B: Hey P, wanna help me get out my firetruck?
P: Sure!
Crafty and resourceful, right? I can only imagine the bullet Miss P will take for him as they go through puberty. And Beyond! The kicker though is that once she's helped him out, he usually won't let her play with whatever she's dragged out for him. Understandably, she gets pissed and demands first dibs. Which leads to screaming and threats. Mostly by the kids, but sometimes by me, too. All because my five-year old is afraid of what lurks in the back of his closet. In broad day light. I feel like I should show more compassion, but simultaneously? I want him to find the courage to do this kind of thing on his own. To be brave, walk in to his small closet, and pull out his car box on his own. Am I asking too much from someone so little?
And yet, and YET, he's getting so big. Mr. B has been reading for the past eight months or so (don't even get me started on what is now the danger of leaving US Weekly out on the counter and having to answer the question "Mommy, who is <insert reality TV star here>?), and last night he requested to read alone by himself before bedtime, instead of letting me read to him. What a hit to my Mommy Ego. Thankfully he still requested that I draw on his back before he went to sleep. On his tiny little back. In the dark.
Great post, Gina! This post hit home for me so much. I'm becoming more aware of the growapair and justdealwillyakid sentiment I feel so often toward my son. Besides the obvious frustration of everything being harder with kid phobias, it brings up the issue of what we expect from our boys (it's too early to tell with my daughter b/c, a) she's so young, and b) as a second kid I think she is more independent). Sometimes I wonder if I expect less sensitivity from my little guy, because for his own good, he'll need to be tough. I have never wanted a macho boy, but I see a strange show playing out on this issue.
ReplyDeleteAs for making his sister get his toy for him and not letting her play with it, that is so something my little man would do. And props to Miss P for not taking it.
As with everything, this will have a end to it and will make for some great blackmail stories for you, hubby and, especially, Miss P!
I'm a little scared of the dark too. We can all use a little night light sometimes.
ReplyDeleteKeesha - Thanks! I find myself saying things to B like "get a thicker skin" when it comes to how is sister can provoke him, and perhaps that's not fair. I often forget that he's just 5. For goodness sakes, he's reading at a 2nd grade level and has the vocabulary of a teenager...but emotionally he's still a kindergartner. And I agree, we probably have "tougher" expectations for our little guys. Although, I really don't want my daughter to play the victim either. I think what's annoying about the closet thing is that it can be really bright in his room, and he still won't go in his closet. Really? I DO like the idea of a blackmail story though...
ReplyDeleteMrs. Tuna - Yes, this is true. Mr. B has TWO nightlights in his room. And now with his mini-tree, he has three. I tried to install a battery powered light in his closet that he could turn on and off with a cord, but he keeps leaving the light on and killing the batteries. He IS getting a flashlight in his stocking this year!
I love how he pimps out his sister. Happens over here all the time since little sister is the youngest.
ReplyDeleteI really do hate when they're all over me sometimes, and then I hate when they want to be independent. I'm a mess. But I think it's sooo sweet he wanted you to still draw on his back. His little back. That made me feel all mushy :)
Sharon
Sharon - he's too smart for his own good. That catch 22 of wanting them to enjoy their own space, but feeling sad when they prefer that over time with you is a hard one, and I'm still grappling with it. Yeah, he does have a tiny little back (glad I could get you mushy!), and thankfully he'll probably remain tiny for a while.
ReplyDeletethnx admin for topic : )))
ReplyDelete