Where the wild things are...

Camp is back.... and so is the drama
As I'm sure I've mentioned we've totally screwed up our son. Well we certainly knew it was going to happen. We had to come to grips with the fact that any children of ours would certainly need therapy at some point in their lives. Once we fully came to terms with that we decided it was time to have kids.... but I digress.

Against my better judgment I let Jack go to sleep away camp last year. It was Ted's 2nd year and he loves it and Jack was very excited about going, but I knew in my heart of hearts he was too young and too attached to his parents to be okay with it and sure enough he was. He had a great time while he was there, but came home suffering from a profound case of separation anxiety whenever ANY kind of separation is going to happen. He got back from sleep away camp and started back up at his regular day camp which he'd been going to and LOVING for years and worked himself into a frenzy over the idea that we were going to leave him there (he'd been there 8 days earlier) that he threw up on the way there. And on just about every morning after that until finally a monetary bribe worked (but that took a few weeks before he could work himself up to it). Then when school started - he was in the third grade and going to the same school as always, he climbed SOBBING onto the school bus and held his hands out the window to us while he continued SOBBING. There wasn't a dry eye in the neighborhood watching that scene. This continued for the entire first week, though he was finally able to get it together and had a mostly fine year as far as that was concerned.

Now to this summer. His stated reasons for hating the summer camp he previously loved were numerous and inventive; it was rusty, it's hot outside, they don't play football right... things like that and Brad was prepared to send him somewhere else, but believing any place would be tough for him I pushed to keep him there because it's a known entity for him and the staff know and love him and are ready, willing, and able to deal with the fact that he may literally vomit every morning in their bathroom. Today was the first day I got to take him to camp (Brad's in NC) and yes, he managed to vomit in the car on the ride over and was then totally surprised that I was still leaving him there. "but wait, I threw up, now I don't have to go." "uh, honey, you threw up because of your nerves and they know that, you're not sick, you're still going."

Let me stop and say he has a fabulous time while he's there. We get regular updates from his counselors and the camp director and they consistently report that he is having a ball. And if he's talking about camp and not realizing the implications of us knowing how much fun he is having he tells hilarious stories of the wonderful and crazy things they get to do there. But of course being Mr. Manipulative he is very careful not to let his guard down too often as he'd much rather tell us the place is rusty so he shouldn't have to go (read: I don't want you to ever leave my side for any reason whatsoever!)

Anyway - I hadn't intended to really get into all that, but there it is. Camp is back and so is the vomiting drama. We're working on coping mechanisms and I think maybe it's getting a little better. I'm hoping before he goes to high school he'll be able to leave our side more easily.


Teddy and girls
is a fun and painful thing to watch. Recently Teddy was at an end of school beach blast party and there he lost a tooth (the boy has lost 3-4 teeth in the past month). Apparently once the bloody molar was in a baggy he ran around the blacktop shoving it into as many girls' faces as he could. Brad was horrified by this behavior, I've got to say, it just made me laugh.

Then we were at the pool the other day and he kept going up to a group of girls who were minding their own business and splashing them. Brad was completely agitated by this. "We have to make him stop that, I don't think the girls like it." I got him to sit back down. If the girls don't like it, they'll have to figure out how to get him to stop it. I'm confident they can put him in his place if they want to and equally confident Ted will continue to annoy them until they do just that. This is just all part of the ritual - both sides need to learn how to deal with each other. We watched while Brad gripped the sides of his chair hard enough that his knuckles had lost all color, but eventually Ted managed to insinuate himself into a rousing game of keep away with the girls and their fathers.. no harm, no foul. And eventually the feeling came back into Brad's fingers.

Camela

The cause of the big bump on my forehead.....

At the elementary school where Jackson goes they have a lovely tradition where on the last day of school all the teachers and staff form two lines just outside the exit doors and clap and cheer for all the students as they have officially finished the year and (hopefully) been promoted to the next grade. Every year the sentiment brings tears to my eyes and if I actually get to watch it, I'm toast. (and though I won't admit it officially it's possible there are a few tears in my eyes right now as I think about it).

Anyway, because he goes to aftercare right after school I wasn't 100% sure exactly when school lets out and so I wasn't sure when his half day ended on the last day of school and this year Brad is out of town so I'm going to be there when Jack gets out. So what does a smart and organized mom do when she doesn't know the answer to something (and her husband is not available to give her the answer)??? She calls the school with a quick and easy question.

Me: What time does school let out?

dumbgirlwhoansweredthephone: Three hours earlier.

M: Yes, okay, thanks. What time does school let out?

D: What time does he get home?

M: When I pick him up. He’s in aftercare and I’m going to pick him up from school on Wednesday when it let’s out, but I don’t know when that is. Can you tell me when school let’s out this week?

