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    Shut it, Ma!

    February 11th, 2010

    My mother has this great story of me, when I was but a wee one. At nap time she used to sing to me, until the day I stretched out my little toddler hand, put it over her mouth and said “Muh-ki!”. The Bulgarian word for “Shut-up!” is “Mlukni!”, so I was close enough.

    My mom hasn’t sang to me since.

    I think, just now, G might have done the equivalent to me. Each night I put him down, we sit on the glider, I throw his Lovie Friends over my shoulder, and hold him chest to chest. He puts his hand on my shoulder, buried in the softness of his lovies, and I sing him a song… sometimes twice if it’s a short one.
    Well, tonight, as I started the singing portion of our program, G looked up, took one of his lovies, crunched it up and put it over my mouth as if trying to shove it in the whole in my face. I kind of shook it off thinking he was playing and went on, only for him to do it a second time. Should I be taking a hint kid?

    My singing ability isn’t anything to be proud of. Quite the opposite, really. While I have a good sense of rhytm, singing is by far my worst performance skill. I joke around that the best way to clear a room is to invite me to sing. Yes, I jest, but it’s true. I was curious at what age G would mock me for this. I was thinking at least 2 years. It appears we’ve made it to 17 months.

    I’ve got bad news for you kid, though! I ain’t stopping. HAHA!


    Don’t bite. Push him instead!

    February 11th, 2010

    On our way out the door this morning S had some parting words for G: “Remember! Don’t bite. Push him down instead!”

    No, we’re not trying to raise a bully, but late last week when we went to collect our angel from daycare Miss J told us that he attempted to bite 6 times that day. This made my blood run cold as 1) G’s never done this before (at home or at school); 2) biting is a serious offense; and 3) in some schools cause for expulsion if it can’t be resolved (and I really, REALLY like our school). Miss J said that they would keep an eye on G though and see what could possibly be provoking him to bite. Luckily it seemed to be a one day thing, since we didn’t receive any reports that he kept trying… until yesterday.

    Yesterday, G made chompers contact. So much so, that the school had to write an Ouch Report for the victimized child and we were notified too. However, Miss J, under-breath also said “I don’t blame G! The other kid was pushing G around. G tried everything else, and since he can’t talk yet, finally bit the kid and that did the trick.” So a part of me is relieved that G only bit because he was provoked, but I’m bummed he has to result to this extreme.

    Hence the encouragement from S this morning.

    I did sneak a peak at the Ouch Report file this morning. It’s out in the open, so it wasn’t all that difficult. It said “Z was pestering another child and got bit as a result.” In a way I’m glad that the parents of little Z were told that there was provocation. I’m also relieved that G’s name wasn’t  written down.

    Still, I’m not thrilled for this to keep happening. While talking would hlp, I can’t decide if a rich dictionary of words will be helpful in this case. Sure, G will be able to defend himself better (verbally), but knowing my potty mouth, and what he’ll learn from me, he’ll have some choice words to add.