What started out as a quick trip to Jessi's house in the morning became a day long stay including two trips to the pool, a movie for two parent's hurting for a date and pbjs as far as the eye can see. We rolled in at 9:00 to old fashioned donuts and a large cup of coffee. Three spoonfuls of sugar and plenty of milk. Our first trip to the pool was a little after 10 and before the rush of people or heat. Joshy hopped right in without issue but was a little hesitant out of the gate with swimming without a hand to hold. Then we found the thing that revolutionized Joshy's life as a swimmer. A floating ball. Oh yes, it sounds simplistic, but that thing was a better teaching tool than a thousand of us jumping up and down, cheering him on. He would throw it and then swim to it before anyone else could get their hands on it. He was concentrating so heavily on the ball that he forgot to even try to hold our hands. By the time we had to go, he was still just paddling around on his own. In fact, after Jess and I had gotten ourselves out of the pool, he jumped from the stairs back into the water and just said "leave me". Sure Joshy, let me just pick up our things and head back to the apartment while you swim your way into DHS custody. Now in case you haven't caught on...we found the ball floating in the pool and while we are fairly certain that it belonged to a family that was playing in the pool when we first came, they left without picking it up and if ever there was a time that finders keepers applied, we figured it was then. So, yes, I basically stole some child's ball and gave it to my son. The adage of do as I say and not as I do is becoming so much clearer.
After a lunch of PBJ, John and I were able to sneak away and see a movie while the boys took their naps. We saw Get Smart and I have to say that I haven't watched many movies that have made me laugh as consistently throughout as this one. It was one of the best movies I have seen, not just lately, but ever. In other words, go see it. It has been a long time since John and I have made it to the movie theater to watch a movie together, so this was a wonderful treat. Usually when we can score some time alone, we choose dinner over a movie where you really have no occasion for conversation and if you try to tack on a movie with dinner, it keeps you out too long. You don't want to wear out your welcome with the free babysitters aka the only babysitters aka your mom and sister. Consider this an invitation for any available 16 year old girls...scratch that, 18 year old girls in the market for a good babysitting job to give me a call. You know, I was babysitting for people when I was 13 and 14 years old. Seriously, what were these parent's thinking?? I mean, I was watching three kids at a time including an infant. You trust me to handle your baby when the government doesn't even trust me to get myself to your house by car? They clearly did not love their kids.
After the movie, Jess, Joshy and I went for another dip in the pool. We have promised Joshy that whenever he goes under water for the first time, we would take him to Wal-mart and he could pick out a new toy of his choosing (as steered by his price conscious mother). So, as we're leaving our second round of swimming in a people packed pool, Joshy decided that now was the time for him to go under because he really wanted that toy. Still it took quite the negotiation and several times in and out of the pool but guess what...HE DID IT! Our little superstar (as the man called him who swam by as Joshy was screaming that he didn't want to get his hair wet) finally held his breath and went under. I really was so proud of him for facing something that made him afraid.
As we were walking back from the pool a second time, Joshy pointed down one of the sidewalks and asked, "Is that way left?". I told him that it was right and illustrated by saying this is your right hand, while grabbing his right arm, and then this is your left, with a tug to the other. He repeated me confirming the two directions and then asked if we were walking left. I told him that we were walking straight and the ensuing silence made me think the questioning was over. Then, after a minute had passed, Joshy looks up at me and says "Where is my straight hand?" I just laughed. Good question.
No comments:
Post a Comment