As you may recall, we took the children to the local police and fire stations on the day after New YearÂ’s this year to deliver home made cookies. While visiting the very nice firemen, the kids got a small lecture on the 911 system and what to do in an emergency. With that background out of the way, let me get to the anecdote.

Last night, we went to the dentist. It was the Girl ChildÂ’s appointment but we brought the Boy Child, too. His first visit and I wanted him to get accustomed to the place and see that nothing scary was going to happen to his sister. Fine. No problems. He sat up in her lap after her appointment and even let the hygienist count and clean his teeth. They both particularly liked Mr. Thirsty, the thing that sucks all the water out of your mouth. I took a picture of them sitting there together with my camera phone. Not the greatest picture, but still.

After the appointment, while the kids were rooting around in the “Treasure Chest”, picking out toys, I had a nice chat with the dentist who, along with several other people in the office, passed along their condolences about my grandfather. For awhile there, the dentist was actually treating four generations of the same family. I wasn’t watching what the kids picked too closely, but, I gather, the Boy Child wanted exactly what the Girl Child wanted and so they both left clutching a plastic ring and a bracelet. Fair enough. Both happy, both with bright shiny teeth.

This morning, the Boy Child headed downstairs to retrieve, first thing, his ring and bracelet. He stayed, according to my wife, down there for a little while before coming upstairs where, the following took place:

BC: Mamma, mine bracelet is broken. Call 911!

Mamma: Boy Child, we only call 911 if there is a big emergency. We canÂ’t call 911 for this.

BC: [Looks at her for a moment, considers her words and either decides to reject them or decides that this is a big emergency, and picks up the phone] 911!?! Mine bracelet is broken. Mine ring is not broken. Mine bracelet is broken. Come fix it?

Looks like the lecture that the firemen gave him really sunk in. Who says kids today donÂ’t listen?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 12:12 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 370 words, total size 2 kb.

1 I can never get enough of the BC&GC stories. Never. This was adorable, RP.

Posted by: Amber at January 20, 2006 03:33 PM (zQE5D)

2 Well if that doesn't qualify as an 'emergency' I don't know what does. Great story.

Posted by: Roberta S at January 23, 2006 03:21 PM (R7VQT)

3 If a grown woman can call 911 cause she didn't get the hamburger she wanted at Wendy's then BC can call cause his bracelet is broken. Surely they have a jewlery repair squad, no?

Posted by: oddybobo at January 24, 2006 04:05 PM (6Gm0j)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

The Viking Bride (who, by the way, very much appreciates all of the kind birthday wishes you all left her!) told me about an interaction she had with the Boy Child that, I felt, cried out for memorialization. The BC, you see, has become quite the poopy afficionado. He has come to realize that the act of pooping creates a reward. As he has a sweet tooth the size of the Empire State Building, a piece of candy is a huge motivating force for him. The Girl Child is his biggest cheerleader as she also gets rewarded for his hard work. Can't leave one of them out on the candy distribution. She will usually accompany him, at his request, and she gets down to potty level to peer intently at his tuchus to cheer at the first appearance of the poopy. "Yay, BC!", you will hear ring through out the house.

The BC has the exchange rate down cold. "Me poop on potty, me get marzipan". He regularly checks this fundamental point with us as if to make sure there have been no changes in circumstances, no problems on our end he should be aware of.

But a problem on his end, well, that was the subject of the conversation he had with my wife.

As she reported to me, they were in the potty together, the Boy Child perched on the seat:

BC: Mamma, poopy no come out!

BC: [Leans forward to look between his legs, speaks very angrily and with great command in his tone] Poopy! Me need you come OUT!!

[Waits a beat and yells at his bottom] COME ON, POOPY!!!

I believe that, at the end, the poopy listened and the marzipan was distributed.

* * *

By the way, we are once again without power and once again bunking in with the wife's inlaws. Who knew that Connecticut and Bangladesh had so much in common?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 03:09 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 307 words, total size 2 kb.

The Girl Child was with my mother yesterday, thanks to the power outage on Sunday (stay tuned, sportsfans, another storm with high winds headed our way!) And my mother related to me the following conversation:

GC: Nanna, do you still love H (my recently deceased maternal grandfather)?

N: Of course, I do, honey.

GC: Is it ok that I still love H, too?

N: Of course. Why do you ask?

GC: I wasn't sure if it was ok to keep loving people after they died and I knew you were really sad after he died so I wanted to wait to ask you until you were a little less sad.

We all miss him very much still.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:55 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 129 words, total size 1 kb.

1 how sweet of her.

Posted by: jules at January 17, 2006 04:15 PM (F+tvM)

2 Very thoughtful of her, and yes, amazingly wise for so young. Isn't it said that we have much to learn from children? It's too bad so often we don't retain the wisdom and the wonder.

Posted by: Oorgo at January 17, 2006 05:34 PM (lM0qs)

3 )>

Posted by: Mark at January 18, 2006 08:19 AM (c2/X7)

4 That is like the sweetest thing ever. Ever. {{{hugs to GC}}}

Posted by: Amber at January 18, 2006 06:01 PM (zQE5D)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Today is the anniversary of the birth of my first child, she who I call on this blog the Girl Child, a most remarkable/astounding creature by any measure. While I was out of the house again this morning, as is my routine, long before sun up, I left her a birthday card on the kitchen table, along with some presents she will open with my wife (who beautifully wrapped them). To say she is excited about her birthday would be a gross understatement. She has been counting down the days for weeks now.

