oatmeal cream pies. So he says, "Hey, Mommy, do they make chocolate milk and pancakes?" I tell him no, those are Little Debbie cakes. They make cakes that come in plastic and are sold in vending machines. "What's a vending machine?" I explain that you put money in, push a button, and it gives you cakes. "To eat?" I confirmed.

Then there are several questions about what kinds of cakes they make. A few minutes later we pass the truck on New Circle Road, he sees this on the the side of the truck, and Aidan yells happily, "Mommy! They have rolled up donuts! They have donuts!"

Innocence lost. I wonder how long it will be before he no longer eats broccoli.

More Moving Preparations

Aidan's parents have been a little preoccupied with all the details of our coming year. The bathroom remodel will begin next week (we hope), then there is the upstairs ceiling repair, then the curb appeal. Then, of course, the house goes on the market in February. Only next month! All this and Jason still hasn't talked with the office. I'm not sure what his plans are, but we're also preparing for that.

Aidan is doing great. He's very happy to be back in school and loves to tell us what he did at the end of each day. Next week we have our first parent-teacher conference. I hope they say nice things about him. On Friday one of his teachers commented that Aidan needs more boys in the class. On any given day he only has one other boy there. There are two in his class, but both are part-time on different days. The teacher said that there is one girl who has an older brother who loves to play rough. And that she and Aidan get along marvelously!

Yesterday I worked and Jason tells me that he and Aidan had a long talk about the adventures that we'll be having this year. Jason told him that we'd have a new house and he'd have a new room to be decorated however he wants. Jason explained that we decorated his current room before he was born and that we chose Dr. Seuss hoping that he would like it. But this time Aidan will be able to choose his own decor and we will allow him the liberty of choosing his theme. Once there and settled, he'll pick out new "big boy" furniture. Then we'll paint in his favorite colors and buy baseball accessories-- or whatever he wants. He seems to be very interested in this plan!

Getting Used To The Idea of Texas

Aidan was excited to finally be going back to school. He was off for winter break all through the holidays and had a snow day yesterday. Although he loved the snow and going to the movie, he was really missing his friends.

On the way to school this morning Aidan told me all about his daydreams of spiderman and ET. A few minutes go by and he asked if he will be at his current school in summer. I reminded him and he reminisced last summer when he had another teacher and he was in the preschool room three days per week. And then I said, "You'll be there for summer school and then we'll move after that." He got a big smile on his face as if he finally understood and then said, "That's a really long time." And then said, "Do you think we'll find a school in Texas Tech that is like [my current school]?" I assured him that I've already been looking.

Aidan Wrote His Name...

...For the very first time. He would also like for you to know that he drew a purple tomato, because that is more important to him than writing his name!

And we also saw "The Waterhorse" today. Very good movie for all ages, although it was a bit scary for Aidan at the end. He got over it quickly with the happy ending. Very much like ET.