Curious kid

My kid's questions drive me around the bend. Much as I enjoy the conversations with him and am fascinated with the kind of things he asks about, I just don't have any answers for him. Half the time I feel like telling him, baby mommy really dont know, and I dont even know if anyone can tell us more. Some of the latest questions

Mom, how did the first person get born, before there where anybody to birth them? (Now I know there are a whole lot of thoughts out there on how this happened, but do we really know?)

What is space? I know it is where the stars and the planets are, but what is it?

If the wind had to blow you where there is no gravity, will you blow away? (And I am wondering if there can even be wind where there is no gravity?)

His latest favourite thing in the house is the Oxford dictionary - oh how he loves the sound of words and what they mean, we can read the dictionary and tell stories about the words we find until we roll on the floor laughing. Invariably his stories will be full of potty humour and fantastic super feats but it is hillarious what he can do to serious words like - necessary and deportee

When I am big

I am going to find dinosaur fossils and build their skeletons back together so we can figure out what they looked like and what happened so they all disappeared.

Was the conclusion my kid came to after he interogated me for more than half an hour about what happened to the dinosaurs and why he cannot go to see them.

We definitely have some research work to do

I'm just a scaterboy

E got his first scateboard for his third christmas and it has been an uneasy love affair ever since.

The rockstar pout

This is my kid's best 'I am cool imitation', which I caught in a moment of unguarded facial expressions

His awareness of death continues and yesterday he decided it would have been better if he was space. I thought I misunderstood the kid and asked him if he means he wants to be in space. No mom, he says in that rolling of the eye tone of voice.

I wish I was space, because if I was space, I would not get old and die.

Already not ready

My kid is five and I cannot answer half his questions.....the easiest one this week was 'mom, does the mommy or daddy of the seahorse have a pouch?'

What? I did not even know seahorses had pouches, so my kid told me that it is the daddy seahorse that has a pouch and raises the babies. One or two at a time. I really should check the accuracy of that.

Then the killer question: Mom where does money come from? So I start my explanation of me working for money and that is how I get it and use it pay for all the stuff we enjoy. This really frustrated him no end. No Mom, where does it come from? Why do you have to work for it? Why do some people not have money?

Ok that is it, I resign. This is the single most confusing question of my adult life, one with which I have been struggling for at least ten years. And now my kid wants the answer as well. Which really is a philosophical question about a believe system, an abstract concept that determine the life and death of not only the human race but planet earth as we know it. Yes, I am being dramatic, but really. If we took money out of the world, the sun would shine and the grass and food groups would still grow. The wheels would still turn without even taking any notice. The value of money is just in our heads, but it has the power to save lives and kill countless others.

I have to admit, the size of the question was too intimidating and overwhelming for me to negotiate in a way that he would understand but still feel truth full to me. Instead, we will go to the open day at the SA Mint next Sunday and see if we can figure something out about money that will satisfy the curiosity of my kid.

A prank a day

My kid loves practical jokes and is always up to something mischievous but his latest favourite is really getting to me.

It all started with me giving him the car keys to get himself in the car and strapped in whilst I pack the groceries. As I closed the passenger door I heard my car beep and lock itself. Could not believe my ears so I put my nose against the driverseat window and looked at E. He was grinning like a maniac.

So I asked him to 'PLEASE OPEN THE CAR', but guess what, he can’t hear me so after the third attempt at asking politely (the rule in our house, I hate it when they turn on you like that), I realise he wants me to repeat silly words after him, in the right order. Silly words like, Lion, Hyena, Pooh, Willy - So here I am standing in a parking lot at a shopping centre, desperately shouting silly words at the darkened windows of a big bakkie, whilst trying the door handle. Looking for all the world like I actually expect the door to open any second now.

Cultivating Culture

After E and me got seated at a rather snazzy restaurant the maitre'd came up to our table and asked us what we would like to drink. As she looked at me to place the order, I looked at E to give him an opportunity to answer.

His response came in a very responsible adult voice
'Can I have a glass of red wine please' he said with a slight smile, straightening his napkin and looking the rather shocked lady straight in the eye.
I ditto't that and then explained that his red wine is grapetizer, a non alchololic beverage made from red grapes.

Because you see, at our house, we always share a glass of red wine at the dinner table. The ritual dictates that we sit down together, clink our glasses and wish each other bon appetite. Signalling the start of family dinner at my house and one of the most important moments in my day.

In a circle

We are all gathered in Phil's backyard, celebrating our fifth birthday. All the extended family members are there. I am catching up with the brothers, the parents, Thersia's parents and old friends. Even Nikyle has fitted right in. It is slightly weird and my friend (since school), just shakes her head in disbelieve. I have to agree, it is a very strange set up and somehow it has gelled into an extended family, with brothers, sisters and three sets of grand parents. Cousins that used to be friends, and little sisters that are now stepmothers. It is just funny to be with the same people I have shared these celebrations with for the last 15 years, but everyone's roles are different.