This was most of my entry last year, on the subject:

January 12, 2001, my wife and I were at NY Hospital, 65th and the River, and at precisely 10:00 that morning, my wife gave birth to our first child, the Girl Child. Shortly after giving birth, my wife basically passed out and remained passed out for about an hour and a half. That meant that when they finished weighing the little thing, they brought her to me. Now, she was crying her little heart out, not at all happy to be taken from her mother's womb and pushed out into a cold, January morning. But, happily for the Girl Child, I listened to an old nurse some months back at the hospital who counseled us to speak to the baby while in the womb. She said it would be helpful at the time of delivery. So, every night, I used to read to my wife's belly and otherwise just chat to it for awhile. The result was that when the nurse handed me my little wrapped up bundle of shrieking baby, and I cuddled her to my neck and spoke soothingly to her, she stopped crying, let out a little sigh, and snuggled into my neck, totally at peace. It was altogether magical and I sat there with her, talking quietly to her, until the nurses made me give her back to be taken to the nursery.

That was five years ago, today.

Happy birthday, my daughter, and many, many more!

Posted by: Random Penseur at 09:59 AM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
Post contains 355 words, total size 2 kb.

He's feeling his oats, got a bit of a swagger to his step, is taking charge and is not afraid to let you know it. He's also about 6 weeks away from being three years old.

This weekend, he says to his mother:

"Mamma, go sit couch. You in time out. You trouble!"

Last night, getting ready for bed, it was my turn:

BC: Pappa, you no drink my milk. You drink my milk, police come, take you away put you in jail.

Me: Why would they put me in jail?

BC: You drink me milk, you get sick. [Looks defiantly at me and says with emphasis] That is mine reason.

Me: Got it. Don't drink your milk. Check.

Also, two nights ago, we had the following exchange:

Me: Boy Child, do not push your sister off that stool! You could hurt her!

BC: [Outrage written all over his face; shaking his finger at me for emphasis] NO. SAY. THAT. WORD. ME!!!!

Me: What word, honey? What word are you objecting to?

BC: [Intense concentration, pause] Me no know what word. Me no ha'member.

Me: Well, if you can't tell me the word, how can I not say it?

BC: [sighs dejectedly] Me know.

I think its gonna be a long ride. Fun, but long.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:33 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 201 words, total size 1 kb.

Phin has a thought. Seems to be useful, I think, for all ages.

A caution, swallow your coffee before clicking on the link.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 09:53 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 29 words, total size 1 kb.

Suppress your usual cynicism if you will and venture back with me to a more innocent time, to yesterday, actually. Yesterday was kind of a throw back to a more innocent time.

We awoke early, the children and I. After a quick breakfast, and under the gimlet eye of the Viking Bride, baker par excellence, the Girl Child and I prepared a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. We carefully measured, mixed, smelled, and placed spoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheets. We baked them and wrapped the results in tin foil clad paper plates – two of them – and placed bows on the packages.

Then we got dressed up and went off, the whole family, to deliver the cookies – one package to the local fire house and one to the local police station. Both to wish our public servants a happy new year and to thank them for protecting us and keeping us safe. The Girl Child presented both packages. It was a great success.

The firemen were quite happy to see us and the cookies and the Girl Child presented the package with her thanks and best wishes. The Boy Child immediately began agitating for the Fire Chief to open the package, to the ChiefÂ’s delight. The fireman then gave us all a 45 minute tour of the firehouse. The kids got to sit in the driverÂ’s seats of all the trucks, got to ring bells, and mess up the computers in the trucks. They showed us the equipment they keep on the rescue trucks and talked generally about some of the rescues they had been at. The kids got plastic fire hats they had to wear in the garage and on the trucks. It was just lovely.

Then, off we went to the police station. The Boy Child has kind of a thing about policemen. He sort of fears them. They have been involved in nightmares in the past (“Policeman come up in my bed and bite meg (pronounced my and means me in Norwegian)”). So, knowing this, the Girl Child issued the appropriate caution as we drove up: “Ok, Boy Child, when we get to the police station, you are not allowed to say, “Policeman dumb dumb”. The Boy Child promised. The police station was a bit more buttoned down than the fire station, more security, etc. But they still let us in and seemed really pleased to get the cookies. They asked for our name and address so, I hope, to send the kids a thank you note. The kids got badge stickers and life savers and we all got to see the communications room and say hi to the other policemen.

I think the kids really enjoyed everything. They had fun meeting people and learned, I hope, that saying thank you can be rewarding in and of itself.

Then we went off to the Gap. The kids got gift cards from the parents of our first nanny. The Girl Child referred to it as her credit card. We told them that the money was theirs and they could pick out whatever they wanted to buy with it. As you may imagine, the excitement level was high. The Girl Child chose a pick fluffy bathrobe (“Now we’re twins, Pappa!” (although I note that my bathrobe is blue)) and the Boy Child picked out some pj’s with cars on them. Both were very pleased with their choices. Very.

Then we took them off to lunch at a mediocre barbeque joint. The Girl Child and I colored on the paper tablecloth together.

Then, home for naps (mine and theirs!). Post nap, a clean up of the play room and incorporation of the new toys into the existing toys and dinner.

All in all, a genuinely lovely day, even if it was so wholesome as to make you gag!

