I’m Mrs. Crabapple
August 8, 2007 | Jojo,Uncategorized
Why do I have to be the one to discipline/monitor the behavior of my neighbor’s son? I know, I know, I don’t have to do it, but if I don’t, our side yard will turn into a veritable mudpit thanks to his destructive hose play. Today I taught him about erosion and how we enjoy having grass on our lawn instead of say, big mucky pits of mud. I tried to be positive and kind, as I was doing this all in front of his passive mother, but I really just wanted to scream and vent. I’m having some patience issues with the lack of Celexa, but I managed to pull myself together.
For a bit, at least. Then he began scooping up the newly created mud on my lawn and depositing it into a big ass mud puddle in their driveway, which Jojo quickly mimicked. Not only did I NOT want the neighbor boy to be taking our dirt (which used to hold our grass…bitter?) and moving it into their messy driveway, I didn’t want Jojo learning this annoying behavior.
Jojo had other ideas, so naturally, he threw a temper tantrum. Good times. Thanks a bunch.
I feel like all I do lately is complain about Jojo to other people. They’ll comment on how cute he is or how much he’s talking, and I’ll just come back with how much WHINING he does or how his temper tantrums are not cute. I’m letting the random acts of annoying and exhausting dictate my conversations about my usually fun, active and loving son.
So let me just gush a bit about the good things he’s been up to:
– latest words: house and dirt. Funny how these two go together…
– he likes me to build a house on the bed in the guest bedroom with pillows and blankets. Then we bring in all of his Bob the Builder machines and let them in the house. Jojo then pretends to nap in the house and makes this adorable loud sleeping/breathing noise and points to the “floor” so I lie down and nap with him.
– Elmo (Momo) and Cookie Monster are still his favorite Sesame Street characters. He still can’t say Zoe. We hardly watch this show anymore, what with his obsession with “Bob the Builder” and “Dora.” Ok, and “Thomas the Tank Engine.”
– He said “backpack” today after seeing “Dora.” Not that I let him watch tv…
– The other evening, he was whipping around the house, and I thought I caught a poopy diaper smell, so I asked “do I smell a poopy diaper?” “No!” he answered, rushing by. “Do I need to pinch your butt?” (in a playful way; not asking if I can abuse him) “No!” he said, and kept pushing the shopping cart around the house. “Do you need kisses from mommy?” I tried. He stopped the cart, ran over and flung himself into my arms– lifting his face for kisses. It was a.w.e.s.o.m.e.
– When he hears a siren or plane outside, he’ll look to us and ask “what’s that?” while holding his ear in a “hark, what sound maketh that noiseth?” kind of theatrical movement.
– When we build with blocks, he tends to knock over any tower higher than 3 blocks high. Mr. Squirrel angrily growled at him one day for knocking over a very big tower he was building and tried (in vain) to explain to this 21 month old that you don’t knock over other people’s (blah blah blah). The next day, we were again building block towers, and he knocked mine over, pouted his lips, scrunched his eyes, then rubbed my arm consolingly (is that a word)? He still devastates the architectural landscape, but the pouting/petting combo really is quite hilarious.
– Sometimes, when he does the face scrunch/pouty lips look, he gets a suspicious look to him that reminds me of Arnold Jackson.
– He’s waking up from a nap now, and he’s going to reach up, wrap his arms around my waist, and ask for me to read books to him.
I’m lucky. Sometimes I just have to remind my silly (Celexa-free) self about it.
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August 8th, 2007 at 3:04 pm, Marilyn Says:
I understand about the neighbor kid thing at least… I have “one of those” and it’s a sticky situation. I adore his mother but her son is literally a hazard. And I absolutely detest having to get after other people’s children, especially if the parent is sitting right there.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:42 pm, My Buddy Mimi Says:
What a fantastic picture! I just want to pick him up and give him a big hug.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:55 pm, Isabel Says:
What a cute post. Makes me want to snuggle him even more then before!
August 8th, 2007 at 4:00 pm, Molly Says:
What a great post!! He sounds cute enough to eat.
)
August 8th, 2007 at 4:57 pm, SJ Says:
Oh man, we had some friends that let their child do whatever the hell they pleased, in the company of my children and it took EVERYTHING I had in me to NOT go APESHIT on their asses for not doing a damn thing. Other peoples kids are NOT MY PROBLEM! However when you teach my child bad behaviors? IT’S ON!
I’m with you, I feel you.
Jojo is precious. And he sounds that way too! I find myself always being a grump when it comes to my children and things they do (or don’t do). I just gotta remember to enjoy them to the fullest regardless.
August 8th, 2007 at 5:41 pm, Lizzy Says:
One of the hardest lessons I’m learning as a mother is keeping my mouth shut when it comes to how other people parent their children. I’m not very good at it.
But if it were me, I’d have been all “go dig your own dirt, kid!”
As for young Jojo…all I can say is aaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Delicious! With a capitol D!
August 8th, 2007 at 9:42 pm, La Turista Says:
When the going gets tough (usually right after supper), I remind myself how very temporary this whole childhood thing is, and then I dial it back from screeching to light scolding. Usually.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:40 pm, angela Says:
He is such a sweetheart. Tell Jojo he has a lot of fans, even at his early age.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:21 am, TxMom Says:
Yep, he is at the best age EVER. I swear that if I could freeze Pooter at the age/phase she is in right now, I would. Every day is something new. She also loves Dora and Diego. Don’t be surprised when you hear JoJo counting to ten in Spanish. It freaked me out the first time Pooter did it.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:21 pm, K Says:
Very adorable Jojo updates. I would be kicking my neighbor’s kid’s ass all over the place.
But I really had to comment b/c I was just reading some parenting book in which the author said that part of the reason kids knock over the parents’ block towers is because they feel like mom/dad is going “Nyah, nyah, look at my high block tower, don’t you wish that you could build a tower this cool, but you suck because you’re just a baby!”, which made me feel like I didn’t want to build any towers anymore, because that was completely not what I intended. And, really, the book said it in a more polite way, but that was my internal guilt-ridden monologue as I thought about the many, many times I had shown my daughters that I am WAY better at building towers, writing letters, and doing headstands than them. Once again, I’ll have to throw some coins in the future family therapy fund. Do you hate me for trying to spread the guilt?
August 10th, 2007 at 12:00 pm, Rachel Says:
Awww, I loved this post! Jojo is such a sweet boy! Sometimes you get so caught up in the tantrums and complaining and whining that you forget all the wonderful moments.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:45 pm, Jackie Says:
Love it! JoJo is a sweetie!
I got so sick of “Melmo” a few months ago, we banned Sesame Street. Seriously, are there like five Melmo episodes? I’m so over that little red bastard.
We introduced Pumpkin to “Jakers: The Adventures of Piggly Winks.” Irish pigs and Spanish bulls. Much better than red monsters.