4 years

its been four years. That just blows my mind. I knew it would go by fast, though, in those first few months, when MB was new, and no one was sleeping, and everything was on a huge learning curve, time seemed to be standing still and speeding forward all at once.
     He asks me now, to look at pictures of when he was a baby. He's got 2 brand new cousins, born this summer, and seeing the little baby girls has made him curious about his babyhood. MM and shake our head in almost disbelief over how tiny and fragile he was. (Almost, because we did live it, after all). We haven't broken him yet, I remind myself, as I sit here, typing, looking at my gangly kid watching Paw,Patrol in his orange minion skivvies.
     He's so smart, now. He makes me a cup of coffee, every morning. He's reading, without realizing it most of the time, but he reads. He's starting to write letters, he loves glue crafts, his new transformer, and the catapult he got for his birthday. He started swimming lessons this week, and did really well. He's not a fan of laying on his back to float, though.
     He sleeps, oh can he sleep. All night in his own bed, and, usually, at least a two hour afternoon nap. I get more done in that two hours. Or I watch inappropriate television. Either way I get a brain rest from the incessant "why, mom?"
     The big decision is coming up, though. Kindergarten. There is no absolute, anymore, of public schooling. Private school is not a consideration, the only one local would be impossible for us to afford. But there are 2 charter schools. And we are strongly interested in that option. I've got a year to gather the information, and we will decide.
It's been a wild ride to four, and I'm sure the fun is really just beginning

I start to lose control...i

We have a new neighbor.
More specifically, MB has a new neighbor.
The people next door now are very nice. The parents are both Air Force, and there are 2 children, a girl who is a year older than MB, and a boy, who is about 2 years younger. MB and the young lady, let's call her Whirly ( for whirling dervish) ADORE each other. It was love at first sight.
     Now, Whirlys parents are busy people. They work. They play. A lot. She goes to school on their base. Needless to say, they aren't home much. And MB? He's home with me, with the exception of Monday's and Wednesday's, when he's in pre school. We do most of our busy on weekends, so that we can be out and about as a family.  So their friendship has been kind of hit and miss.
     Yesterday, we took MB to a dinosaur days event in a nearby town. He had a blast. Didn't really care for the Dino's, but they had a trebuchet he could shoot, slime he could make, and electrics he could play with. When we got home, Whirly was outside. Cue the child hysterics. It was like they haven't seen each other in years. Sheesh.
     After some generalized BS session with Whirlys Dad, we each retired to our own yards. After awhile, Whirly decided she wanted to be inside. Inside my house.... So we went in. We made play doh, we ate yogurt, oranges and juice. We used light sabers, and had general mayhem. That is all fine with me.
     Here's the hard part..
This little girl, while she is very nice, is older, and has more experience than MB. What I do notice, is that she subtly manipulates and tries to undermine my authority with MB. Sometimes, not so subtly.
Now, she's not inciting riots, starting fires, or showing body parts, but still. She is being raised differently than he is, and she doesn't really care about my rules. ( Like no TV on Sunday's).  In her mind, her way is the right way. And MB is so easy going, and eager to please her, because he wants to play with her more than just once in awhile. So he tries to go along with what she's wanting. He did dig his heels in about a few things, and I was so glad to see him do it. But I would like to see him take her on a little more.  I'm afraid if he does, she's going to drop him like a hot potato. And she is the only kid in our neighborhood, presently.  So for now I just keep an eye on our pint sized princess. Her Dad is a nice guy, and he did instruct her that while she's at my house she's to listen to MM and I.  And that did carry weight with her. She was polite to me, and they both had fun. I guess it's all a part of growing up. He's not my baby anymore...

Out n a limb

Its probably a good thing no one reads here, anymore, because my thoughts today might irritate some.

     I'll preface this post by stating that I am, of course, a fan of gender equality. I'm not a rabid, mouth foaming feminist, but, equality is important. That being said, though, frankly??
     I'm tired beyond tired of reading about people creating things just for girls!! I get it, I understand, but I really feel like we are sending a message to boys, now, that it's more important that we focus our time and energy on the girls in their classroom. It looks to me that we are trading one problem for another. While we are striving for equality, we are instead going too far in the other direction. As a mother of a little boy, I see this, multiple times a day. It worries me.. Why do we, as a society, feel the need to assign gender labels to everything? How did one decide that science kits were 'boy toys' and, now, we have to market a separate set just for girls? Or rockets, or countless other things. Where are the EZ bake ovens designed for boys? How about a boy focused my little pony? And when I'm shopping for clothing to put him in? The boys section is about 1/3 the size of girls clothing. And the "nice" boys clothes??? Oh, Please. Pastel-ish colored dress shirts do not go down well with a 3.5 year old. Or his father, for that matter. If I luck into nicer button down shirts in colors they both approve of, I buy them in a couple sizes, because if I don't I will never find them again. As he gets older, I see this getting harder. As a woman, I have to teach my son to love and respect women, and treat them as equals. All the while, he is seeing society now bend over backwards to cater to girls his age. These boys are going to resent the hell out of this. I see it coming. But this is all my opinion. I hope I am wrong....