Choices

All the child development books tout giving a child choices, an appropriate strategy in heading off trantrums and empowering your child. Supposedly, this should prepare them for other impending, important decisions looming in the future, like whether to wipe their boogers on the wall or on their sheets. You are supposed to be able to still have some sort of control by manipulating the choices, so that they are both things you would allow. I'm here to say that I think it's a bunch of hooey. Here's why:

1. Ian cried for literally an hour last night because the pajamas he wanted to wear were in the wash. Seriously? You have like 7 pair of pajamas. He then cried for another 20 minutes because Cameron decided he wanted to wear a pair of his (Ian's) pajamas that have been too small for him for some time. I thought all that practice choosing was supposed to improve their ability to do so!
2. EVERY time we go outside, we have a struggle over which socks Ian will wear. Let me tell you that all his socks are exactly the same - except for the colored stripe. He wouldn't wear the ones with the red stripe until I told him we were giving them to his friend, Jackson.
3. They aren't dummies. They know when you're giving them two choices they don't like, and it still ends in a tantrum.
4. They get spoiled into thinking they always have a choice, even when there is only one choice.
5. Sometimes I just want them to do what I want, when I want!!

I'd like to reserve free agency until my boys are 25. Hopefully by then they can settle on a pair of pajamas in less than 5 minutes.

Out of the Mouth of Ian & Cam

neAt four, Ian seems like he is just a little adult sometimes. We have some entertaining conversations every now and then. Here's a little peak into our little world.

1. A few weeks ago, we decided we finally need to write down some family rules. Ian is a free little spirit, and often tells me he can "do whatever he wants". Not exactly, I tell him. I can't even do whatever I want. I have to follow rules too. We only have 4 rules, and that about covers it. However, a week or so ago, Ian added his own.

#5 You are not allowed to beat Ian up with a stick.

What?!? When have I ever beat you up with a stick? OK, I admit to maybe a little poking, but that's an inherent hazard when you're sword fighting.

2. Cameron is up to about 2-3 words at a time now. I recently learned that Cameron's little cousin, who is two months younger than him, is learning his numbers and letters. Should I be alarmed, then, that my child's latest word is 'nasty'? For at least a few minutes a day, he entertains himself and his brother by saying 'stinky bum', then collapsing in giggles.

3. Ian was standing at the open door this morning in nothing but a pair of shorts. It was 30 degrees, and snowing. When I asked him to close it, he turned around and said "I'm just trying to let my hottness out!" I really hope we can get him to start wearing clothes (and keeping them on) by the time he goes to school.

4. Speaking of going to school, I asked Ian the other day when he was going to learn to wipe on his own. "When I'm 13," he told me. I'm really in no hurry for this to happen because I think we're all just a little cleaner if I do it myself. Still, I won't be going to first grade with him wait on him in the bathroom. I told my brother what he had told me, and of course, he had to bring it up with Ian. In doing so, he said the word "butt". This word is a 'no-no' in our house, so Ian got really worked up. He pointed his finger at Jared and said "You stupid, we do not say that word!" (we also don't say stupid) He spun around, marched over to the couch, climbed up, and pointed to a picture of Jesus on the wall. "You see this picture? It's Jesus, and he does not look happy! He is very dissappointed in you!" He went on, gesturing heavenward, but I really can't remember what he said because I was nearly in tears, I was laughing so hard.

5. Ian has finally submitted to drink milk without chocolate in it. I consider it my biggest victory since convincing him he should wear pants outdoors during the winter. His reason for making the change? He wants to be bigger and stronger than me. A worthy goal! Maybe he's planning on turning the tide in our sword fights.

Bookmobile

Living in rural Nevada, we don't have the easiest access to a library. There is a library in Elko (55 miles away). It's small, but is supposedly part of a whole group of libraries, so that we can request books that aren't right in Elko. I've tried to request books before and have never been successful. So much for that. However, the kids are always satisified by what they can find there. The only problem is that sometimes it's hard to get things back before they're due. A few years ago, we were snowed into the valley for literally weeks at a time. There is one service the library offers for the many rural communities in Elko County, though, that really hits the nail on the head: The Bookmobile.

