August 30, 2012
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End Games
I remembered! To take the kids to the dentist! And technically, I remembered twice, because the rescheduled appointments left an hour in between cleanings, so we left….and I remembered to go back!
At this point in the lazy summer, I like to celebrate small victories.
When we got back from the 9am appointment, followed by the 10am break (which was filled with one quick errand and a stop at the school to drop off medication for the new school year and visit a teacher or two), followed by the 11am appointment…..the kids were “sooooo tired” from being “on the go all day.”
Wow.
As soon as we finished lunch, they wanted me to sit and play a card game with them. A card game that we just finished after two consecutive nights of playing. And just so we’re clear, here’s how that went:
-It’s your turn. It’s your turn. Did you take a card?
-Discard. Don’t forget to discard. Discard. Did you discard?
-Now it’s your turn. It’s your turn. Come on, it’s your turn.
-Please sit up. You can’t play cards in that position.
-Stop making that noise.
-Stop touching each other. Hands to yourself. Hands on your cards. STOP!
So, no….I wasn’t really interested in another round. Plus, I needed to clean out the fridge – and avoiding a reprise performance of Card Nazi was just the motivation I needed to get that work done.
The kids decided to play against each other, without me. Well, “decided” might not be the best word. He whined to her about playing, she said no. (“Because we’ve been on the go all morning and I just need some quiet time with the iPad.”) After I finished rolling my eyes in her general direction, I told her she had to play three hands of cards with him. She spent the entire time saying things like, “Stop talking,” because he was mumbling his every card playing action under his breath just to irritate her. It worked.
When she finally got her quiet iPad time, I was relieved to have them apart again. Now what would he do? “Go get your book. You need to get more reading done so you can finish the summer reading sheets.”
Early in the last school year, he was awarded a chance to be “teacher for a day” in his classroom. This was a reward for accruing 100 “accelerated reader” (AR, in the school lingo) points faster than any other second grader this teacher had ever had in class. This same boy just put down his book after a long five minute reading session. “I diiiiiid reeeeaaaadddd! I just diiiiiiiid.”
He’s been banished to his room for 20 straight reading minutes. I’m so mean, huh?
The iPad is here with me. I think I may have told our daughter she could watch TV instead. I may have even said something like, “Go ahead and rot your brain.”
School starts Tuesday. It’s time, folks. It’s time.
Comments (6)
Hehe! Mine are 24 (in 2 weeks) and 25 and are best buds now… were then too but with more of the sibling rivalry… I remember thinking that year round school was a good idea!
@murisopsis – Oh yes, we have fantasized about that around here this summer. The Mr. and I that is!!
Yep, that’s pretty much how it goes around here too. My middle kid turned two boys away at the door yesterday because he “needed some personal time.” School, football, it’s just too much, ya know? I make my kids play with each other too. Glad I’m not the only one.
Haha My niece and nephew just started earlier this week and my sister-in-law couldn’t be happier! All summer she’s heard, “He’s looking at me! Troy, stop it!” She asks what’s wrong only to get the answer, “I don’t want him looking at me!” It seems that since she hit 7 she has this new attitude and wants nothing to do with her little brother. My sister-in-law is very grateful that her son has finally started school!
Sounds like you are having SO MUCH FUN! I liked the picture wrap up of the summer. I am not thinking coherently these days – just moving from one task to the next, so even though I am reading I am having trouble responding! Making an effort, though, to say I am enjoying your life. Have a wonderful Labor day Weekend!
@ordinarybutloud - We have sort of perfected the art of all being “alone” while sitting in the same room. iPads, iPhones, DS, etc. So pathetic…..time for school!
@OneStopMoms - Oh yes, looking at each other, breathing near each other, talking to each other….these are all problem behaviors for siblings in late summer!!
@miss_order - What, are you busy growing a new life or something?!?
No worries on the responding. Glad you’re enjoying the reading when you can fit it in to your crazy schedule. Get some rest, mama!