Boys Are Just Different

Boys are just different. I've said it over and over again. I didn't think that parenting a boy would be any different than parenting a girl. Well, I knew that eventually it would be different. I just didn't think it would be apparent at two years old.

I bought the kids some new shoes for fall. Eva was really excited and had to try them on right away. Then she had to go upstairs and put on a fancy outfit, so she looked all dressed up in her new shoes. She came downstairs and said "Look at me, Daddy ! Don't I look pretty? Mom bought me new shoes." Quinn didn't seem all that interested in looking at his new shoes.

So, the next day it was time to put the new shoes to go to the store. Here's how it went with Quinn:

"THESE AIN'T MINE SHOES!"
"Buddy, these are your new shoes!"
"THESE AIN'T MINE SHOES"
"Look, Mommy bought you new shoes."
"THESE AIN'T MINE SHOES"
"Quinn, your old shoes don't fit. They hurt your toes."
"THESE AIN'T MINE SHOES"

And so it went, on and on, with each round growing a little more hysterical. Screaming, kicking, crying and general fits. How dare I buy him new shoes. Maybe he wants to revive the custom of binding feet. Who knows. Like I said, boys are just different.

For Sale

One sister for sale!
One sister for sale!
One crying and spying young sister for sale!
I'm really not kidding,
So who'll start the bidding?
Do I hear a dollar?
A nickel?
A penny?
Oh, isn't there, isn't there, isn't there any
One kid who will buy this old sister for sale,
This crying and spying young sister for sale?


Does anyone remember this poem by Shel Silverstein? It was in Where The Sidewalk Ends. That was my favorite book by him. Are you wondering why I'm posting chidren's poetry on my blog? I'm so frustrated with Quinn this morning I was thinking about listing him on Ebay. Certainly someone would bid on him, he's very, very cute. And I wouldn't post any audio. Then I realized it's probably illegal to post children on ebay, although I would be sympathetic with any parent tempted to do so.

As I was amusing myself thinking about the potential listing this poem popped into my head. It just seemed appropriate. Also, it added a bit a humor to my very stressful morning. So, now that I'm had a little laugh I'm feeling a little better. I guess I won't sell him after all.

Would anyone like to rent a two year old boy? Terms are negotiable.

Minus One

Today is Eva's first day of preschool. Kind of. Last year she went to preschool at Rockwell for 2 1/2 hours, two days a week. This year she goes from 8:00 - 3:30. Doesn't that sound like a long day for a four year old? She is still only going two days a week, but this year she is riding on the school bus. It felt very weird to put her on the bus and watch her drive away without me.



Normally we'll walk her up to the elementary school to get on the bus. It's nice because the school is just around the corner from our house. Of course, this morning it was pouring down rain. So, we drove up instead.




She, of course, was super excited. She didn't really seem nervous, but she was a little quiet this morning when we were getting ready. Quinn, on the other hand, is ticked. He screamed, cried, and generally had a giant fit when he realized that he wasn't going on the bus with Eva. I'm not sure if he's that attached to his big sister, or if he just wanted to ride on a bus. Probably a combination of both.

The house seems quiet this morning, though. It's not that Eva is that noisy or anything. It just feels different when any of my kids are not here. I hope she has a great day, though!! I'm really excited to pick her up this afternoon and hear all about it.


It other news, I finally painted my kitchen. John and I estimate that this house hasn't been painted in about 15 years. We are basing that on when the previous owners did a lot of restoration and such. The walls are dirty and gross. We have been slowly painting one room at a time.

I made some news curtains. I think they turned out pretty cute. They are pretty country looking, which is not normally my aesthetic. But, this house is kinda old-fashioned and country looking, so overall it looks nice. It's just a relief to get rid of the horrid lace valences that were hanging in there. Lace is definitely not my thing. (I do still have lace curtains in my living room :( Hopefully they'll be coming down soon. The previous owners must have had a real affinity for very old-fashioned lace curtains. They were in the kitchen , dining room, living room, hallway, bathroom, and the extra bedroom. Yikes!!!




Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the kitchen so far. I'm going to buy or make some new rugs and hang a pretty shelf that I can hang my aprons on. It's coming along. One room at a time :)