Michael: (sigh) I need a break.
We were in the car on our way to school. The Ramone's came on the radio while driving. I started to dance and sing along while looking at Michael in the rearview mirror. Michael said "Mommy, no dancing in the car...it's dangerous!"
Dada
Michael held his toy car up to his nose and while making a snorting sound said
"I smelled Lightning McQueen"
"What does he smell like?"
"Flowers and bees"
Tata
"I smelled Lightning McQueen"
"What does he smell like?"
"Flowers and bees"
Tata
It was one of those chaotic morning when I just couldn't get out the door on time. I started loading up the car, running back and forth. One baby in and buckled, done. One toddler in and buckled, done. Oh no! Where are are his shoes? Got them! Diaper back, loaded with bottles, snacks, extra clothes, blankets, done. Work files, computer, lunch, pump, purse, coffee loaded, done. LETS GO! I quickly pull out of the driveway...STOP! Oops, I didn't expect a car to be coming down our street. With the abrupt stop Michael sighed and said said in a sweet, quiet voice, "We're having a hard time."
Michael has a reward chart on the wall in which he earns stars for his daily activities. If he earns most of his stars for the day, he gets to go to the treasure chest and pick out a toy. The first time I showed it to him, he was very excited and tried to take several toys. I emphasized that he can only pick one toy, he picked a Lightning McQueen car (from the movie Cars). Then he complained that Lightning McQueen was "broken" because his wheels didn't turn. He was a plastic mold car from the dollar store and his wheels weren't meant to turn. The next day Michael earned a treasure chest visit. He looked at all the toys and decided not to take one. We tried to encourage Michael to take a toy, but he declined. I thought that was odd, the treasure chest was full of toys. The next day he earned a trip to the treasure chest, he looked at the toys, then went to get his Lightning McQueen that he picked a few days prior. He put Lightning McQueen back in the treasure chest and picked Mater (the tow truck from the Cars movie). The little guy thought he could only have one toy out of the chest at a time. We told him he got a toy every day he hearted his stars. "Oh!" he said, and happily took Lightning McQueen and Mater to play. Then he informed me that Mater was also broken.
Michael has a reward chart on the wall in which he earns stars for his daily activities. If he earns most of his stars for the day, he gets to go to the treasure chest and pick out a toy. The first time I showed it to him, he was very excited and tried to take several toys. I emphasized that he can only pick one toy, he picked a Lightning McQueen car (from the movie Cars). Then he complained that Lightning McQueen was "broken" because his wheels didn't turn. He was a plastic mold car from the dollar store and his wheels weren't meant to turn. The next day Michael earned a treasure chest visit. He looked at all the toys and decided not to take one. We tried to encourage Michael to take a toy, but he declined. I thought that was odd, the treasure chest was full of toys. The next day he earned a trip to the treasure chest, he looked at the toys, then went to get his Lightning McQueen that he picked a few days prior. He put Lightning McQueen back in the treasure chest and picked Mater (the tow truck from the Cars movie). The little guy thought he could only have one toy out of the chest at a time. We told him he got a toy every day he hearted his stars. "Oh!" he said, and happily took Lightning McQueen and Mater to play. Then he informed me that Mater was also broken.
One night Joey was reviewing Michael's reward chart with him. He told him he got stars for sharing his toys and for taking his nap, bath, and brushing his teeth. He didn't get a star for listening to Mommy and Daddy (it had been a rough afternoon) and didn't earn enough stars to go to the treasure chest. To which Michael swirled his body around, threw down his blanket and replied "Damn it!"
On Mother's Day, I came out of the bedroom having just gotten dressed. I had a long dress on. Michael took a long look at me and said with curiosity "Mommy...You a princess?"
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