The Bookmobile is a big box truck with bookshelves lining the outer walls. It's carpeted, heated and they even have the checkout system automated. Of course, it is a small space, so book selection is limited, but they make sure to stock the shelves with plenty of dinosaur books. I think the driver does it just for Ian. Sometimes it's hard to find a book that the kids haven't already read and would enjoy. Ian usually gathers up his dinosaur books, and starts muttering that he is ready to go, first in hushed tones, then rising in intensity. I try to hold him off until I can find at least three non-dinosaur books. Sometimes we end up loving them and reading them everynight. Sometimes we don't open them again. Last week, we came up with three winners. Here they are:

I laugh every time I see the cover of this book. It is about three happy, cuddly rabbits and their cousin, grumblebunny. Grumblebunny can't ever see the bright side of anything, and as far as we can tell, just wants to stay in bed all day. The three cuddly rabbits want to go play with the beavers, and grumblebunny doesn't want to because they stink and their house stinks. Then, they get in a tangle with Bad Wolf Peter the Rabbit Eater. The boys think it is hillarious. Beware, though, they do use the word 'stupid', which we don't let the boys use. Maybe that's why they think it's so funny.

I think I like this book more than the boys like it. I just love to hear Cameron saying Hug....Roo? Hug...Roo? then, giggle. Or maybe I just like it because Ian used to call popsicles 'hoggeroos'. Anyway, the rhyming is cute, and I like to chase Ian and Cameron around asking them to be my Hugaroo.

The Frog Princess is a little too wordy for Cameron, but Ian likes it. I don't think the story line is that compelling, but the main character does carry around a bow and arrow, which is, for a young boy, reason enough to read a book. The part that we've all loved about this book, though, is a character that only appears for one page. Her name is Baba Yaga the Wicked Nasty. Now that is reason enough for anyone to like this book. Ian runs around saying the name because he likes the way it rolls off the tongue. Cameron can't say that mouthful, but he can say 'nasty', and he does, then laughs. So cute.

Tupperware

I have been coveting the two pieces of Tupperware my mother owns that have lasted 30 years.

The first is this massive 42 cup bowl.


The second is this measuring pitcher.



Then, I saw how much they cost. The bowl is a whopping $27 and the pitcher $20. Are they made out of platinum, or what? Since I have no way to verify their quality, I'm going to buy them, based solely on their reputation. If they last a day less than 30 years, they're going to end up back on Tupperware's doorstep (wherever that might be).

Hail, the end of January

1. We made it through, what some people have called, the worst day of the year. That would be January 24th. I'm not exactly clear on how that became the most depressing day of the year. I have to disagree. I can think of a lot of worse days. March 5th and July 25th, for example.

2. To ease the pain of being cooped up in our house all winter, Tyler has sprung for an elliptical trainer. It is the best thing all time to be able to exercise during nap time instead of having to layer up and go running in the elements. It was 9 degrees this morning. NOTE TO SELF: Do NOT under any circumstances attempt the 'Mountain' program ever ever ever again.

3. Tyler heard a news story about Giorgio Carbone. Never heard of him? Join the crowd. Apparently, he lived in a small Italian city as the Prince. He convinced 350 of it's residents that Seborga should be independent of Italy. They elected him prince for life. Italy has never recognized Seborga as independent, or Carbone as a prince. This did not stop him from driving a car with flags on it, and wearing his princely sash. He was a smoker, so he passed a law to encourage people to smoke, so he wouldn't have to smoke alone. Anyway, the best part of the story, is that the title he had his subjects use for him? His Tremendousness. Guess what Tyler wants to be called now? Maybe it's because he risked his manliness to buy me a minivan and an elliptical trainer. He really does deserve kudos for that.

4. We've been getting a lot of movies from the library lately. The latest one is an animated Ben Hur. Ian didn't want to watch it at first, but I finally convinced him to give it a try. He loves it so much that he showed it to his friend Jackson last night. At some point, I walked in the room, and Ian and Jackson were talking about Jesus.

Ian: "His name is Jesus, but they keep calling him 'Messiho'."

Me: "Messiah is another name they used for Jesus, it means king."

Jackson: "They probably just didn't know how to say Jesus back then, so they called him Messiah".

5. Ian was never interested in coloring. He has never drawn on the walls, in books or on the floor. Cameron does it everyday. He is TROUBLE with the writing utensils. I have to keep everything locked up.

See what I mean?

6. I really appreciate the lack of wind this winter. We lost so many cows and calves in blizzards last year that I don't even mind having two feet of snow on the ground. I think dad has had something to do with it.