Tuesday Happenings

Technology: I find it remarkable that complex computer technology is so readily learned by tiny children. Mary has known how to operate my iPhone for a couple of months already, with no formal instruction, of course. (My rules about the iPhone are that the children must ask permission to use it, which they virtually always do, and they must play with it within my eyesight.) Mary can get in and out of all her favorite games and back to the main menu, and she can cause the phone to make fun sounds. And John is even more savvy with the iPhone!

Little Helpers: Today I was busy washing breakfast dishes when Mary insisted she wanted to put on her shoes. It occurred to me for the first time that I could ask John to help her, which he readily did (although note that the shoes are on the wrong feet!).

I remember so many conversations with mom-friends farther down the path and they'd try to tell me about the light at the end (really: beginning) of the tunnel, when the children start to become more competent and independent. And now here I am starting to live that life! John is four and he loves to be a Super Helper (as we call it, like being a Super Hero). These days, his reply to my request for most forms of help is--amazingly--a cheerful, "Okay!" Less and less am I bending my bulk over to pick up the few hundred items off the floor every day because I ask him to pick them up for me (so maybe I pick up only a hundred things!). John helps me (usually asking me if he can please help me) unload dishes from the dishwasher, run the washer and dryer, fold laundry, put away laundry, pick up his toys, run and fetch things, cook and bake, empty bathroom trash cans, and serve some simple foods for he and Mary (bowls of cereal, cups of water--and here I know my friend Sarah is laughing at me because her kids by three or four are frying their own eggs!).

I am just at the beginning of having Little Helpers who are actually helpful to me, so I just want to share that with some of my friends who are not even as far along the path as I am. I think of some girlfriends of mine whose first children are not yet two years old, maybe who are pregnant with their second, and things are at a peak of difficulty. Within one to two more (very hard!) years, you too will have a Little Helper! It's glorious! It gives me energy and makes me feel like I can keep growing our family and it will get better and better.

Circle Time Day 2: Today I didn't get around to our brand new Circle Time till after dinner. When I suggested to the kids that we have Circle Time, John said, "Yeah!" and Mary cheered, "Yippee! Yippee!" I thought that was quite hilarious and endearing because I'm truly not a very entertaining teacher yet. We read our saint of the day, then prayed a decade of the rosary (Mary self-regulated when she couldn't keep still and climbed into my lap herself!), then read several charming poems about mice. We listened to a fun Catholic children's song (and now John can excitedly answer that first catechetical question: "Why did God make me? To know him, to love him, and to serve him.") Then we read Bible stories, and John chose to learn about the Tower of Babel and Abram's initial journeying. What fun! I am loving this age!

Don't Tell Me They Don't Understand! Every child is different in achieving understanding about different things, but I sure see a good understanding in Mary (26 months) about a lot! Tonight I caught her having climbed to the top of a tall bureau where she is not allowed--not because I actually think she'll fall (she won't) but because it is one of the few places in the house where I can put some of my items that the kids are not allowed to touch. I told her 'no' and pulled her down. Then I walked back in the room moments later to find her up there again, playing with the things she knows she's not allowed to touch. Before I could say a word, she plopped onto her bottom, her feet swinging casually off the edge of the bureau and said, "I just taking a rest!" I countered, "No, you are not!" She elaborated, "I praying." Then she folded her hands in prayer and said, "Dear Heavenly Father. Pray, pray, pray. Aaaaaaa-men." She's just lucky I didn't die laughing.

Potty Training Update: Ten days into it and Mary had her first day with no accidents. She's been staying dry overnight too since only a few days into this, so I think when I run out of disposable diapers, I'll just stop having her wear them at night. Yay, Big Girl!