The little man himself had a wonderful day and he kept thanking me for the nice party, the ice cream cake, all the presents and having his friends around. Elrich at five is a funny little boy that is full of practical jokes, has a temper that flares for the smallest of injustice (in his opinion) and knows how to changes the rules of every game to ensure he wins. From a slow talker he has grown into a confident little kid that can hold a conversation on most things and has a keen interest in all things mechanical, especially those with engines and the faster the better. His favourite past time is games, whether they are on the pc, play station, board games or cards, you can be sure he will be a keen participant in all of them. Balls and ballgames are still a firm favourite and it is fun watching him dribble and kick goalies at soccer practice. To my relief all the years of swimming classes has started to pay of and he dives into and swims around in the pool with confidence.

His eminent status as a big brother has raised his levels of importance to a point where he really do not need mom's assistance anymore ;-) Even though this year is exciting and I really enjoy sharing more experiences with my son, I do feel as if the baby years has just passed too quickly. Fortunately cuddles are still good and we love to snuggle up in bed to read stories or in front of the Tv to watch a favourite show

On love, boys and pink

Mom, you know what
I remember when I was a baby
You and daddy were loved
you lived together and you were loved

Boys wants to be cool
they are hero's and cool
Girls are princesses and wants to be loved

Mom, I want to sleep in your bed tonight
cause I love you and I want to be with you
One day when I am a daddy, you will be loved

Lots of daddies can ride bikes, but when they are old
they can't do it anymore.

As I am sitting in the far right lane in peak traffic this afternoon, E requests to go to 'our' pizza shop. A little place run by a mom and daughter team that have looked after me the last three years, like i am an adopted daughter. So I started to change lanes, keeping an eye on the minibus taxis (you have to live here to really understand what that means) and sneaking left into the turnoff way after the slipway. Just to be complimented from the back - Good job mom, that was really good. Good girl. Lol, maybe I have brainwashed my kid ;-p

My kid has just grown so tall all of a sudden, and matured. Things that were difficult only a short while ago are now done in passing. I find it hard to believe he will be five years old in another weeks time.

On waffles and more

E and me went for breakfast this morning at the Mugg and Beann, where he insisted on eating a waffle with syrup. My motherly need for proper nutrition could quite simply not allow that, so I tried to convince him that the french toast with cheese and maple syrup are almost the same.

But mom, if they are the same, then why can I not have the waffles with syrup? Uhmmm....why not? My response was the oldest negotiating trick in the book. Divert his attention and convince him based on the funky name of the kiddies breakfast.

This kid's ability to reason logically has left me searching for words more than once now, and believe me that is no mean feat ;-)

Like a sponge they say

I know that a young child's mind is like a sponge, absorbing everything around them and more often than not, they learn the stuff you don't want them to know, long before they learn what you are trying to teach them.

We have been working on and off on letter recognition for a while now and I must admit, not with much success. E seems to recognise certain words easily but not all the letters consistently in an alphabetical or any random order for that matter. He loves playing the I-spie game though and are really good at coming up with different words that start with the same letter. Lately he has been asking me to read labels and names of things to him and I have invited him to read it with me. To great success.

A while ago I bought a couple of first level reader books for E but we have never had the opportunity to work through them and tonight I decided to pull the little first level book from the shelve and encouraged E to read it to me. Which he did. I must admit, I am quite surprised but also very very proud of the little man.

Eating good healthy food

will make you grow into a big strong boy and now we have to measure him against my body twice during every meal.

He is convinced that he is bigger at the end each meal.

Cute little Elrich'sms:
Pantoffels are called tampoffels
All adults are moms and dads
Hostipal for hospital
You need engengy to do things and food gives you lots of engengy (energy)
He wants to know the type of fuel each car runs on - mom is that a diesel car or a petrol car?
When we drive I have to tell him what make and model nearly every car on the road is
He loves to tell me in which direction I am/or must turn next. Now that I think on it, back seat driving is his forte and we have non stop commentary on everything happening arounds us for most of the driving time.
He cannot wait for his next birthday to come because then he will be five and that is a much cooler age than four - and 'mom, look I am a cool dudes!' says he with his mirror sunglasses

Please, no more training wheels

Mom, it is not fair
I am tired of being a little kid
I want to be a big brother
so I can drive a faster sports car

Practically Grosse

E has entered the age of practical jokes. And the more anal they are the funnier he thinks it is
Like farting against your leg
Wagging his penis around and acting like he is going to pee on you
all the while chortling hysterically
Or saying in a sweet nice voice
Mommie please can I kiss you?
Only to give you an Odie lick all across your face
Chewing with his mouth open
Or licking his food like a dog
....and his personal favourite
Blowing his nose without a tissue ;-p

The mouth of babes ?!

Just as I sat down for one second to relax - yes, on the loo (again)
E comes running in
Wow mom!! he exclaims in wonder
Look at your fat bum!!

