Your old man is far from perfect, but this story is important because I’m not sure you’ll remember it in the big scheme of things — and I did something right, for a change. As elementary school nears, and things like pajama days become an event of the past, this is all the more important. I’m giving this to you so that you can balance it against some of my less finer points, I guess. We’re all still learning, this family.
You and your sister rode away in the back of Mommy’s car, headed for daycare in the wee hours of the morning. I slipped back inside after the usual “walk the car down the driveway” ritual and went to grab the milk out of the fridge when I saw the calendar of events for the day: “Pajama day.” But I knew you hadn’t left the house in pajamas. I ran upstairs, picked out a couple PJ options, and hopped in my car. I wasn’t trying to be dramatic, but on the way to daycare I admit to hoping I would look like a bit of a hero.
Again, I wasn’t trying, but somehow the timing was perfect. Mommy had just knelt to your side, your lip pouted out and your eyes began to brim with tears as you stood, surrounded by a class full of pajama’d children. But then Mommy looked up and smiled big as I walked in and presented jammies to you. Honestly, you weren’t as thankful as I thought you’d be — it turned out there was a new teacher there and part of your tears were from the unfamiliarity… but you were happy to see me, and it felt great to do something good.
I’ve had to yell at you a lot lately, because you don’t know how to sit still in a chair at dinner, or can’t seem to stop eating your own shirt. But I love you. I always love you and if I could somehow present you with the equivalent of your forgotten pajamas every day, wild dragons could not stop me from doing so. It is just that sometimes life has a way of not giving a dad the calendar that tells him what his son needs today. We’re all still learning, kiddo.
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2012-04-21 00:29:282012-04-21 00:29:28March Pajama Day
Here’s some of the fun things that were said and some milestones that were reached during the month of March…
Dialogue, March 2nd Ian: “I’m so cool!”
Milestone, March 2nd Nina Pees in potty again, is pretty proud that it turned yellow, proceeds to ask Mommy if pee pee can be blue, red, green, orange, or purple.
Dialogue, March 2nd Nina’s been saying this for months: “Daddy, my Daddy!”
Dialogue, March 2nd Again, Nina’s been saying this for weeks… a phrase at a time, she learns from Ian: “Daddy lemme showu sumpin!”
Dialogue, March 4th Nina calls from crib: “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy? It’s me, Nina!”
Daycare Sheet, March 7th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: “This morning we did a lot of playing. Nina would stack the blocks then count to three and knock them down!
Daycare Sheet, March 8th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: “She kept doing her ‘knock knock’ joke all day!”
Milestone, March 8th I was doing my laundry this day, when Nina showed up and said “My do.” I explained that white stuff went in a separate pile. I told her this precisely once. She then sorted my laundry, pressed the correct buttons, added imaginary soap (while I added real soap) and she slammed the drawer for the soap shut.
Dialogue, March 10th Ian: “Nina, look up! Nina has really pretty eyes when she looks up.”
Daycare Sheet, March 16th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: For art she glued fruit loops on her rainbow! She did very good at matching the colors.
Dialogue, March 17th I took the kids to one of our local parks. If I had had a stopwatch handy, I would not have had time to start it before Ian made a friend. His name was Adam and Ian simply walked toward the park, and before his feet hit the park surface he yelled “what’s your name?” The boy did resist Ian’s friendship a bit, but they played together anyway, and it was pretty heartening. At some point Ian met Adam’s dog whom Adam described as a super fire dog. Ian told him that his dog needed spots to work at the fire-station.
Dialogue, March 23rd Daddy: “I don’t know where she went, I guess she has to go consult her oracle or something.” Ian: “Insult her orkle? Daddy talks kinda funky now.”
Milestone, March 24th Nina asked me to read a book three times, and then read it to me, more or less, having memorized it.
Milestone, March 24th Nina filled in dialogue for two characters she was playing with.
Milestone, March 24th Ian played outside with many older kids, and was great!
Milestone, March 26th Ian learns the carpet is lava game.
Dialogue, March 26th Daddy: “Alright Ian, you said thank you!” Ian: “You know Dad, you’re supposed to say ‘You’re welcome.'”
Daycare Sheet, March 28th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: “She was a little opinionated today. she did end up telling me no a few times.”
Daycare Sheet, March 29th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: “She kept rolling in the wood chips.”
Daycare Sheet, March 30th Nina’s Daycare Caregiver: “She was very excited to play, she just has so many friends. She sang the ABC song for us all by herself, it was adorable.”
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2012-04-19 16:59:432012-04-19 16:59:43March Dialogue and Milestones
He’s made some very good friends in the boys next door, and I’m happy about it. Aaron and Clara and their boys Brendan and Jake are good people. See this image larger.
Nina makes a shot, and the hoop sighs in happiness for being used a second time this year.
Nina looking cute in a skirt that reminds me of her ol’ Baskin Robbins style swimsuit! See this image larger.
March 26th, Ian writes Nina’s name given what information he has… “NIANN.” (We told him Nina’s name is made up of the same letters as his, plus an extra N.) I then showed him how to do it right, which is what you see under “NIANN.”
I like these as an alternate to safety goggles, for things that won’t bust through glass, of course.
I should have taken pics of him without the goggles, he looks really cute in a Steve Jobs’ style black turtleneck and blue jeans! See this image larger.
This is part of my War on Brass. I have no problem with brass in anybody else’s place, but for some reason I don’t like it in mine. Call it a preference. This day was to tackle most of the doorknobs in the house, with Ian as a helper!
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2012-04-17 12:20:122012-04-17 12:20:12March Goes Out Like a Baa
March Pajama Day
I’m writing this one for Ian, mostly.
Your old man is far from perfect, but this story is important because I’m not sure you’ll remember it in the big scheme of things — and I did something right, for a change. As elementary school nears, and things like pajama days become an event of the past, this is all the more important. I’m giving this to you so that you can balance it against some of my less finer points, I guess. We’re all still learning, this family.
You and your sister rode away in the back of Mommy’s car, headed for daycare in the wee hours of the morning. I slipped back inside after the usual “walk the car down the driveway” ritual and went to grab the milk out of the fridge when I saw the calendar of events for the day: “Pajama day.” But I knew you hadn’t left the house in pajamas. I ran upstairs, picked out a couple PJ options, and hopped in my car. I wasn’t trying to be dramatic, but on the way to daycare I admit to hoping I would look like a bit of a hero.
Again, I wasn’t trying, but somehow the timing was perfect. Mommy had just knelt to your side, your lip pouted out and your eyes began to brim with tears as you stood, surrounded by a class full of pajama’d children. But then Mommy looked up and smiled big as I walked in and presented jammies to you. Honestly, you weren’t as thankful as I thought you’d be — it turned out there was a new teacher there and part of your tears were from the unfamiliarity… but you were happy to see me, and it felt great to do something good.
I’ve had to yell at you a lot lately, because you don’t know how to sit still in a chair at dinner, or can’t seem to stop eating your own shirt. But I love you. I always love you and if I could somehow present you with the equivalent of your forgotten pajamas every day, wild dragons could not stop me from doing so. It is just that sometimes life has a way of not giving a dad the calendar that tells him what his son needs today. We’re all still learning, kiddo.
March Dialogue and Milestones
Here’s some of the fun things that were said and some milestones that were reached during the month of March…
March Goes Out Like a Baa