Another Haircut and a Fish Called Robert
Evan had his hair cut today. He gibbered away about it the entire time he was in the chair.
"Mommy? Mommy..."
"Yes, Evan?"
"I"m new, mommy."
"Yes it's all new, your hair looks new."
"My hair looks new...and you look old, mommy."
You should have seen the hairstylist's face.
Then we went to Target where he and Madalyn took turns throwing their dum-dums to the ground to see how many times I would lick them off and hand them back. Go ahead--(GASP!)
Tonight is swim class. This is our second session. Last time it was just us and the teacher, Miss Sheena. This time Evan and Madalyn are in separate classes appropriate to their skills. Madalyn could actually be in Evan's class, except she doesn't know how to sit still on the step and wait for directions. But she can already swim to the step and crawl up onto it completely on her own. That's something to see, I tell you what; her little bald head navigating through the water, eyes wide-open, chubby legs kicking.
Evan's really been struggling with being in a group. At first he didn't understand why he couldn't swim to Miss Sheena as he pleased, that he had to share her, and this last time he was extremely sensitive and terribly wounded whenever she corrected him. He cried loudly through most of the session.
Tough situation. Do we fuss at him and try to quiet him for the sake of Miss Sheena and the other kids, or do we let her handle it? We opted for the second approach, and hid behind a brick column near by, out of his sight.
That was until he started screeching in a panicked voice, "Mommy? Mommy!!" He thought we'd left for good and abandoned him. I caved. I'm weak I guess, and rushed to assure him that we were still there, and could he please sit quietly and take turns. This brought on more tears, but eventually I was able to somewhat reason with him, and last class even had him clapping while the other kids took turns...I think Miss Sheena was grateful.
There's another child, Robert, who clearly has A.D.D. (my husband has it, so I can get away with saying this,) and he is constantly head diving towards the cement bottom, forever ignoring Miss Sheena and successfully leading Evan astray. Robert's mother does nothing but occasionally say his name from the pool chair she resides in every class. She probably has older kids and that will most likely be me with my last child...but for now, I've come to the conclusion that the ideal situation for Miss Sheena, is an obedient student like little Sarah who, when asked what kind of things are on the party island they will be traveling to today, readily replies..."Um...starfish, and sharks, and fish, and trees, and sand..." or even Kenny who has special needs but got a sticker last class for sitting so quietly and being such a great listener...but if it's between a Robert-situation (no parent helping) or an Evan-situation (mother's constant coaching in his ear as he sits on the steps,) I would venture to say Miss Sheena would prefer that the parent does interfere. And I know the parents of the other children appreciated me pacifying the screams.
I've even got Evan to, instead of following Robert's lead, sit on the step and watch him saying, "Up--what's Robert doin'?" and "Where'd Robert go? There he is!"
We were talking to him about everything during the car-ride home Monday and listing the good listeners..."Sarah, and Kenny, and Mina, and Evan were all good listeners this time..."
"...and Robert!" Evan added.
I thought about saying Robert wasn't a very good listener but then feared Evan would repeat this next class, and so mumbled something like "Robert? Well...Robert...well, Miss Sheena has to get onto him a lot, you know...but he's trying.." (It was one of those times when I have an out-of-body experience and wonder what in the world I am actually trying to say to my two, almost-three year old.) I wish I could have all these moments on video to edit together and laugh at in the days to come!!
All this goes to say, wish us luck tonight! Bing, bing, bing...round three begins!