He also believes if you eat too many sweets, you will become a baby again. I think that is his reversed logic after I told him he will grow into a big boy if he eats his vegetables, and that sweets is not food

On the way home from school he told me that he will buy some monies and then use it to get us a faster car......no not a faster car mom, a space ship! One with seven fire circles!

On the way to the groceries store, I phoned John to hear how his day went, only to have E take the call over and spend more than 10 minutes on the phone telling John about his day and all the stuff John must remember to do
Like play with him with the lightning McQueen game, buy his mother some flowers, eat dinner with us, bring him a present and so the list goes on. At one stage he even told John to please wait a second, whilst he instructed me on what I needed to buy for dinner ;-)

I am a big boy mom!

Yesterday I had to kiss him goodbye in the car
He got out, put his schoolbag on his back
and walked himself to his classroom
I stood in the carpark with tears in my eyes
He did look back just before he was out of sight
saw me, and gave a little wave
then turned around and entered the empty doorway

Last night we went to our favorite family restaurant
on the way there he asked if he could phone Oupat
I gave him the phone with the number ready and he dialed
to invite his Oupat to please join him, mom and John for dinner because he misses him

Two extremes in one week

On Tuesday the teachers had to peel E of my body, crying and begging to come home with me.

This morning he put his schoolbag on his back, and promptly told me in the car park that I am not allowed to walk him into school. As I could never do that I told him I want to talk to the school secretary (is it bad to lie to your kid?) and walked him to his classroom. He got really irritated, and told me to 'go now mom, go talk to Sandy' I begged for a good bye kiss but only got a nonchalant little wave as he sauntered to his friends.

E as a four year old

Who is this little man that lives in the house with me? That is so serious, but such a clown. That loves pranks and bedecks me with jewelry, brings me flowers and kisses and tells me at least five times a day how much he loves me.

He is a popular little kid in school and definately a cool dude with his tatoo (stick on) and his cut out t-shirts, airoplanes and wild jungle gym tricks. His best mate's name is Keabetsi, who wears a baseball cap backwards, bright green dark glasses and just turned five. Between the two of them they rule the roost in school. His teachers adores him, often comments that he is smarter than he lets on and am amazed at how abstract his thinking patterns are.

The most difficult thing in life for him is to say please. He understands that it is a necessary evil whenever he wants something but would prefer to demand to get what he wants. It never works, not with me. A project manager of note that is often instructing everyone on how they must do everything. And of his 'other' grand mother he says 'She must learn my ways' I can see that they might clash - I have never warmed up to her either. It is funny to me that that set of grandparents think he is cheeky and my parents think he is just intelligent. Needless to say, he gets on a lot easier with my parents.

He has a very clear understanding of concepts such as death, money, going away and working to earn a living. I have never really discussed death with him ever, but he often talks about it. He does not leave the house without his wallet and constantly raids mine to transfer the loot to his. He is starting to understand that different coins and denominations has different values and will ask what the price of something is so he can see if he has enough money to buy it.

His favourite toys are airoplanes, balls and anything to do with water. Matchbox cars are very difficult to pass by in a toy isle and if only I could find a proper spaceship, that would be the ultimate toy. He got some cash for his birthday and I took him to the toyshop on Monday - I was surprised at how easy he understood when a toy was too expensive to buy and how he knew exactly what he wanted and settled on something so easily for the exact amount that he had in hand.

I am still amazed at how much he has grown in such a short time

Its my Party and I'll Slide if I want to

So my little guy is just about to turn four years old. I decided to host his party this weekend past, because my parents are here, it is just before his actual birthdate and we are going camping next weekend.

After some soul searching and deliberation, I decided to host it at my place, to invite his dad, his dad's family, joint friends of ours and my family. All the people that would have been there if we did not get a divorce last year. Now whether that is me holding onto the past or me wanting my kid to have all the significant others at his birthday, I am not sure. But the end result was a wonderful party, everyone from the youngest child to the oldest adult had a lot of fun and the guests were here from 11 in the morning until nearly eight that night.

It left me in a shocking emotional state - I am so stuck in the middle between not being able to move on and not going back, it is not even funny. But that is a whole new post. I am starting counceling again tomorrow.

The waterslide was such a hit, far more succesful than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams and everyone had a load of bubbly fun on the thing! Look at my little olive skinned boy, his colouring sure takes after daddy's family
I ordered E a Spiderman Ice Cream Cake, but the lady made a mistake with the delivery date, so plan B was an absolutely delicious Tiramisu Cake! Oh well at least he could blow out candles and I could give the people some cake to eat!


All the little ones eagerly awaiting the cake to be cut!

In a Minute

Did I ever complain that I did not have enough work to do? It has been crazy around here the last two weeks and it is E's birthday party on Saturday. Fun, I am having it at my place, I have not even bought him a present as I am working till eleven every night. And yes, I will spend all of Friday at a client in Cape Town. For the uniniated, that is a two hour flight away from home.

Lets rather make racing cars