Thanks Cal!

http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/

  

As a kid I adored the Calvin and Hobbes series of comics.  I could identify with Calvin's vivid imagination and general cluelessness regarding parents.  Besides that, it was funny and unexpected and more often then not, touching.  As a biblio-addict mother and recovering English teacher, I look for every literacy related opportunity I can for my own children. 

Please don't think I have surrounded them with phonics flashcards, quotes from Nathaniel Hawthorne and copies of the Constitution.  My theory of building literacy in kids is simple-marinate.  A piece of meat absorbs all the flavors and nuances of what it sits in.  The longer it sits, the deeper the flavor.  If the boys are surrounded by all kinds, levels and topics of reading materials-they too will be influenced by them.  

So it was with relish, and after a good long read whilst standing in the aisle at Barnes and Noble, that I purchased my 8 year old's first "Calvin and Hobbes" book as a Christmas gift.  In my head flashed Mommy-Tube videos of us chortling at the antics of that little boy while my son greedily consumed every word.   As with most things Mommy related, it was slightly less than that and more than that at the same time. 

It became the middle of January and he hadn't so much as opened the book.   I was bummed at my crushed expectations and decided to see if I could introduce them myself.   I have learned a direct frontal assault doesn't work with my little negotiator, so I snuck it up on him. 

I began to read the book and laughed aloud.  He looked up from his 3DS to see what was up.  I flipped the pages and kept laughing.  I told the 4 year old how funny the Calvin was and, wasn't it cool he had a silly Tiger named Hobbes as a friend?

The 8 year old then lumbered to settle on the floor beside us.  He reached for the book and thus began the magic.  It wasn't long before he showed me a page where the Mother was drawn closer to a crack addicted banshee then parent.  He giggled and said,  "Mom, that's what you look like when you are mad!"

I took the insult for what it was-a compliment and a personal connection to the written word.  Am I saying this book is the reason he will read the rest of his life?  Maybe, maybe not.  It is a reason to celebrate as we made meaning from the written word.  We also made another Memorable Mama moment.  Thanks Cal!

Brotherly Love

I have two beautiful boys.  Four years and two weeks apart, they are as opposite as day and night.

Ian Second Grade Dude

My Ian is cool as a cucumber.  We like to say that he is an an Accountant with the soul of a skater kid.  He's pragmatic, verbal, smart and has an opinion.  When he wants affection, he is all in, folding his skinny, bony self into your lap like a giant red haired origami project. 

Caden Preschool Prince

My Caden is a firecracker-loud and sparkly.  At 9 months he screeched so loud in a Baskin Robbins all the other patrons cleared the place.  In one sense he is the easiest kid.  He nursed successfully 20 minutes after being born and hasn't stopped eating since.  He sleeps well.  He's sweet, kind and loves babies.  He's affectionate and loves with his whole heart, soul and body.  When he hugs you he wraps himself completely around you.  He's also very messy and most days-spends more time in his imagination then reality. 

The two can play beautifully.  Rumbling and tumbling about the house, they are peas in a pod.  Then the storm clouds hit.  Screeching, screaming and additional syllables ("Leave me a-looooooo-n-uh!") peel the paint off the walls.

Today however, I heard an exchange which I will carry in my heart forever.

We were discussing the, "Sleeping In Protocol".  (Sleeping is as defined by anything past 7:00 a.m.)  I had snacks and breakfast shakes poised and ready.  The remote was handy for their toons.  We were set.

"Now, Caden, if you wake up before Brother, please play quietly until he wakes up too!" Shake of the head in affirmation, though Caden regularly tortures his brother by turning on the light the minute his own eyes open. 

"And brudder," Caden says affirmatively, "No kissing my head!"

Ian turns red and hurriedly walks out of the room.   

No kissing my head? I think.  What?

I ask Ian about it.

"When I get up, if he's still asleep, I kiss his head so he doesn't get scared if I leave."

My stoic Ginger haired boy kisses his little brother on the head so he isn't scared.   Now that's brotherly love.