Ussins

Just after 6 AM Mago awoke loudly whining (almost howling) and I went into his room to learn what was the matter. He charged me like a linebacker to push me out of the room, crying:

No, I wanted mommy!

I know better than to argue with that, but at the same time Tia was still sleeping and I’m not going to leave and get her. I tried to hold him and tell him it made me sad he didn’t want me (how permanent that sounds - better to say I’m sad he doesn’t want my help - most mornings he’ll give me a long hug). He wouldn’t have any of it, and kept crying -

Mommy didn’t put on my shoes!

- and in some moments he went back to his bed. I paused, standing at his door trying to sort out where this complaint was coming from.

Did you have a dream?
Yeah.
What happened in the dream?
A picture frame fell.
Then what happened?

He didn’t have any further answer, so I went to his bed side. I didn’t know what to do with this. I wondered what connection this had with shoes in a dream or real life. Maybe I asked the wrong question next.

What did you learn from that?
Stop hitting.
.. I don’t know that that has anything to do with that, but okay.

How would I more carefully say I don’t see a connection while acklowledging he may? .. maybe just like that. Or is this just a default answer? It both tickles me and makes me sad. He’s reflecting to us our Old Testament treatment - do not, do not. Let’s turn that around to “Be gentle.” I guess “Don’t” is a good starting place.

So a picture frame fell - of what picture? - that could be sad symbolism in itself - and mom wouldn’t put on your shoes.. and maybe you want to hit people because of these things, but you don’t. That’s good. If I’m understanding this right.

It eased him, anyway, and he slept for another hour and a half.

Conversation with him this morning as we “played” (switched on and listened to the demo music of) METROID PRIME on the Nintendo Game Cube:

I’m so glad that Heavenly Father sent you to me. You’ve been with me for three years now, and I’m glad.

What do I have?

What do you have? You have gifts, and talents, and you’re smart, but even better than all that, you’re good.

What do I have?

You have blessings.

No - no - I have toys. In the living room.

These past two mornings, first thing Mago says when emerging from his room to see me:

I promise not to take naps anymore.

These affirmations come between his daytime efforts to abandon naps, often ending, Tia tells me, in his nodding off in the early evening and consequently going to bed later - and thus the cycle repeats itself.

This morning he had a time out for talking loudly near Nem-nem’s room and waking her up, in which time out he struck me in his futile but aggressive way in frustration. I said to him very pitifully “Oh, son..” and told him I’d have to take some stuffed animals and keep them until I come home from work, and he should work on being gentle with Tia and Nem-nem until then. (He adores Nem-nem. When his adoration isn’t expressed in wrestling or otherwise hurting her. Tia is exasperated some days, and I think our loving disciplining is tapering off his uncontrollability/aggression?) This saddened and angered him a great deal, and he lovingly stroked my face in between fits to show his effort to be gentle. I told him that’s great, and he needs to do that all day until I come home and give his stuffed animals back. (Y’all are getting pictures of me towing a ton of kids’ stuffed animals away in my car and bringing them into work. That would be fun - but I just hid them in the house.)

In the late morning I called him, and he answered the phone, and I asked him how he was doing with being gentle. His answer was:

“So you can give me my stuffed animals back.”

Okay. That’s not an answer, but he’s clearly got the concept. After this, I asked him to let me talk to Tia, to go give the phone to Tia, and he said:

“Why are you going to work.. you are going to work.. okay come home. I love you.” (click.)

I hang up and get another dial tone and call again.

“Hi.”
“Hi. Will you get mom?”
“Who is this?”
“This is dad.”
“Oh. Alex. Okay. Come home. I love you.” (click.)

He’s left the phone again. Okay. I’ll leave this alone.

Tia tells me later in the day he’s had a few bouts of aggression. I think that’s better than all day, so he’s getting some stuffed animals back.

This morning I was listening to the finale music for the film SIGNS (a very favorite film, also featuring this very favorite music), and Mago asked me what it was. I told him it was from a scary movie with aliens where the people are in danger, but they (SPOILER if you haven’t seen it!) show

Naturally, he said he wants to see the film, and I told him I’ll let him.. in many years. But I held him tight as the music progressed, as if we were endangered (as the music so well conveys).

In a while Nem-nem awoke and I sat with her and listened to the same music continuing. Mago looked at her admiringly and said:

Heh. She’s scared of the aliens. She’s like, I want to see the scary aliens!

I don’t know where he picked up that idiom, but it tickles me. He’s three years old on Monday.

Mago wanted to draw the aliens (which I explained to him are scary pretend monsters), and he did so. Here are three drawings of them. These are done with his left hand - he’s a southpaw like his dad - and like his uncle who shares his middle (real) name

You can right-click (on Windows - I dunno fer Mac, sorry) to see an option to view in a new window - larger. I don’t know why the first isn’t showing as large as the others - I like the first best.

A few days ago Nem-nem was sitting and removed a sock from her foot. Looking at her mother, she held the sock and waved it up and down, saying affirmatively and instructively with each wave:

“Bop. Bop. Bop.”

[I actually did make preparations toward exporting and posting video of Nem-nem and Mago when I said I’d post video - I just didn’t actually export and post. Technical difficulties - I’ll get there..]