why, yes, you are- thankful

Last night Ty was explaining the concept of superlatives to Tommy. You know, good, better, best, with best being the superlative. Tommy considered for a moment and said, "You know, Mom, I'm a superlative." I couldn't have said it better myself.

because i got my feelings hurt- thankful

We are not alike, you and I, but I have always thought that we were kindred spirits. I love you and the influence you are in my life. When I asked you about it and you were condescending, it hurt my feelings. Because of that I kept thinking about it. This time I'm right and I think you were defensive because you know better, that's how I get when I know better, too. It was just a little thing but it sends several really big messages, lessons you don't mean to teach. We both know that you are better at this whole gig than I am but when you said I really didn't understand how it was yet, you were wrong. It 's just that my view was from the other side of the table. When I said I would never, I meant it. I will never. That's why I am thankful, because I hadn't really thought about the slippery slope. I hadn't ever considered the specifics from this side of the table. Hadn't thought about the big messages I am sending with the little things I do. How much more aware I must be from today on. Of all the little things. And the big lessons. I'm not writing to be passive aggressive, even though, sometimes, I am. I just don't want to forget this big lesson taught by a little thing.

mistaken identity

Today Tommy asked me how I got my name. I explained that my parents thought I looked like an angel when I was a baby and so they named me 'Angela'. "They thought you were like an angel?" he responded incredulously. He thought about that for a minute or so and followed it up with, "I think you should change your name, Mom."

the reason we went to church today

Yesterday Tommy informed me that, "Mommy, God made the fairies and the fairies made us." Off to Sunday school we go.

the continuing saga

I'm telling you, this kid cracks me up. As we went through the now nightly. "Stay in your bed" drama I went into Johnny's room only to find him across the room looking out the window. He jumped about a mile high upon hearing me direct him to get his little petootie back in bed. He considered for a moment and then slipped behind the drapes and held very still. Obviously one cannot be seen while hiding behind drapes as long as one doesn't move an inch. He honestly seemed a little surprised when I pulled back the curtain and once again ordered him to bed. He had no idea that I had magic powers.

chicken little, personified

The other day after playgroup I noticed that Tommy had a new goose egg on his forehead. He hadn't complained of any incidents or accidents during the playgroup , but it certainly hadn't been there earlier in the day and it was a pretty big one. I asked what had happened. "Well," he responded, "there was this giant fireball that came soaring out out of the sky and bounced off the cliff and hit me right in the head!" Oh, I see.

dear santa

Can someone please explain to me why Santa has purchased all sorts of fancy toys for this child when his favorite pastime is building cities out of cans? If Santa was smart he would have just wrapped up a case of green beans. Maybe if he had his own cans I would spend less time rearranging my pantry. Hmmm- is it too late to add a postscript to the Santa letter?

can you say...

The scene: Bella Luna restaurant

The Players: Tommy, his parents, Mommy's friend Tanya, the waitress

Tommy: Do you know about the atmosphere?

Mommy: What do you mean?

Tommy: If we didn't have an atmosphere there would be no life on earth (pronounced "erf")

Mommy: That's right, where did you learn that?

Tommy: Oh, the tv was talking about it (they discuss it in his space shuttle movie). Can you say "atmosphere"?

Mommy: Atmosphere

Tommy; (to Tanya) Can you say "atmosphere"?

Tanya: Atmosphere

Tommy: (to waitress) Can you say "atmosphere"?

Waitress: (laughing out loud) Atmosphere.

Tommy: (to Daddy) Can you say "atmosphere"?

Daddy: Nope.

Silence

Tommy: Please!?

Daddy: Atmosphere.

a case for johnny

Tommy: Mom, Johnny is lower-case because he is small.

Mom: Oh.I suppose you're right.

Tommy: Mom, what case are you, are you upper-case?

Mom: I guess I am.

Tommy: I'm upper-case too, we are upper-case together because we are big.

my brother's keeper

Today while I was fixing Tommy's lunch I turned around to see Tommy snitching grapes off his brother's high chair tray. I said, " Are you eating your brother's food?" He looked at me with dinner plate eyes and replied, "No, Mommy, we're sharing."

torpedoed

Yesterday we took the boys swimming. Lately Tommy and his little friends have been really into these little toy torpedoes that you zoom through the water and then have to dive to retrieve from the bottom. As we walked out to the car Tommy had one in each hand. As Ty helped him with his seat belt he noticed that he was only holding one. "Where is your torpedo?"he asked. Tommy replies, "Right here." And then reaches into his swim trunks and pulls out the missing toy. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

hippie

"Mom, you need to wash my hair every day or else it will turn green." Mom says, " That's silly, who has green hair?" Reply? "The stinky hippies, we don't want to be a stinky hippie."

vanity

Today was Tommy's first day at Zoo day camp. We, of course, were running late. As we pulled out of the neighborhood I noticed that I had forgotten to put gel in Tommy's hair and stupidly commented on it. "But Mom, if you don't put spikes in my hair I will be sad!" I had to stop at a Walgreens on the way and purchase gel. I just couldn't take him to his first day of camp feeling 'sad'.