Kim (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
grammarwoman) wrote2010-08-06 12:39 pm
grammarwoman) wrote2010-08-06 12:39 pm
Imperial parenting
Sometimes I high-five myself for doing such a good job raising the Emperor, and other times I feel grossly under-qualified.
For example: a couple of weeks ago at pickup, one of his preschool teachers recapped an incident from that day. The Emperor and a friend of his were holding hands in line, and the other little boy said to my son, "I love you! Let's get married." To which the Emperor replied, "We'd have to move to a different country. Illinois doesn't let two boys get married." I was so gleefully gobsmacked at this that I totally failed to get a read on the teacher, if she was amused, amazed, or scandalized. I was just happy that he both took the proclamation of love in stride and remembered the one dinner conversation we'd had on the subject months ago.
It's amazing what sticks. It's so refreshing when it's information like that and not inappropriate Futurama quotes. (Like when the husband wore his Bender T-shirt yesterday that proclaims "Bite my shiny metal ass!" and the Emperor read it out loud at the dinner table, asking if that was correct.) His teacher told him that he shouldn't watch Futurama because it's an adult show. The way I figure it, at least he's not watching "reality" shows and hopelessly confused about fact versus fiction.
Playing with Legos the other day, he asked me if the universe has a floor. I stumbled my way through a response for that. I don't know that that question would have even occurred to me at five, let alone that I would have asked it.
His current favorite thing ever is Rescue Heroes, a donation from the son of a coworker. I have to say, the cartoons are pretty good; they pass the Bechdel test, they have multiple POC and women as the heroes, and there are no villains, just accidents and bad weather. Plus, the theme has a kicky techno beat.
He's getting so independent, too! He insists on brushing his teeth all by himself, and washes himself at bath-time, only letting me scrub his back. He gets dressed independently most mornings, and lets me sleep in on the weekends as long as I get him breakfast and something to watch on TV.
On a more distressing front, though, the Emperor's started saying on a regular basis how much he hates life, and how he can't wait until he and/or everything is dead, because life is so hard. Usually 10 minutes later he'll be laughing at something, so it's not like he's moping around all the time, but I really have no idea what to do about it. Is this a phase that will pass? Should I be rushing him to a therapist? Will kindergarten distract/entertain him enough that he won't feel that way anymore?
As it is, I'm worrying way too much about kindergarten and it doesn't even start for a couple of weeks. When I registered him a couple of days ago, the teacher was hawking a LeapFrog alphabet DVD. I told her that he didn't need it as he's already reading. Plus, she was surprised when I asked about gifted testing. Even though it's on the school website as being available for grades K-6, apparently they don't pull kids for the special classes until 2nd grade. My husband and I both have a bad history of being bored underachievers in school; I don't want that for him. What I need to do is find out from my dad what the magic words are to use with a teacher that fosters a "let's work on this together" attitude and not the "I'm a difficult, crackpot parent who thinks you suck" one.
Woo, Friday! We had way too much fun at the in-laws the past couple of weekends (bounce house AND swimming), so I'm looking forward to a low-key time at home, though I think the Emperor is going to be disappointed. If we could get some tolerable weather for working outside, that would be sweet as well.
For example: a couple of weeks ago at pickup, one of his preschool teachers recapped an incident from that day. The Emperor and a friend of his were holding hands in line, and the other little boy said to my son, "I love you! Let's get married." To which the Emperor replied, "We'd have to move to a different country. Illinois doesn't let two boys get married." I was so gleefully gobsmacked at this that I totally failed to get a read on the teacher, if she was amused, amazed, or scandalized. I was just happy that he both took the proclamation of love in stride and remembered the one dinner conversation we'd had on the subject months ago.
It's amazing what sticks. It's so refreshing when it's information like that and not inappropriate Futurama quotes. (Like when the husband wore his Bender T-shirt yesterday that proclaims "Bite my shiny metal ass!" and the Emperor read it out loud at the dinner table, asking if that was correct.) His teacher told him that he shouldn't watch Futurama because it's an adult show. The way I figure it, at least he's not watching "reality" shows and hopelessly confused about fact versus fiction.
Playing with Legos the other day, he asked me if the universe has a floor. I stumbled my way through a response for that. I don't know that that question would have even occurred to me at five, let alone that I would have asked it.
His current favorite thing ever is Rescue Heroes, a donation from the son of a coworker. I have to say, the cartoons are pretty good; they pass the Bechdel test, they have multiple POC and women as the heroes, and there are no villains, just accidents and bad weather. Plus, the theme has a kicky techno beat.
He's getting so independent, too! He insists on brushing his teeth all by himself, and washes himself at bath-time, only letting me scrub his back. He gets dressed independently most mornings, and lets me sleep in on the weekends as long as I get him breakfast and something to watch on TV.
On a more distressing front, though, the Emperor's started saying on a regular basis how much he hates life, and how he can't wait until he and/or everything is dead, because life is so hard. Usually 10 minutes later he'll be laughing at something, so it's not like he's moping around all the time, but I really have no idea what to do about it. Is this a phase that will pass? Should I be rushing him to a therapist? Will kindergarten distract/entertain him enough that he won't feel that way anymore?
As it is, I'm worrying way too much about kindergarten and it doesn't even start for a couple of weeks. When I registered him a couple of days ago, the teacher was hawking a LeapFrog alphabet DVD. I told her that he didn't need it as he's already reading. Plus, she was surprised when I asked about gifted testing. Even though it's on the school website as being available for grades K-6, apparently they don't pull kids for the special classes until 2nd grade. My husband and I both have a bad history of being bored underachievers in school; I don't want that for him. What I need to do is find out from my dad what the magic words are to use with a teacher that fosters a "let's work on this together" attitude and not the "I'm a difficult, crackpot parent who thinks you suck" one.
Woo, Friday! We had way too much fun at the in-laws the past couple of weekends (bounce house AND swimming), so I'm looking forward to a low-key time at home, though I think the Emperor is going to be disappointed. If we could get some tolerable weather for working outside, that would be sweet as well.