He's really on to something.

Of course, I think my son is brilliant and talented and funny. He kicks a soccer ball while running like a semi-pro. He catches his football effortlessly. He cracks me up. Example: While trying desperately to convince me to buy some fruit snacks at the grocery store he said to me but mom they are so delicious and then slowly moved his tongue across his top lip in a licking-your-lips type fashion. Really, how am I to say no to that? ( I did, but it wasn't easy to do while laughing.)

He's now showing an affinity for music as well. Tomorrow is the Salamander Spring Sing at school. Three and four year olds putting on a music show. I am seriously dying from the cuteness factor already and there are 30 more hours to go. Because they practice every day he's springing up with new little tunes all the time that I've never heard before. In addition, he's starting to repeat many of the melodies he hears in passing. I was watching the Justin Timberlake HBO special while folding laundry and the chorus of "What goes around" got stuck in my head. I was singing it to no one but myself while pulling him out of the tub the other day and now he sings it all the time. If I try to sing with him, or before him, or after him, for that fact, he corrects me and says no, it's like this: and then sings the exact same thing I just did. I pulled up this video on YouTube and let him listen with headphones on and his smile went from ear to ear. It's the goes around song- he exclaimed, his eyes lit up. Oh yes it is.      

We are heading into the six month, one step backwards, two steps forward transition period. Like clockwork he's starting to plainly disobey, fall apart, yell and scream for every reason or no reason at all. I'm happy to report that I still remember the last time we went through this and I recall clearly coming out the other side and all the things I had to do to get there. I'm much more prepared and level headed about this round, and so far, hormones be damned, I've managed to persevere without completely freaking out like I did the last time. I know this is a phase and I know now is the time to metaphorically batten down the hatches. He needs clear boundaries and no exceptions and for us to tow the hard line. It can be done, but it's difficult for everybody. 

Yesterday was an amazing day. It was warm and sunny. We had the day off. We played and went out to lunch and set up race tracks. He was happy and warm and silly and I enjoyed every breath taking minute of him.

This morning he kicked and punched and refused to get dressed. Calling me on my bluff to carry him out to the car in his pajamas he looked at me defiantly and said "fine". So I did. Where he asked for real pants. (But left his shark jammy tee shirt on. I didn't even explain it apologetically to the day care teacher. I admitted it: He's still in part of his pajamas. That's how this morning went.)      

Tomorrow is another day. No, scratch that, in five hours it will be a different day for us with different moods and challenges and hopefully hugs. When he looks me straight in the eye and overturns a basket of toys I will do my best to take a deep breath and remember the wise,worldly, words of the all-of- twenty-something Justin Timberlake, because what goes around does come back around.

Comments

[Catherine]

JT, parenting expert.

Seriously every day there is a kid in Opie's class wearing a pajama top. (Sometimes it's him.) The teachers just shrug.

[mayberry]

oops, that was me in case you didn't guess or you know someone else with a kid named Opie.

[amanda]

ok now i puffy heart you even more!! the hbo special!! i mean i seriously think he is my boyfriend :)

[patois]

Thank God we get to try it all again every few hours, with an apparently different child (and clearly a different mother).