Allow me to paint you a couple of pictures. In lieu of actual photographs, I present the following thousand (or so) words to illustrate the Weekend Words Challenges* of “enduring” and “ephemeral.”
Ephemeral:
Kyle and I had our first playground altercation yesterday. The culprit was not another unruly child – it was a kindly older couple playing with their twin 21-month-old grandchildren. Kyle was running back and forth on the bouncy bridge of one of the play structures. He was happily occupied in this activity when the couple decided it looked like fun for their grandchildren, so they each grabbed a child’s hand and proceeded to cross and re-cross the bridge, without waiting for Kyle to clear the way. In the process, they bumped him, knocked him down, and even bounced the bridge with their feet so that he lost his balance and fell over. This happened a handful of times until I could not stand it anymore and I reached in and pulled Kyle through the side rails, snapping “come on, Kyle, I guess these people want a turn.” Throughout it all I had been standing on the sand below, with the bridge at shoulder height. I was practicing the art of not hovering, you see, because I feel it’s something I really need to work on. These grandparents, however, did not feel the same with their wards who were even older than Kyle, and they crowded the play structure with their large adult bodies.
It frigging pissed me off.
I say it illustrates “ephemeral” because moments like those pass easily, and Kyle will not likely remember them, especially if I handle them with the utmost grace, as you can expect from someone as polite as I.
Enduring
Last night Kyle bit his father for the first time. Stewart was very surprised, and I laughed because it’s happened to me often and in very tender places (hello, breastfeeding?). Apparently it went like this:
Stew and Kyle were sitting together in the big armchair in living room. By sitting, I mean Kyle was crawling around on Daddy’s lap as Daddy tried to watch Fox Sports. (He’s over ESPN because of some controversy around a guy who got fired for saying the word “gay.”) There they were, happy happy happy, when Kyle leaned over and chomped Stewart on the chest. It was very shocking and painful, and Stewart was angry enough about it that he told Kyle “No!” and put him down on the floor and walked away from him.
He told me that Kyle was so shocked at Stew’s reaction that he stood there dismayed and speechless, because Stew has never actually been angry with Kyle. So a few minutes later, when Stew sat down on the floor to pick up toys, Kyle came over to him and laid across his body and kissed him on the chest where he inflicted the wound.
In essence, Kyle was apologizing. That cognitive and emotional development is amazing. And hopefully, that will be an enduring lesson.
*I’ve really been slacking off on the weekend photography but please forgive – most of my free time is spent napping.
Your “slacking” is understandable and excused. Besides, I liked these “pictures” very much.
My littlest brother used to gnaw on everyone’s chin. It was cute when he was all gums. But then he grew teeth…
Sophie has now learned to say “Sorry” and pats your head when she apologizes… Very easy to forgive someone when they are that cute!
That was a very vivid picture you painted for us. I hate rude people at the park. You are much more patient and polite than I am.
ESPN din’t fire the guy, they just suspended him for one week. The suspension is stupid, but ESPN is super touchy about those types of things. Image is everything to the World Wide Leader ya know.
Jay, I was actually being sarcastic about the polite thing. Later that night I thought of all the things I SHOULD have said!
And thanks for clarifying the ESPN thing. I don’t think Stew knows it was just a suspension, since we don’t read the paper anymore and now he won’t watch ESPN. I will see if it makes a difference!
The “removal” of attention thing seems to work. We have had a hitting problem (just hitting ME), but now when he starts to hit, he USUALLY stops and instead grabs my arm and gives it hugs, or does something else he knows wins my approval (except for this AM, when he got a loud NO and set on the floor, resulting in a very loud crying spell).
I miss your posts, but understand your need for naps.
We must watch too much ESPN, cuz now Jacks will turn on the TV, point to it and say “football”.
Oh yeah, grandparents think they totally rule the world. I’ve told my mother I don’t know who she is now (as a grandma) because she is so different than she was as a mother. That biting story is so cute! Kids really are sponges and pick things up so quickly.
oh KTP, how I miss your frequent blogging updates. I know you’re crazed (and rightfully so!) but I just thought I’d let you know your blog is adored. And I check daily. (hint, hint)
I think you’ve started something great here–painting with words what a picture would say! I loved it, especially the enduring story!