This week's schedule marked a first for the Gary kids . . . our first organized sports/arts classes. S is enjoying a Pre-Ballet class at the community center, while E is participating in T-ball. I admit I have an ulterior motive. Rather than simply exposing my children to new learning opportunities, I am hoping these extras will help me get through the long days of summer without PDO (Parent's Day Out).
The first weekly sessions went well as they both learn the basics of training their bodies to move in modes both athletic and aesthetic. As much as they love to argue with each other daily, it was so precious to see how they cheered each other on. S wanted to be on the field so badly when E was practicing, and E talked about how "pretty" and "bee-ta-ful" his sister looked as she danced and then gave a HUMONGOUS hug to her when he came back from playing with Daddy to pick her up - he was really proud of her!
While the tone of their relationship was all encouragement yesterday, the atmosphere was the opposite today. Today, in the van, the kids were assigning roles in the story of The Nutcracker musical we saw this past December, preparing to reenact it once we returned home. E is in the phase of wanting to be the "mean person" in whatever story he's imagining at the time (we're somewhat laid back about it, but still try to teach him that strength and meanness are not the same thing). He declared that he would play the role of the Rat King and would turn his attack upon the princesses of the story (instead of the nutcracker's army). Very put-out about this scenario, S responded in a very precociously adult manner "E, if you keep acting this way, I will NOT be a princess, and I will NOT be a ballerina." And as they continued to bicker back and forth, she indicated in a tone reminiscent of some bigger persons in our family "Well, you will just have to make a decision." E has also developed a new penchant for expressing his emotions verbally so responded to S' bossy tone by saying "You really hurt my feelings" after which S began crying.
The plot of this unfolding drama was thickened by the fact that we had just been to the doctor for the second time this week, and all three kids have experienced illness this week. This spring has felt like one illness after another, especially with S' surgery in February and with my youngest who has gone through pneumonia and has developed anemia as a result of bug bombardment. By the end of weeks like this, I often feel like crying over the constant illness of my children, wishing I could somehow boost their immune systems, but then recognize that I have so much for which to be thankful in the years of modern medicine and that these illnesses, while taxing, are far preferable to major illness.
To help relieve my stress a little, I posted the following status on facebook:
Took EG to the MD today and got a DX of ST which prompted ABs for the BKs (the LM aka MG already had ABs for his EI so he's AOK).
Hint: I have 2 LMs, 1 is the Lst.
Speaking of my Littlest Man and letters . . . and since lil C didn't get a huge role in the play above because he's so little (and had already fallen asleep in the van) . . . and since his two favorite things to see and words to say right now are "birds" and "balls". . . he closes the play standing (or rather walking/running/climbing) center stage dressed in the appropriate letter in blue while a blond broad broadcasts the following over the booming speakers . . .
Today's blog has been brought to you today by the letter "B".
(Curtain)
Honestly, you're hilarious.
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