I took J to the dentist because of a new tooth that sprouted right behind his first loose baby tooth. The dentist's advice was to try to wiggle it out. J worked on it for a couple of days and just before we were ready to give up, I decided to take pictures and record a short video in which he actually pulled it out himself. I posted the video of him pulling his tooth out on You Tube (link on left).
J began 1st grade last week. The school day is longer compared to kindergarten and his enthusiasm for the new school year dwindled after just the second day. He keeps telling me that I need to pick him up earlier from school the 'next' day because his teacher told him that "the days will get shorter" -- which he misinterpreted. I am confident in J's academic ability, as he is very intelligent. However, he needs to work on his social skills. He's going to a new school this year, so the first day I asked him, "J, what did you do at recess?"
J: "sit in the shade"
me: "did anybody else sit in the shade?"
J: (in an indifferent tone) "no."
me: "J, you need to play at recess and find kids to play with. OK?
J: (in a 'whatever' tone) "okay"
DAY 2
me: "How was school?"
J: (after some hesitation) "good."
me: "what did you do at recess?"
J: "sit in the shade"
me: "did anyone else sit in the shade?"
J: "no."
me: "J, the reason you have recess at school is so you can get exercise when you play and so you can talk to kids and make friends. OK?"
J: "okay."
Needless to say, I worry about him. I know exactly what he does. He sits in the shade where its cool, finds a twig and a blade of grass or any other object laying around and makes them talk to each other, argue, transform into a robot or animal, jump, crash etc. until the bell rings. On the third day he told me he played. I ask him about other things too, of course, and I praise his effort on his classwork, but I know that its also important for him to play with other kids. I'm caught between allowing him to be who he is or interfering.
J's straight and thick hair is very unmanageable just like his father's. EB had long hair when I married him which he managed to slick back by wearing a net on his head overnight. Short after we got married, he got a buzz cut which he has kept ever since. It's all or nothing. EB and J cannot get medium length haircuts because their hair will just stick straight up. So I decided to take the barber's advice and allow J to get a 'spikey' cut this time. Now his hair can do what it naturally wants to, stick straight up, and it looks like its intentional. What a relief! Just add gel and go! J likes it. He feels cool. He looks older :o(
I went camping with my sister, her husband and my boys last weekend (EB went boat fishing in Ensenada). The kids went tubing down a short strip of the river at the La Jolla Indian reservation where we camped. I would help them get on their tire-inner-tube on one end, and my brother-in-law would catch them on the other end. It really brought out the daredevil in J. He loved a section that had a small waterfall and a strong/fast current. He flipped over twice, but loved it.
pictures: J's new hair, J's painting of himself with Jesus, J's loose baby tooth- just a couple of minutes before he finally pulled it out, J tubing at the La Jolla Indian Reservation
No comments:
Post a Comment