Send in the Clowns

Yeah we hired a clown!! I feel like such a sellout. First we weren't even gonna have a party for Coleman's 3rd birthday. He had cupcakes at his preschool with the entire class. Then we took him on a special trip to a farm where he had his first pony ride. That shoulda been enough. But for some reason, and I can't even blame Roz for this I felt it as well, we decided we needed to do more. So we planned a party - for Saturday - it was already Wednesday.

It was a great party. The genius of last minute planning is that lots of invited people had plans already, so there weren't too many kids.

So the clown shows up about an hour into the party. We introduced Bingo the Clown to everyone.
"Coleman, Bingo is here for your party."
Coleman took him in for a moment. "Why are you dressed like that?"
"He's here for your party."
"I know, but why is he dressed like that?" It was a very funny moment.

It was also a very telling moment. You dress them and undress your kids everyday, sometimes a few times a day and you think they aren't paying attention, but he knew the clothes that clown was wearing was different from the clothes everyone else was wearing. Coleman is learning how to recognize and verbalize things that are out of the norm. Clothing is obvious thing to learn. So many things aren't that obvious.

A noose hanging from a tree. A taxi passing you by on the street. Hanging chad.

Thank God for now it's just clowns.

Terrible Two's

It's almost over. The terrible two's. Coleman turns 3 on Wednesday.
Truthfully it really wasn't that terrible, and it probably really isn't over. Coleman is sleeping through the night - for the most part.
He's potty trained - for the most part.
He's a really good talker and communicator - for the most part.
Tantrums are few - for the most part - you get the point, we're in a really good place - for the most part.

Now we're getting the pressure, sometimes light, sometimes full court - When are you having another???????????

In theory, yes, absolutely I want more, maybe just one more. Almost everyone we know has popped out or is about to pop out the 2nd one.
"It's so much easier the 2nd time." "He'll have a playmate." "The time will fly by."
That's the crap we hear from those parents with two or more. I can see right through them, I can see through the bags underneath their eyes, I can see through the clenched teeth.

I can see the truth.

It's not easier, you're just more beat down, so you're not as quick to respond like you did for the first one.
Playmate - yeah right, they'll play in between fights and the fights last longer than playtime.

I made a list of pro's and con's.
Con's:
money,
time,
2 or 3 more years of no sleep,
we're not that young,
it may not be as easy this time,
physically,
mentally,
spiritually.

Pro's: Look at that picture.

Park It

I hate the park. It's soooo boring. Let's face it, it's not that fun if you're an adult. But I know how important it is for Coleman, especially now that Summer is coming to and end. I can't believe sometimes how much fun he has. Up the slide, down the slide, up the ladder, down the ladder, through the sprinklers and again and again and again and again. And I just watch. I can't work, I have to keep an eye on Coleman. Any conversation I have with equally bored parents, we always have one eye on each other, the other on our kids.

Chasing pigeons. That's huge fun for Coleman - chasing pigeons. He just loves to run after them and chase them and chase them until they fly out of the park.

I have to remind myself to treasure these moments. I really am fortunate that my schedule allows me to share these times. He's almost 3 and sooner than I know it, I won't be allowed within a 3 mile radius of him. So I'll keep going to the park, but damn it's boring.