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:08 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 646 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Gag, no. Teared up, yes. Such a sweet way to start the year.

Posted by: Jocelyn at January 03, 2006 02:00 PM (jkRb/)

2 So sweet complete with new cavities! May I send my dental bill to the kids? Or to your attention? And right RP, your robe is blue...... ;-)

Posted by: Wicked H at January 03, 2006 02:30 PM (iqFar)

3 Too wholesome by far! Puke! (Has nothing to do with my raging nausea). Seriously, though, I'm sure the police & firefolks loved getting your thanks & treats. That's lovely.

Posted by: grammarqueen at January 03, 2006 03:26 PM (XzHwx)

4 RP, I just adore your children. What a wonderful memory this is going to be for all of you! And isn't that maybe the greatest thing about blogging? Being able to go back and re-read your thoughts and feelings and experiences whenever you want to. Bless you and your family and thank you for sharing this.

Posted by: Amber at January 03, 2006 03:52 PM (zQE5D)

5 I can't get the image of your fuzzy blue bathrobe out of my head. Gah! Must concentrate on the cookies!!

Posted by: Jim at January 03, 2006 04:10 PM (tyQ8y)

6 Fabulous day...and now I'm feeling this sudden urge to bake. I really want to teach Maya to do things for others as she gets older, so I'll file this away for future reference.

Posted by: Allison at January 03, 2006 04:31 PM (Bgxii)

7 You are one seriously lucky man. Of course, I'm sure you're aware of that. Now I have to go make cookies.

Posted by: Primal at January 03, 2006 04:34 PM (1a+hi)

8 Just so you all know, and especially you Allison if you are thinking of filing this away, I got the idea to do this out of starting to teach the Girl Child about the 911 emergency system, about what to do if there is an emergency and what to say. Then I realized that there was a good teaching moment here, a chance to show her who keeps her safe, who answers the 911 calls. And a chance to do something nice for those people. It was a combination of fun and learning. And Jim, stop picking on my bathrobe! It was a gift from my wife. Don't make me tell her that you were making fun of her gift. You don't want that.

Posted by: RP at January 03, 2006 04:42 PM (LlPKh)

9 You're raising them to be fine, upstanding citizens. They're awfully lucky to have you as a Papa, hon. And I know you feel you're the lucky one. So don't protest. {{ hugs }}

Posted by: Margi at January 03, 2006 07:41 PM (nwEQH)

10 Aah, I remember that plastic fireman's helmet. Sitting in the driver's seat -- Oh, what magic, what a dream come true! What wonderful memories you are giving to your children. So, when do they get to graduate from thanking their protectors to shooting off some .22 rounds of their own? I'd say about 8 years for the boy child. 2 more years for the Girl. Just commenting is all...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 05, 2006 11:30 PM (kaxtS)

11 That is the sweetest thing. There is a little three truck firehouse just at the entrance to my neighborhood, complete with resident Dalmation named Sparky. The guys love to see the kids from our 'hood coming up the back path through the woods, because they are always bearing goodies. I'm amazed those guys are able to stay so thin and trim sometimes. :-)

Posted by: Jennifer at January 06, 2006 02:09 PM (jl9h0)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

At the risk of revealing too much in the way of domestic arrangements information, I will share with you the few small words passing between the Boy Child and me last night, long after he should have been asleep:

Boy Child (from bed): Mamma!

Me (arriving on scene): Yes, honey.

BC: Pappa? Mamma come check on me?

Me: No, honey, Mamma is in bed and asleep.

BC: Oh. (looks closer at me) Pappa, nagunk? (Nagunk is his combination of naked and naken -- Norwegian for naked).

Me: Yes, honey, I'm nagunk.

BC: Pappa go up in Mamma's bed nagunk???

Me: Yes, honey.

BC: Hmmn.

And he went happily back to sleep after we cleared that up. I have no idea what it means but I was vastly amused.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 10:15 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 138 words, total size 1 kb.

1 heheheheheheh.

Posted by: Kathy at December 15, 2005 11:22 AM (aRC3x)

2 That is one of the many reasons I'm looking forward to being a parent. Not so much the thought of YOU being naked, as there being somebody else in the household that has a fondess of asking random questions and being content with random answers.

Posted by: phin at December 15, 2005 12:08 PM (Xvpen)

3 I'm giggling. Thank you for sharing.

Posted by: CJ at December 15, 2005 12:33 PM (0yCni)

4 Naked sleeping? Well! I NEVER! *giggles* Too cute, RP.

Posted by: Amber at December 15, 2005 01:56 PM (zQE5D)

5 The boy's doing his part to make sure that your connubial duties are proceeding apace. ;-)

Posted by: Jim at December 15, 2005 01:58 PM (tyQ8y)

6 Mamma and Poppa are nagunk. All is right in the world.

Posted by: Margi at December 15, 2005 02:23 PM (nwEQH)

7 Thanks for the laugh, RP. That was pretty funny.

Posted by: Howard at December 15, 2005 05:31 PM (8IlGJ)

8 There are million stories in the nagunk city.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at December 15, 2005 09:26 PM (uIckQ)

9 How cute! And wonderfully random. It's so fun to read ... the world always seems like a better place after a bit of fresh air like that.

