Well, summer is officially over, and we are all back to "normal" life, or rather back to life at home in San Francisco. Normal is all relative with a toddler who is constantly changing. Calling all mommies (and daddies) out there who have been through this – Erika would appreciate advice on any of the following:
1) How to prevent a small boy from repeatedly climbing unstable folding chairs and standing on them quietly with a devilish smile on his face.
2) How to prevent a small boy from using folding chairs to access tables, counters, and other verboten, very high places to stand and balance precariously.
3) How to prevent a small boy from biting, hitting, pinching, and scratching his dear mother, especially during diaper changes (which you would THINK he would be THANKFUL for).
4) How to retain a straight face while scolding a small naughty boy when he imitates his furious mother in the most adorable way...
and especially:
5) How to prevent a small boy from using my water bowl as a wading pool. (Note: The water bowl is on a shelf so high that even *I* cannot access it without the help of a chair.)
But really, it's not as bad as all that. Mostly. Just ask Erika's mother, who witnessed Peter's debut in his hippie music and movement class last week. The other kids are still recovering, Erika is just hoping that they haven't all transferred to a different class after Peter's, errr "exuberance". The kid does love to move.
His class is on Tuesdays, which coincides with "Tomato Day" in the Kosina household. I don't really care for them, but Erika and Martin enjoy them so much that they subscribed to a tomato CSA (community-supported agriculture) program from their favorite farm. Every Tuesday the Kosinas get a big box of all kinds of different tomatoes, plus a surprise (usually basil, but sometimes strawberries!). Let's just say there has been a whole lot of caprese salad served over the past few weeks. And salsa. And pasta tossed with various things but always including fresh tomatoes. And caprese salad. Have I mentioned caprese salad?
The tomatoes will of course play a starring role this weekend at Erika's Birthday Extravaganza. Tomatoes and pork. Lots of pork. And lots of dessert. It is Erika's birthday after all, she should be able to have two desserts if she wants. Besides, Erika is running a Whole Lot these days, in anticipation of the Big Sur half marathon on November 15. Go team!
Martin has been very supportive of the whole running thing, doing the majority of the small boy watching while Erika is training. And financing a really nice jogging stroller which has...er...yet to be used. Martin's new and improved Very Short Commute has a lot to do with the boy watching, and the new job is still going well. We are cautiously optimistic that this could be a really good thing all around.
Erika is also lucky enough to have a fabulous training pair to run with on Sundays. Not just one running partner, but two inseparable ones! We have yet to come up with a "Brangelina"-worthy nickname for Lynne and Simon (Slimon? Lymon? Sinne?) but they certainly keep Erika motivated to run faster and longer. Accountability is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to training.
Yes, yes, Erika and Martin are still making noises about buying a house somewhere else. Petaluma is looking more appealing these days, even though their hearts are really in Nevada City. I catch bits of conversations: "5-year plan vs. long-term plan" and "apartment is too small for a budding mountain goat" and "need to make sure there are lots of sunny spots for Pawlene". Well maybe I dreamed that last part.
In the mean time, Martin is enjoying his short commute and Erika is enjoying her mother's group. The mother's group recently won a First 5 Grant to help connect their city-bound children with nature. Plans are in the works, but it may take the form of a community garden, interpretive signs on our very own Bernal Hill, or a few field trips to places where the kids can actually interact with plants and animals instead of library books and sand boxes. Yeah, I know. It's time to move out of the city. Mountain goats and city apartments don't mix.
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Awe, your child ~ not afraid of heights....imagine that!!???
ReplyDeleteSome little children use potty training as their first parent-child "power tool".
Sounds like your little mountain goat has found an early form of expression.
Pain is a learned process. Have a good first aid kit, don't be afraid of ambulance rides and keep him away from balconies and windows with screens only. I know stories of climbing children, but have not experienced climbing behavior personally as a parent.
I had a boy who had interests in knives (swords) and a girl that wanted to do the parallel bars in department stores.
Peter is a cutie patootie!