D: Oh he’s in aftercare?

M: Yes

D: And you’re going to pick him up on Wednesday?

M: Yes

D: So he’ll be a car rider. Because I was going to calculate three hours earlier than when the bus normally drops him off if he was a bus rider.

M: Okay. When does school let out?

D: Well we’ll be all done by 12:15 or so. And the car loop gets pretty full so you might want to be in the loop by about noon or so.

M: I’m planning to park the car and get out; can you please tell me when school let’s out?

D: You’re going to park?

M: Yes.

D: As I said we’ll be all done by 12:15 or so, so you definitely want to be here before then.

(maybe a new question will help get me an answer)

M: When does the bell ring?

D: For car riders, we’ll probably let them out at 12:07 or 12:09.

M: Great, thank you.

(After hanging up, I beat the phone against my head for approximately 15 minutes.)

Camela

More potent quotables

"What ever happened to Sean Connery, I liked Sean Connery, well I mean that guy who used to play him."

******

(asked to Teddy) "Do you know what the capital of Albany is?" blank stare. "Albany, do you know what the capital of Albany is?"

Me: I think you mean New York, What's the capital of New York.

"Oh that's right" back to Teddy "do you know what's the capital of New York?"

Ted: New York City?

"No, Albany" Then to me "Camla, What is the capital of New York City?"

******

Jackson is doing a project about the founder of Honda and he was writing out the day he was born and the the day he died. "How old was he when he was born?" (blank stare) "Jackson, how old was Honda when he was born? What was that, in 1906? How old was he then? When he was born?" (more blank stares) To me "Does he know how hold he was when he was born?"

Me: When he was born he was zero and a minute later he was a minute old.

"Oh that's right."

The Race

Teddy and Jackson have been trash-talking with each other about who would win in a footrace. Both boys are fairly athletic, Teddy has 2 years and 4 months on Jack and is bigger and stronger... but Jackson is fast. They haven't raced in a couple of years and Teddy has always won before but between you and me the smart money is on Jackson winning now (and Jack knows it and Teddy suspects it).

Jack finally got Ted to agree to the race and it was scheduled for after dinner tonight. I suspect that if Jack is winning Teddy will quit racing and if Ted is winning Jack will quit racing so they can say the other didn't beat them. So we have a big dinner conversation about that particular topic and both boys agree (Teddy somewhat sheepishly) that they will in fact make it a fair race and give it all they've got until the end. I got Teddy alone and talked again about the very real possiblilty that his younger brother might beat him and made sure he was prepared for that - he said he was and that in fact he thought Jack was going to win, but he'd give it his best shot.

Finally it's time. They decide to race on the wet grass from the sidewalk, around a tree, down the hill, around the swing set, back up the hill, back around the tree and the first person to touch Mommy wins. It's a fair start and Jack has Ted by 3 steps at the tree and is pulling away down the hill until he slips and totally wipes out around the swing set. Teddy passes him but Jack pops back up and digs in to catch up. Jackson made a valiant effort and closed the gap to maybe 10 feet as they rounded the tree and headed towards me.

As soon as Jackson fell, I planned on a rematch (unless Jackson somehow managed to catch back up) because I think it'll be good for Teddy to be beaten by his brother. But what does Jackson do when he decides he's not going to make up the difference. He was only a couple of feet behind Ted with maybe 15 feet to go and he ... guess... this is Jackson I'm talking about... yes you guessed it... he clutched his stomach and started to cry. "IT'S NOT FAIR" he wailed. What's not fair you wonder? Is it that Teddy won when he had so thoroughly wiped out? That's what I expected him to say. Even I was fooled. I thought he'd at least be sane. Nope. "IT'S NOT FAIR, BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO THROW UP."

Me: OH MY GOD!! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

He's crying his eyes out and the horror that is his life and he runs inside to the bathroom. Brad and Ted calmly discuss a redo because they want a fair race; start to finish where the running determines the winner and not the wet grass.

Me: NO WAY IN HELL!!! I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT WHINY LITTLE BOY TO GET A REDO TODAY IF THAT'S HIS REACTION. (yet another great mom moment)

Eventually Jack came out and I told him to go and bring his bike inside.... but did he come right back inside... uh, nope. He did not.

I went out to get him and I explained to him out unacceptable and unsportsmanlike his end of race actions were. I told him how we would have of course re-run the race for the reasons mentioned above but he had to make up that his stomach hurt. Man was he pissed off at me. He stormed into the garage and threw his bike into the corner and prepared to storm out again.

Jack: I'M GOING TO JAKE'S (it was about 8pm on a school night - uh.. not so much)

Me: Get your little butt inside. (He slams the bike again) And up to your room.