Posted by: Hannah at December 16, 2005 03:44 AM (5w+E2)

10 You owe me a new keyboard, RP! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to clean up the latte that came out threw my NOSE. :-Þ

Posted by: Wicked H at December 16, 2005 07:32 AM (iqFar)

11 HHAHAHAHA! Wonderful! My son's Kindegarten teacher told us at our first parent night that she now knows which dads don't wear pjs. So you nay not be the only one sharing with the rest of the world.

Posted by: Jordana at December 16, 2005 04:15 PM (T9nt4)

12 All I have to say to that is, "Hmmn."

Posted by: Linda at December 18, 2005 09:05 AM (4gch1)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

The Boy Child, at school yesterday, was bitten by one of his classmates while playing at being animals. The teacher described it as coming to her attention thanks to a blood-curdling scream. She explained that no skin was broken and no bleeding took place and the Boy Child was given ice for his arm. I really wasn't fussed, I must confess and I told the teacher, "no blood, no foul".

So, we all stood there, his teachers, me, and the Boy Child and I looked down at his beautiful face and I asked him, gently, what happened.

He told me: "people bite me up i my crass".

Someone bit you in your class?

"Ja".

And what happened next?

"Teacher hente meg ice" (my teacher got me ice).

Well, next time someone bites you, you bite them back, ok?

Ok.

His teachers laughed. They thought I was kidding.

The Girl Child didn't think I was kidding. The first thing she asked her brother when she heard about it was, "did you bite them back?" And then she told him, next time someone hurts you, you hit them back. Or pull their hair.

She understands. I've explained the hitting rules to her before. She is allowed to hit only if someone hits her or if someone hits her brother.

You have to stand up for yourself and for yours in this world. No one else will do it for you.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:04 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 244 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Agreement. Total. It beats me how the new philosophy is our kids are not to allow themselves to be victims but yet they shouldn't fight back. There's something missing in that equation.

Posted by: Roberta S at November 23, 2005 03:29 PM (kKo+q)

2 That was always the rule in our house,too. You may not hit first, but if somebody hits, bites, pulls your hair, whatever, then go for it kid! Must be the Barrister's School of Hard Knocks

Posted by: Jocelyn at November 23, 2005 03:34 PM (jkRb/)

3 I LOVE YOU FOR THIS, RP! YAYYYYY! The schools won't be happy about it but too bad. You're right. It's the truth. This whole PC BS these last few years about kids learning they cannot defend themselves at school has been driving me up the wall.

Posted by: Amber at November 23, 2005 06:31 PM (zQE5D)

4 Don't be too surprised if you find out one day that his school is one of them whacky ones that actually blame a fight on the kid that threw the second punch because of that "it takes two to tango and the Boy Child should have let the aggression go rather than escalate the violence by continuing it" short-sighted bend-over-and-take-it nonsense.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at November 23, 2005 11:44 PM (ZqFjh)

5 I am in compleete and total agreement with you, m'dear. (No big shock, there, though, huh?) I just stopped in to wish you and your lovely family a beauteous thanksgiving. xoxo

Posted by: Margi at November 24, 2005 03:33 AM (nwEQH)

6 When I was his age, my father instilled the same lesson in me. He was rather adamant that I understand that I was nevber to start a fight. But if someone picked on me, I should do my best to end it. His advice to me? Kick him in the balls as hard as you can. Drop him, and end it right away. Gave my mother fits, and I never had to actually resort to that. But it instilled in me an important lesson, the same one you have imparted to your son. Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by: Mark at November 24, 2005 10:52 AM (ICmVA)

7 Happy Thanksgiving, RP! Just remember to tell the Boy Child that he doesn't have to wait for the turkey to bite him first.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at November 24, 2005 01:01 PM (fiAeQ)

8 You go, girl child!

Posted by: Hannah at November 26, 2005 04:48 PM (ImQx2)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Last night was devoted to walking the streets with the children as we engaged in a mild form of extortion, demanding protection candy as a form of insurance for the next year. Everyone paid; nobody got hurt.

Well, the Girl Child got hurt. She got run down by someone in the pack of children she was trying to keep up with. Her bag got a little scrunched, she claims, and this made her very sad. We were off trick or treating with some friends and their children and the Girl Child was the youngest of the group, not including the Boy Child who, while with the group, was not not of the group. She started by holding my hand and walking with me. By the middle of the excursion, she told me that she did not want to hold my hand anymore and made it clear that she wanted to go with the bigger kids. I allowed her, with some reservations. Then she skinned her knee and her hand when she fell or was pushed. After that, she stuck closer by and held my hand. Also, she was getting tired.

The kids were adorable, though. She was a witch and he was a "blue toot-toot guy", a train engineer in a blue hat. They thanked everyone who gave them candy and said trick or treat after they deposited the candy in their bags and they resisted correction on the timing of the salutation. I didn't try very hard to correct them and really why should I?

They have had a good week. On Sunday, we took them to the Circus when Ringling Bros, etc., came to the arena in Bridgeport. Such excitement, so much cotton candy. Their pleasure in the cotton candy was balanced by my shock at having to pay $9 for the bag of it. I thought that was astonishing. What impressed the Boy Child the most, you may wonder? Was it the elephants, the lions, the acrobats? No, it was a very short skit with two clowns and a giant toothbrush. He is still talking about the "teethbrush" and going to visit it again.

On Saturday, we all trooped off to a military museum in Danbury. They were having an "open turret" day and that meant we could climb on the tanks and look inside and climb into the other vehicles. The kids and I had a marvelous time. My father in law is a military history buff and, while we were clambering on the tanks, he was deep in conversation with a volunteer guide.

