Car conversations and so forth

When dealing with two rambunctious boys ages 17 months and 34 months, I use a technique called Separate and Diffuse to combat their technique called "Separate and Disseminate".  A classic example of this is when it's "Time to Leave".  During a Minnesota winter, this entails, socks, boots, coat, hat, and scarf.  The need to separate the boys became clear early on.  I would wrestle one boy into his accessories, and start on the other boy, only to have the first boy run away and distribute his articles, included socks and shoes, all through the house.  If it was Max, he would be laughing hysterically, "I hide from you mommy", which meant I'd find him in the living room, under all the couch cushions, which would also be all over the floor.

Now, I've wised up.  I grab one boy, suit him up and take him out to the car (this only works if I buckle the boy securely in his car seat).  Then I return inside and find the other boy, suit him up and keep him inside with me while I do a 5 minute pick up.  

Sam riding his rocking horse

Sam getting ready to pull the "stand up with no hands while rocking" stunt

Yesterday, I followed protocol as usual, and when I went outside to buckle Max in his car-seat (he was second this time), I saw that Sam had been crying.  "Sammy, why are you crying buddy", I asked.  Max, from the back, replied for him, "He miss his Daddy, You miss Daddy, Sammy? I miss Daddy, too".  In reality, Sam was crying because he had been by himself in the car for 3 minutes, but Max's interpretation was instructive to me.  I had a conversation with Max about how he missed his daddy.  

There really is not another scene that's quite like when Ryan get's home from work.  The moment the kids here the garage opening, there's hiding, and schemes, and excitement.  Sam, who is usually restrained by his high chair, resorts to yelling, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy".  You can tell Ryan is well-loved by all around here.

This week has found us busy selling Girl Scout cookies.  Madeline, Ella and I went out early Saturday morning and sold in our neighborhood.  Ella was so intent on helping her sister sell the cookies, that she purchased the first box from Madeline.  She also asked her teachers at school if they wanted to buy some cookies (something that Madeline hasn't worked up the courage to do yet), and sold a package to her teacher.  

How does he manage to create a sense that he is utterly disengaged?

The boys play group was canceled last week, and I was excited to have a little extra time to catch up on the endless tasks, but decided to make play dough, which then required me to play play dough with the boys.  It took up more of my time, but was worth it.  Sam tasted every color of play dough, just in case one of them would turn out to taste as good as it looked.  Max had me do a stegosaurus mold with every color we had because he like created a dinosaur out of a blob.  

I had to remind myself that my main job was growing children and not the other odd tasks that tend to consume life.  Once I ok'ed that with my task oriented personality it was very fun.