He storms in, throws his shoes across the room and storms up the stairs stomping the whole way until he gets to his door which he soundly slams.

Aaaaaah, but now it's blessedly quiet.

There's still no official winner, but it's calm once again our home.

Camela

Flag Football

Jackson plays flag football. This is his third season and he's loved it since the very first time he played. This is definitely his sport. He throws well, he catches well, but more than anything he's fast as all get out. It's rare to play a team that has a kid faster than Jackson which means if he can get past the defense, he's gone. It also means if the other team thinks they're gone, they should put their head down and run faster because Jackson is hot on their heels.

This year he has a fantastic head coach who is a former football player; I think he even had a season in the pros and he is so great at making sure all the players; no matter their level get turns to play all the positions and everyone is having a great time. The team's record, however isn't fantastic. They've won one or two games and lost several very close games and the losses are killing this lovely, yet obviously very competitive coach. So today after they couldn't score in the first half and had let the other team score twice.... the coach snapped. He couldn't handle losing anymore, I think. Brad, who is also a coach, said you could see the change in his eyes as they came off the field at half time.

So at half time this lovely coach said to the group of 7 - 9 year olds. "Who has seen the movie 300?" (which Brad tells me is an R rated movie about 300 guys who took on a whole army - they somehow formed some sort of shield and held the army at bay for quite a while - they might all have died at the end, but... eh that was not his point) "We are going to be those 300 guys! We are going to form a shield!!!" I'm sure he was more eloquent and went into more of an explanation, but that's the gist of it.

They play 5 against 5 at this age and for every single offensive play of the second half they had Jackson lined up behind the QB who was behind the center and once the ball was snapped the 4 guys fanned out and became the shield with their sole intent to keep the defense away from Jackson who was to read the defense and decide whether he wanted to run right or left.

He scored 3 touchdowns and 3 2 point conversions; scoring all 24 of their points and our team won 24-22. It felt a little awkward by the end - I was sort of hoping someone else would get the ball - I'd hate for any of the other kids or parents to be upset by the how the second half went. Hopefully it'll all be back to normal next week and everyone will just be happy we won.

Camela

Potent quotables

The following are actual quotes from conversations in my kitchen - the participant(s) shall remain nameless.

"I like that Sharon Falin, but I don't think LaBamba is really that bad"

"you know, when you're older you should eat a banana every day because of the citrus"

"I didn't know that Larry King was a S. E. X. freak, did you?" (sex was spelled out so the kids; ages 11 and 9, wouldn't understand - I got the single raised eyebrow from Jackson for that one)

"I don't listen to Westrick much anymore, but have you heard of Brooks and Dunn? They're breaking up."

Was he conscious? "No, he was awake and talking."

And from Teddy:

Ted: You know what would be great?

Me: No, what?

Ted: If I was on a cruise ship along with the swedish bikini team and the lotion boy got sick and I looked just like him. (looking wistfully skyward) Yeah, that would be really great.

Me: Go to bed

Camela

Jackson's big day

Little Toot Run
I've mentioned it before at some point, but it's a mile long race at the elementary school one grade at a time. It's only a practice race until 3rd grade and then it's real. I have no idea what the difference is as last year they all lined up and started at the same time and ran a mile and ended up with a winner in 2nd grade - but way back in 2nd grade it was just pretend. But this year, in third grade it's for real.... whatever. In 2nd grade Jackson came in 2nd place and for a year he's been pining away for the real 3rd grade version because he just knew he was going to win. Jackson is a very fast runner, in any sport he plays if he's not the fastest kid on the court or field it's a surprise - but.... we're talking about a basketball court at the shortest and a soccer field at the biggest. It's certainly true that he can almost always outrun any other kid to the ball or pass everyone else on his way to a TD, and that is certainly a wonderful skill, but these are not long distances and the Little Toot Run is a mile long.

For a year and a half (it was postponed from the fall because of bad weather) he's been talking about this race; seemingly hanging much of his self worth on it. Many a day he'll come rushing up to me "Mom, can I go jog around the neighborhood, I need to work on my stamina".... "uh, sure dear, that's a great idea". Brad and I have been working all year long to make this less of a make or break thing for him with extremely limited success. We've also been stressing that a mile is a lot longer than the length of a football field and he can't sprint the whole way - we've had better luck with that one.... So this brings me to this year's Official Little Toot Run. - thank God.

For weeks he's been talking about how he's going to win. There are a lot of kids in 3rd grade; he might win, sure. I don't think it's out of the question, but honey, it's okay if you don't win. Please let him get that! As it approaches he tells us he's getting nervous. I think it's good that he can express that, maybe there will be a release valve yet. The night before he can't sleep because his infamous stomach hurts and he's going to throw up.. of course you are... I quickly put him in my bed to sleep and turn on some boring tv and he finally falls asleep. I have to leave early the next morning and I think there are better than even odds Brad won't be able to get him to go to school as he'll be hunched over his favorite bucket, but when I leave he seems chipper and I keep my fingers crossed. Okay this is going to be a stupid long post.