All in all, a successful day. Indeed, if not for the nanny situation, it would have been quite a wonderful weekend.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 04:10 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 455 words, total size 2 kb.

Here's a good way not to quit a job. I learned this from our last nanny who, speaking of last, lasted only 4 weeks before cleaning out her room and leaving us a note to inform us that she was quitting. I wouldn't have found the note on Friday (the day she fled) if I had not gone into her room to close the storm windows on her windows. I am sure we were not meant to find the note before Sunday. Unfortunately for her, my concern for her comfort (closing the storms), meant that we found the note with sufficient time to stop payment on her last paycheck (she had a couple of hundred dollars in personal expenses on our American Express card that I was NOT prepared to eat, thank you very much, and I noticed she neglected to leave us a check for that on her way out, a pure oversight, I'm sure).

I am furious. To leave without notice, without warning, without giving us a chance to find someone new, without even saying goodbye to the children, this is so terribly irresponsible.

We interviewed another nanny on Saturday. She would have been a good fit for us. Unfortunately, she "prayed on it" and let's say, merely, that G-d was not with us on this one. She didn't put it like that to me this morning, but that was the upshot.

We would be in a hell of a bind right now if it were not for my in-laws staying with us and pitching in. The in-laws presence makes this a mitigated disaster.

The time for us to find someone new is limited, however, and, while I suspect it will work out just fine in the long run, the stress in the short run is not at all welcome.

Ah, well, off to make some more phone calls.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:10 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 323 words, total size 2 kb.

I'm very touched by all the nice comments and good wishes you all have sent our way! We're a bit nervous about it all since, without going into detail, the last two pregnancies, while they have produced wonderful and beautiful children, were not very easy on the Viking Bride, not to mention her long suffering mate (that'd be me).

I'm kind of amused by some of the naming suggestions you all have offered. However, I would point out that we ourselves are constrained by the need to have whatever name we choose be easy to pronounce in Norwegian. Recall, if you will, that the Viking Bride speaks only Norwegian to the kids. If we can't pronounce the name in both English and Norwegian, it just ain't gonna fly. That requirement narrows our field of choice considerably.

Also, as some of you have helpfully pointed out, I have a naming problem for the child to be. I have a Girl Child and I have a Boy Child, already. What am I going to call this new child on my blog? Beats me. However, while still in utero, I will be referring to said new child as BNT, for Baby Number Three. Hope that helps. Any suggestions you all care to make to help me solve this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:40 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 238 words, total size 1 kb.

1 You know, Ari is not only Lion in Hebrew but Eagle in Norwegian. ;-)

Posted by: Linda at October 26, 2005 03:31 PM (4gch1)

2 Well, if BNT turns out to be a girl, you could go with Girl Child the Elder and Girl Child the Younger. And if BNT turns out to a boy then... well, y'know... Or, you could just give them names like, say, Dimple, Squiggy and Goblin. And I have no idea what Norwegian sounds like, but I've always liked the name Snapdragon. Would Snapdragon work? Jus' tryin' to help.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at October 26, 2005 07:12 PM (CsMXV)

3 Congratulations! I think what you have here are a Big Sister, a Big Brother and a Little One. Good luck!

Posted by: Terri at October 26, 2005 07:58 PM (bHnTx)

4 See what happens when I miss a day of blog-reading? I'm thrilled for you guys, and can't wait to follow along with Viking Bride's pregnancy. You're not just trying to keep up with Margi, are you? BTW, I love the previous commenter's suggestion of Ari, for either a boy or girl. I considered Ariana for my daughter, but a friend somehow convinced me that it sounded too much like "bitchy society girl." Harumph. As if that's a bad thing?

Posted by: Allison at October 26, 2005 10:50 PM (fGEhd)

5 I'm recommending Phin Munu again. It's easily pronounced in Vietnamese also, making it Tri-lingual. Although I imagine the Viking Bride will have the same reply my wife did, which was, Not a snowball's chance in hell.

Posted by: phin at October 27, 2005 09:04 AM (Xvpen)

6 I can relate--my inlaws are Thai, and the Thai language has a lot of beautiful names, but we are considering naming our son something like "Rory" just to give Grandma fits.

Posted by: David at October 27, 2005 10:32 AM (Mlped)

7 Thor, Loki, or Odin.

Posted by: John at October 27, 2005 01:08 PM (DbDi4)

8 Sincere congratulations for now RPÂ’s FIVE!

Posted by: crow at October 27, 2005 01:12 PM (kvH/U)

9 Locutus as a suggestion from yesterday made me choke. AHAHAHAHA! Okay, seriously, you could have BC, GC and NC; New Child. Or NB for "New Baby". Of course, he/she won't be "new" for long. I like the sibling suggestions too. :-) Just an overall "yay" again from me. *still beaming*

Posted by: Amber at October 27, 2005 04:52 PM (zQE5D)

10 Much congratulations. Your joy and pride in your other children has always been obvious, and those are great gifts to give a child. This one will be a fortunate child also.

Posted by: Peggy at October 27, 2005 11:00 PM (xPBsZ)

11 Personally, I've had a long time liking of the name Dylan. Although, not actually being able to speak Norwegian, I have no idea how pronounceable it would be in that language. I also think it works for either gender. As for what to refer to TNB whilst blogging, how about TOO (The Other One)?

