On Zippers

Yesterday, Jonah and Toby sang in church with the RUCC Boys Choir.  As the service started, we stood to say one of the prayers, and I noticed Toby's zipper was down. 

I passed him a note:

He wrote back:

What to do?! 

A quick check of his shirt told me it wasn't long enough to completely cover the open zipper.  Toby would be in the front row so yes, it would be very obvious.

And sometimes these parts of the service are photographed and put out on Facebook for all the world to see!

How many people would notice if I tried to "unstick" the zipper right there in the pew?  Would it be more distracting for us to leave the sanctuary to fix the zipper?  

I quickly realized two things: 1) how noticable this will be depends on just how stuck it actually is - how graceful (or not) I can be, and 2) We are in CHURCH, and IF any of my church family notice, they will likely not think, "pedophile!":  I would probably have some kind of benefit of the doubt. 
(At what age, by the way, did my kids' clothing become NOT my responsibility - I changed diapers and dressed them for how many years?! At some point before now, however, it has become socially unacceptable for me to zipper or button their pants in public)

Luckily for me, it was an easy zipper "fix".  I don't think many people noticed.  But Toby's clasped hands probably would have covered the open zipper. . .

Running with the. . .

Jonah today reported that he and five other boys at school are in the same after-school activity on Wednesdays.  He said, "we all just hung together. In a pack. Kind of like WOLVES!"  What a funny image- I do think 6th grade boys have a lot in common with wolf packs actually.

Here are some related photos: we got a new (large) kennel for Pepper (thanks, Kevin!):

New Routines

We are a month into the new school year and have (mostly) adjusted our new routines.

Jonah and Toby are trying out new responsibilities: getting themselves out of the house and on their respective school buses in the morning instead of morning day care.

For the first time in 12 years, Ken is enjoying NOT having to get kids ready for school or drop them off at daycare!  He is thrilled about this newfound morning calm.  I am often on my way to work before the boys even wake up so sometimes I do not see them until evening.  :(

The boys walk Pepper and then Jonah walks Toby to the bus stop (on the corner just 3 houses away!).   

Jonah catches his bus at the other end of the block a half hour later. He has missed his bus ONLY once!  To Jonah's credit, he figured out what to do (he WAS listening when we discussed the backup plan!). 

I only occasionally get a phone call in the morning - a tearful Toby who "can't find any jeans that fit!" or Jonah, "Mom, where are my keys?!" 

Middle school has brought a new entity to our household- a sneering mouthy presence who sometimes lives inside Jonah.  We call him "Chuckles."   Chuckles' mode of operation is entitlement and scorn: "It's my life - you can't command me;" "I demand that you respect me;" while at the same time neglecting to submit homework, clear his dishes, keep track of his belongings.

The most interesting part is the surprised outrage that comes when he realizes his screen time has been revoked pending submission of missing assignments, etc.  (We're not really sure what part of the
responsibility = privileges equation is unclear. . .) 

None of these consequences are his fault of course, and if he had drawn better parents in this lottery, his life would be ever so much better!  We tell him this is giving him useful information for his own future children: he has the power to make their lives infinitely more enjoyable than we are making his.   Chuckles lies, yells, and scorns his lame family.   And then seemingly at random, Chuckles disappears and we get Jonah again.  



Calvin and Hobbes



We are learning all over again how to parent this child.  Just when we think we have it down, a new stage pops up.  I pray for patience and try to believe in the lessons taught by logical consequences.

After school programs begin this month and Jonah is excited about chess, engineering, and backstage crew for the fall play. 

Toby joined drama club at school this year and can hardly wait to begin Math Masters and chess club.  His competitive side is finding all sorts of outlets at school: How many minutes can he read in a month?  How quickly can he do 100 multiplication problems?    

Swim team is in full swing as well, which means we almost never have dinner before 8:00 pm, although we do usually get to eat dinner together as a family most nights!