Brad is volunteering for the day long event at his school, they do it grade by grade; 5th, 4th, then 3rd. Finally it's time and the 3rd grades file out of the school.... only Jackson is not with his class. Brad asks his teacher and she tells him that 5 minutes ago Jackson started crying saying his stomach hurt and is with the nurse... of course he is.... The kids are just coming out to get final instructions and then to start the race, so Brad runs inside and finds Jack hunched over his favorite in-school bucket sobbing. Of course knowing Jack will be beside himself with regret if he doesn't at least try to run this stupid race somehow Brad managed to convince my son, the worlds most stubborn human being, to come out and give it a try. I'm not sure I could have done it, but I'm not nearly as nice as Brad.

Jack clings to Brad sniffling while the rest of the monotonous instructions are given all the while Brad is praying - please hurry up, I'm not sure he's going to last much longer... Finally they're off and he seems to be fine. He's in the middle of the pack for the first couple of laps and on the final straight away before the big up hill finish he starts passing people. When they get to the hill he's in third place. He passes one guy and it's just his friend Niall left in front of him. He passes Niall. Niall passes him. He passes Niall. Niall passes him. They both lunge for the finish line and cross in a dead heat - the race is declared a tie.... Jackson took a sharp right hand turn after crossing the line, dropped to his knees and threw up. Well at least he waited till he was done. I have no idea how he would have handled not winning - clearly something we have to work on - so I'm awfully glad he got a blue ribbon to bring home. And there's no one better to have shared the victory with than Niall - what a great kid he is!

The finger gun
Later that same day.... Jackson is at recess with all the rest of the 8 and 9 year old kids in third grade and he's running around with a bunch of boys and he aims his fingers in a gun like fashion at one of them and they all end up hauled to the vice principal's office. I truly don't know the whole story, maybe it was in fact worse and somehow these kids in their La La school in our ritzy little school district where the biggest offense is mixing plaids with stripes (okay that's not fair or true, but this is a far far cry from anything like a violent place) were actually contemplating real live violence but I'd bet all our salaries combined that it wasn't so. Anyway - it's bad enough that my 9 year old is in the office for pulling his fingers on some other 9 year old boy but then - the VP had the audacity to ask my son if he had access to a gun at home.

Okay, let's review here shall we... guns are legal in this country. Many, many a boy (or girl for that matter) has been hunting by the ripe old age of 9... wait let me review... guns are legal, you nit wit. Though that is so far from the point I can't stand myself. I can only assume that her question was to determine if the offending finger was in fact a substitute for the real thing he was planning to bring in to off the kid with the next day. What is the possible reason for asking a 9 year old in quiet little suburbia this question - because you think there's a real danger out there and you need to cover your bases. Does common sense not come into play here? Jack has never shown the slightest hint towards violence. It was a bunch of friends who all happen to be 8 and 9 year old boys playing on a playground; laughing and having a good time. And yet, she needs to know if he has access to a real gun at home - that must have been some finger.

And then... she calls Brad so he can confirm Jack's answer of 'No, he does not have access to a gun at home.' Because what????? What would the next step have been if the answer happened to have been yes?? Did I mention, guns are legal? So Brad calls me to share how friggin' stupid this whole thing is and I am pissed. I tell him I'm going to call the principal, cuz come on, are you kidding me. I'll give you an extremely generous pass - maybe - for sending the 9 year old boys to the principals office for pulling the deadly finger on the playground - but "Jackson, do you have access to a gun at your house?" "Brad, is it true that Jackson does not have access to a gun in your home?" - that's just gone too damn far for me. I call and leave a message. Brad emails me and asks me to cc him on any email I send to her. I have a history of blistering emails that he does not always fully support (did I mention he's the nice one?).

She finally calls back
Her: I assume you're calling about the lunch time incident
Me: Actually I'm calling for a variety of reasons including that, but let's start there. What do you want me to do, cut off his fingers? He's a 9 year old boy.

The conversation with her actually went very well. She apologized all around; for him coming to the office in the first place, and most specifically for the questions about gun access.

But later when I recounted the conversation with Brad - he was not remotely amused....
Brad: YOU STARTED WITH THAT??? YOU COULDN'T EASE INTO IT? GOOD GOD WOMAN!

We told Jackson when he got home, that it was the stupidest thing in the world and that he did nothing wrong and he was not remotely in trouble, but that he should probably try to avoid aiming his fingers at school anymore as they seem to freak out about it. He readily agreed.

Camela