Posted by: Primal at October 28, 2005 08:58 AM (EM07+)

12 Rig, for a boy and Verdande for a girl. Some of the lesser known but ultimately way cooler members of the Norse pantheon.

Posted by: Jim at October 30, 2005 11:07 AM (oqu5j)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Well? Any guesses?

No?

Nothing?

The answer to the unknown question is Jaquavius.

Say it out loud to yourself. Ja--QUAV--ius. Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? A certain majesty, even. Kind of a Roman Empire vibe, no?

And yet, inexplicably, even capriciously, my wife, she who shall henceforth be called, "The Viking Bride", has, in the grossest and most disturbing unilateral exercise of power, rejected Jaquavius.

I speak the truth. She really has rejected this answer.

It seems that she thinks that would not be an appropriate name for our third child.

Did I mention that she's pregnant? 12 weeks along now.

By the way, whether I happen to agree with her that we will not be naming our new baby Jaquavius is totally besides the point. Of course, with apologies to any Jaquavius's out there, we will not be naming our child that.

But it does have a certain ring to it, no?

Posted by: Random Penseur at 02:58 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
Post contains 170 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Wonderful news! Please pass along my best! A close friend of mine always liked the ring that "Avarice" or "Avaricious" had, for a boy. He pictured him running around either in Victorian period clothing, or a Scottish kilt...

Posted by: Mandalei at October 25, 2005 03:15 PM (+eH+G)

2 OH WOW! Congratulations you two! Very exciting! And maybe you can name the baby "Java". It has some of the same letters in it as Jaquavius... What? *blank look* ;-P (Psst! So happy for you!)

Posted by: Amber at October 25, 2005 03:45 PM (zQE5D)

3 WOO HOO! Another Child Child! Just the other day I thought of Sequoia as a girl's name. Pretty -- in an Indian Princess kinda way. Also, it's the shortest word in common English usage containing all five vowels. But, that's not really part of the story, I guess...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at October 25, 2005 04:51 PM (MB5kA)

4 Congratulations! Three little ones is rather intimidating at times, but wonderful and rather loud and crazy. Jaquavius would really only work for a boy. It just wouldn't have the right ring, if third child is a girl. And speaking of which, you now face the dilemna I had when my third was born. After having The Boy and The Girl (or in your case Girl Child and Boy child) what do you call the third baby on your blog?

Posted by: Jordana at October 25, 2005 05:19 PM (cyLmV)

5 Oh, happy news! Congratulations. Perhaps you can reserve Jaquavius for the "blog name."

Posted by: nic at October 25, 2005 05:37 PM (l+W8Z)

6 Whoa! Mazel Tov!!! Get all the sleep you can. You "think" you remember how tiring it is...but you really don't.

Posted by: Linda at October 25, 2005 06:50 PM (4gch1)

7 That's wonderful news RP! My wife wants to call our next one (if it's a boy) Tiberius or Griffin. No, we're not Star Trek geeks at all. I'm so glad for you and your family, I hope all goes well!

Posted by: Oorgo at October 25, 2005 06:51 PM (lM0qs)

8 Congratulations to the whole family.

Posted by: Mia at October 25, 2005 07:27 PM (Oue+v)

9 CONGRATULATIONS!! ; )

Posted by: Christina at October 25, 2005 09:25 PM (zJsUT)

10 congratulations!!! this is wonderful. *grins*

Posted by: sn at October 25, 2005 09:26 PM (cHOGW)

11 Congratulations! And remember, Chewbacca would be a great name.

Posted by: owlish at October 25, 2005 09:54 PM (rzugH)

12 Seems I'm not the only virile hunk of man floating around the Interweb these days. Congrats, I'm of course go on the record as voting for the name Phin. Really Phin Munu does have certain ring too it. Does anybody know just what the hell's in the blogidohexiweb's water supply??

Posted by: phin at October 25, 2005 10:50 PM (DGPlf)

13 Way to go, RP! Congratulations. I can say from experience that being outnumbered by the kids is wonderful (if at times utterly exhausting). Have you yet heard the inevitable "now you're moving from man-to-man to zone defense..." comment?

Posted by: JohnL at October 25, 2005 11:59 PM (dYzx6)

14 Congratulation, I was almost Beauregard, thank God my Mom nixed that one, Junior High would have been hell.

Posted by: John at October 26, 2005 08:41 AM (DbDi4)

15 Mazel Tov! What wonderful news. Jaquavius. Hmmm, and the Hebrew name would be..? Could have been interesting :-)

Posted by: Jocelyn at October 26, 2005 10:13 AM (jkRb/)

16 FANTASTIC RP! I think I agree with your wife regarding the name. Sorry. However, this simply gives you the opportunity to think of another name, also to continue your wonderful parenting skills. Congrats!

Posted by: dee at October 26, 2005 10:44 AM (sZnML)

17 Congrats! Can't wait to hear more about it!

Posted by: CJ at October 26, 2005 12:12 PM (Ds4xI)

18 OH WOW!!!! Man, there is something in the bloggy water, me thinks. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Posted by: Jennifer at October 26, 2005 01:36 PM (jl9h0)

19 IT'S A BLOGGER BABY BOOM! You *knooowww* I'm thrilled, delighted, excited and soo very happy for you and the Mrs. God blessed us, every one didn't he? LOLLLL Many, many hugs and kisses, M

Posted by: Margi at October 26, 2005 01:47 PM (nwEQH)

20 Trackback is not cooperating. (Another congratulations, that's all.)

Posted by: Margi at October 26, 2005 01:51 PM (nwEQH)

21 Well I like Jack.

Posted by: Amy at October 26, 2005 02:32 PM (nUCsP)

22 My ex wanted to name the boys Lothar and Thor, respectively. If you knew how much that made my blood pressure rise, you wouldn't be laughing right now.

