A reality check.

You know those times where you lie in bed late at night (or early morning...depending on how you look at it) and wonder what the heck you're doing with just about everything?  You wonder why you're working so hard, why you're always so tired, will you ever have time to exercise?

Inevitably, your mind always wanders to your kids and you wonder if you're screwing them up with your bad parenting skills...do they listen to their teachers, do they eat healthy enough, will they grow up to be good people?

Well, the other night, my mind wandered to Big.  I had spent a bit of time talking to him about some french words that day and he didn't have a clue what I was talking about.  He's in French Immersion and he's doing great...I think.  He sings the songs like a champ and he seems really happy.  But he had no idea what the words in the songs meant.  I spent that night wondering if he had troubles learning languages, maybe we should switch him to English, maybe we've ruined him....

The next night, my mind wandered to Small.  He's adorable and cuddly and an absolute spit fire of energy!  He's also a demon at times and can work you into a frenzy with his strong will.  He. just. won't. back. down!  That night, I wondered if he'd grow up to be a kind, caring person or if he'd be selfish and inconsiderate, always expecting things to go his way.

Strange that 4am always brings totally irrational thoughts!!


And then I had a day like today...

I had to spend the day at home waiting for a guy to come repair my oven.

...which, by the way, still isn't fixed...

...despite spending 9 hours at home...

...waiting...

...but that's a whole other story...

I sent Small off with a friend to gymnastics.  After class was over, she told him they were coming over for lunch.  He responded, completely unprovoked, with "My mommy is the best mommy in the whole world!"

Of course he did!  Because he's a lovely, thoughtful kid who's bursting with kindness!


Then, I had dinner with both kids...

I had music playing in the background as usual.  Taylor Swift's song, "Never Grow Up", came on.  Small jumped up and down..."My favorite song!  Yeah!!  But, mommy, what does it mean?  I don't get it!!"

So I tried to explain to him about enjoying their childhood, yada yada yada..

<insert crickets chirping>

WAY OVER THEIR HEADS!


But there's a line in the song about taking pictures in your mind.  After a bit of silence, Big started pressing his thumbs and forefingers together near the top of his glasses while making a "Clicking" sound.

Wondering what planet he had drifted off to, I asked, "What are you doing?"

He said, "I'm taking pictures in my mind!"  

Of course you are!


He followed that up with, "Do you know what guns are in French?  It's feusi!"

I have no idea if that's what he was saying but that's what it sounded like.

Then he said, "And my friend has quatre vingt fuesis!"

WHAT??

 Ok, 80 guns???  That's terrifying...even if they are all toys.

But aside from that, my kid SPOKE FRENCH!!!

His grammar sucked, sure!

And he meant to say 84...

but still....HE SPOKE FRENCH...

UNPROVOKED!!!!!

WHAT????



After another little while, Big said, "After school today, I thanked Mme H. for a fun day!"

What???  Completely out of the blue??

Of course you did!  Because you're a sweet, polite boy!



Man!  These boys are great people.  I'm glad they keep reminding me of that and knocking some sense into me.  We must be doing something right :)


I think I may actually sleep well tonight!!