School Day, Home Day or Gym Day?

Before Ty's eyes are even open each morning he mutters from a sleepy fog, "School day, home day or gym day?.  Although he's not sure which days of the week each activity falls on he knows exactly what that day will bring and more importantly how he feels about it! 

A "home day" is his favorite kind of day.  It means that the weekend is here and that we'll be together as a family.  Home days vary, but generally they are less scheduled and more fun.

A "gym day" falls on Tuesdays and Thursdays—the two days that Daddy is home all day with him and Wil.  The reason Ty calls it a "gym day" is because they start those two days with a quick trip to the gym,  so Daddy can workout.  The remainder of the day is anyone's guess, but usually includes some combination of the park, Dunkin Donuts or McDonalds, yard work, Home Depot, sports, hide n' seek, laundry, visiting and the most important activity of the day: pulling the house back together before Mommy walks in the door from work! 

The third kind of day is a "school day."  And, much to Ty's chagrin, that's exactly what it means; he's off to school.  Although he loves school (especially his teachers), he's already learned that school (even preschool) is something he's supposed to complain about.  So, we let him moan about it as he slips out of bed and drags himself down the hallway.  We know that by the time he hits the couch in the living room for some "wake-up" cartoons, he's over it.  And, reminding him that Mema or Grandma will be picking him up afterwards is our ace in the hole if all else fails!

These photos are from a recent "home day" where the four of us headed off to the Hopewell Rec Park for a picnic (A.K.A. McDonalds Happy Meals) and some jungle gym climbing.  Like Ty, "home days" are my favorite too, but I have to admit: I love that each day during our week brings something different.  It makes our children well-rounded spending their days with different people; doing different things; in different places.  Our schedule allows for the boys to have time away from us, one-on-one time with both John and I, as well as their grandparents, and then of course, time for us to come together as a family, and lots of times, as an extended family.  Our schedule is a well-oiled machine that seems to be working, so full-steam ahead!

The Compassionists

Naturally, everywhere you turn this summer the upcoming presidential election is being discussed.  You read a candidate's name and immediately following you see a list of their “key issues” — a social, economical or environmental passion that they wish to affect. I recently noticed that John and I too (without much campaigning), have each chosen a “key issue” of our own on which to build our parenting platform.  

For John it's all about manners.  He is mostly responsible for our sons being such courteous young men (…at least in public; notice this entry follows “potty talk”!).  And for me, it starts and ends with compassion—compassion for each other; for us; for their family and friends; for people they don't know; and of course for animals—especially our own. Which is why when I caught the boys caring for Jake after his recent hospital stay, it warmed my heart.

Every day, their overflowing love for the world around them grows.  And, although shortly after this photo was taken they had a wrestling match worthy of the WWF, I know they are beginning to understand why compassion is important.  So, if I carry through on my platform promises, I imagine that compassion will become as natural as breathing for my two little constituents.  For now we are blessed that Ty an Wil truly do love each other, and learn by example from the compassion they are shown by those who love them back.  

"Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity.
It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in
his or her search for self-fulfillment."
—Arthur Jersild

Potty Talk

Nothing illicits laughter from my sons like good ol' potty talk.  Which is exactly why it is so hard for me to get mad at them when they get going.  I try to do as Miss Ann Marie and Miss Christa (Ty's preschool teachers) have taught me and ask them to go to the bathroom if they want to talk about potty things, but as you can see from this photo they don't take me all that seriously.  Right now "poopy" is their main expletive, but I'm sure as the begin to network at school they'll find new and more creative ways to express themselves.  I suppose at that point I'll need to get serious about how I react  to their choice of expression, but for now I can't imagine not hearing Wil sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with every other word replaced by poopy.  Go ahead, try it—betcha laugh!