Posted by: Margi at October 26, 2005 03:42 PM (nwEQH)

23 Whatever you do, don't name him 'Howard'. It would just cause too much confusion when the nanny and I marry and I become Uncle Howard. :-) Awesome news, RP, totally awesome.

Posted by: Howard at October 26, 2005 05:02 PM (u2JaN)

24 I swear to GOD there's something in the blogosphere's water! Congrats to you and the Viking Bride (I do so like that moniker!) That's wonderful news!

Posted by: Kathy at October 26, 2005 10:39 PM (kZ6IS)

25 Congrats! You'll love realigning your defense from man-to-man to zone. "Jaquavius"? If that doesn't work out, you know you're not very far away from "Locutus".

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at October 27, 2005 02:25 PM (IkTb7)

26 Congratulations!! I hope the pregnancy goes healthfully and easily. Hugs and the best to you and yours!

Posted by: Azalea at October 27, 2005 03:26 PM (hRxUm)

27 Congrats!!!

Posted by: Ted at October 28, 2005 12:26 PM (blNMI)

28 A, but such a name would be perfectly fitting for the New Child's representation in Blogdom. Far better than Boy Child2 or Girl Child the Second. ;-)

Posted by: Jim at October 30, 2005 11:03 AM (oqu5j)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

We had the best, most magical day today. The whole day was really outstanding, the driving aside.

It was raining buckets and sheets today and the parkway was full of deceptively larged puddles that caused hydroplaning and loss of control in several spots. In fact, it didn't stop raining at any point the whole day. That to one side, pretty much everything else was excellent.

We set off to New York City at around 9, me, wife, two kids and nanny (along as a guest, not as a worker) and arrived at Scandinavian House at around 10:45. We were going to attend a special children's book reading:

Princes Märtha Louise of Norway reads her newly published children's book, Why Kings & Queens Don't Wear Crowns (Hvorfor de kongelige ikke har krone på hodet) (Skandisk, Inc., 2005).

It was supposed to start at 11:30 but we wanted to get there early to make sure we could get tickets. While we were chasing the children around the lobby, a distinguished looking gentleman in a tie and coat approached my wife and inquired, gently, if she and the children were Norwegian. Upon being told they were, he invited us to take part in a private, invitation only reception for the Princess. Coool. We were escorted up in the elevator and hung out until the Princess made her entrance. There weren't more than 15 people at the private reception. The kids were excited to meet her, with the Boy Child practicing saying, "Harow, Pin-cess!", right up until the point she arrived when they got a major case of the shys. I actually had to bribe the Boy Child to say hello. Candy works miracles. This was one of the first outright bribes I ever bothered to resort to.

The Princess was way more attractive than I expected. And very nice, too. No one was really talking to her. I think that there may be an etiquette issue about speaking to royalty. Well, I'm American and I sort of assume that doesn't apply to me. So, we had a short but very pleasant chat about her time in New York. I'm glad I wore a jacket. She seemed pleased that someone spoke to her.

By the time we went down to the auditorium, we were among the last ones there and the place was filled. Except for the two rows up front which all had reserved signs taped to the chairs. We were directed to those seats. Again, cool.

I bought a copy of her book while everyone else sat down. Nice illustrations, by the way.

The Princess really was quite excellent. She told stories about trolls and stories about growing up as a Princess in Norway. The kids got to sit in front of her on the stage. It was, actually, a big media event with tons of photographers. My kids ended up getting filmed for Norwegian television because of how cute they were. Really. The Boy Child insisted on sitting on his sister's lap and she welcomed him and they just looked so darn cute together.

She read from her book and then they brought in a table for her to sit at to sign books. Because of our placement, we were around the first four or five people on line to get the book signed. The line stretched around the auditorium and out the door.

My wife went up with the Girl Child. When they got up there, the Princess looked up with a bright and wide smile. I had to wait until later to hear what happened.

GC and Viking Bride approach Princess and GC says, in Norwegian: Princess, would you like to come have lunch with us afterwards?

Princess: I would have loved to but I am having lunch with someone else today but maybe next time!

GC: Ok!

The Viking Bride wished her a safe trip back and they moved on.

I was, again, quite proud of the Girl Child. So self-possessed! Good for her!

We moved on to lunch at a private club nearby where we raided the coldcuts, made sandwiches and stole chips off each other's plates. I changed the Boy Child in the locker room of the men's fitness center. Thankfully, the only two guys in there were my friends and they didn't seem to mind.

After lunch, we ventured back out into the rain and retrieved the car from the garage to head off to the Norwegian Seaman's Church to stock up on chocolate. Well, chocolate stocks were low, but they did have a fresh cake, fresh waffles, and risgroet! Happiness was shared by all! The coffee was good too. After cake and waffles, one of the very nice ladies set the kids up with papers and magic markers and they happily scribbled away. The Boy Child was scribbling on his face, as well.

