I've received a few comments from folks this week who think I should write more. Thing is, I don't have much time, so it may not be very well edited or considered. Still, these comments did highlight my week for different reasons...
It was evening, and Obi-1 was going to a kids' program with our neighbor while the rest of our family went to a small group time at a friend's house. I fed Obi-1 cereal for dinner, and was explaining to a hungry Obi-2 that he would get "breakfast for dinner" at our friends' home... let's call the friend Monica. Obi-2 wasn't pleased with needing to wait. Obi-1, meanwhile, decided to be helpful and explain the up-side of his little brothers' patience with dinner.
"You'll get dinner at Monica's, Obi-2," says the kindly older brother while scarfing down cereal.
"I want dinner here, now" replied the 4-year-old.
Obi-1 searched for a good selling point, and came up with this:
"But Monica is a better cook than Mama, Obi-2."
"WHAT?!?" I didn't contain my surprise from across the kitchen counter.
Assuming I hadn't heard him properly, Obi-1 repeated, "Monica is a better cook than you, Mama."
"But she's vegetarian!" I sputtered.
"What's that?"
"She doesn't eat meat. You like meat!"
"Oh." Obi-1 paused, enough for him to think about how much he likes meat and me to regret pulling that out as the only reason I can possibly be a better cook than our friend. Ironically, the whole conversation had apparently appeased Obi-2, which further frustrated me. After considering the new information about vegetarianism, Obi-1 drew a conclusion. "Well, she's still a better cook than you."
Evidently he's not as attached to meat as I thought. He also doesn't seem to follow that the butternut squash recipes I've been trying to talk him into trying come straight from her kitchen. I was thinking all of these things when my oldest child noticed I was pouting. He offered a sort of consolation-prize compliment. "But Mama, you make better Cheerios."
Gee, thanks, kiddo.
Now, this... I recently put up a little chart of "feelings" pictures to help my kids increase their vocabulary and recognize their emotions. Especially when dealing with Obi-2, I'll take him to the chart when he's upset and try to get him to concentrate on finding a match for his feelings. It gives us a springboard to work together and get him calmed down. From there, we can negotiate a solution without him launching into a fit.
So today, I was checking email and he was coloring a picture. Out of nowhere, he walked over to the chart and started scanning through the clip art images. After a few moments, he called to me.
"Mama, do you know how I'm feeling?"
"No, Obi-2, what are you feeling?"
He smiled, pointing to two pictures. "Happy and Loving."
Awwww.... now I feel happy and loving, too. I swooped him up for a big hug and told him awesome it is to be his Mama. It just makes me want to go make some of my special Cheerios for him.