One amusing interchange. The Boy Child was scribbling away on another boy's paper and I overheard the following:

Boy to GC about the Boy Child (outraged): Hey! He's coloring on my paper!

GC to Boy (very calm): Its alright. You see, he's just a baby and doesn't understand, so its ok.

Again, quite proud of her. Like I've never said that before.

On the way home from the church, we made a quick stop at my favorite Hungarian butcher shop to pick up some yummy Hungarian salami and some walnut bread.

Then to home. Except that the nanny had to make an emergency pit stop in Norwalk, so we pulled off and all had dinner together.

Off to home, kids in bed by 6:45, and parents quite tired out, too.

All told, just a wonderful day. And pretty magic for a young woman, the nanny, who was making her first trip into NYC. Seriously, does it get any better?

Oh, and I almost forgot, the kids had no naps and behaved like total and complete angels.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 07:24 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 989 words, total size 6 kb.

Yesterday was the first day of pre-school for the Boy Child. There was no way that I was going to miss this; I re-scheduled a deposition until later in the afternoon so I could attend. In fact, to my surprise, I was the only father in attendance yesterday. I donÂ’t understand how other fathers donÂ’t prioritize these kinds of events.

Anyway, no drama. The Boy Child was beyond fine. He was excited to go to school. He walked into his classroom under his own power, holding only his sisterÂ’s hand; she insisted on taking him to his class before going to her own. He took one look at the trucks on the shelves and we ceased to exist for him. DidnÂ’t even seem to notice that we were leaving, didnÂ’t respond to our calling goodbye to him, although his sister got a goodbye after she became insistent, and he was good. No separation anxiety in the slightest.

Well, no anxiety for him. He was golden. I was a total mess. I went upstairs after his door closed and returned a couple of business calls and then snuck back down to peek into his room. The window, while mostly covered with construction paper cut outs, did have some gaps and I snuck a peek. It was snack time. He was sitting in his little chair, one arm insouciantly hanging over the back, the other hand occupied with a cookie, happily munching away with a big smile as he looked around and took everything in. He was so beautiful, so perfect.

I am not ashamed to say that I almost cried. Hell, IÂ’m almost crying right now as I type this. It was the purest realization that he has now taken his first step away from us, his first step out of the house, his first movement towards being his own person. Simply, I am not ready for that. In some ways, change is like death. It is a leaving behind of what was. I am not ready for him to leave behind what was. Look, I know that I am, as my wife calls it, taking my sorrows in advance here but it was just the same a very poignant moment for me. I had the same problem with the Girl Child on her first day of pre-school. She was fine; I was a basket case.

I got to watch his class from the windows of the library as they went out on the playground and ran around. He was a blur of constant motion, taking everything at a joyful and determined run. When class was over, we met him on the playground and he seemed delighted to see us, although he objected quite strongly to leaving the playground. His teacher told us that “he was very sweet” and that if she could, she’d have let him stay all by himself for the next introductory session scheduled on the heels of this one but she’d get in trouble. So we coaxed him from the playground with a mention of the train that he had to take me off to. One of the other teachers exclaimed, in surprise, that the Boy Child ate three cookies at snack time. I replied: “The Boy can himself some eat cookies.” In fact, cookie may be his major food group.

He chatted with us, happily, all the way back to the train station. Everything was “gøy” (Norwegian for happy or fun, pronounced kind of like gay). Trucks, park (his word for playground), juice, snack, all was gøy. He liked his teachers and he agreed that he was very tired.

I was tired, too. Wrung out, actually, and I slept for a good part of the train ride into the city.

I think heÂ’s going to have a good experience there. And IÂ’m glad. The part of me that isnÂ’t sad, still.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 12:30 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 653 words, total size 4 kb.

Where do you learn to slap men upside the head? Is it something that comes from playing with Barbie dolls? I'm trying to figure it out you see based on two conversations I had with my daughter this weekend. Remember, just 4 1/2, she is, ok?

First:

GC: Pappa, who is your favoritest singer in the whole world?

Me: Probably have to say Ella Fitzgerald.

GC: Why not me, Pappa?

[Long pause as I think to myself, "oh my god, I can't believe that she just set me up like this and I fell for it"]

GC: Pappa, why not me? Why aren't I your favoritest singer in the whole world?

Me: Oh, I thought you meant to listen to on the radio.

GC: I didn't say on the radio.

Me: I know. I misunderstood. Of course you are my most favorite singer in the whole world.

Second:

She had received spiffy new sneakers for the first day of school, which she put next to my lovely French Westons, which I cannot afford to buy anymore now that I have children.

GC: Pappa, which shoes are prettier, mine or yours?

Me: I think mine are prettier, actually.

GC: Well, why are mine uglier?

[long pause as I wonder what happened again]

Me: They're not uglier.

GC: Well, if yours are prettier, that means mine are uglier. Why are they uglier?

I used to joke when I wrote that I thought I was doomed. Now I am not joking. I am totally screwed.

Here's the thing, I seem to recall reading that little girls learn to become women by practicing on their fathers. Its safe and they can figure out what works for them and what doesn't. If that is what she is doing, at this tender age, I pity the man she ends up marrying. Really pity.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 09:01 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 283 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Hahahahaaaa. I would like to offer something constructive; however, I can't quit smiling and chuckling... ; )

Posted by: Christina at September 12, 2005 09:07 PM (zJsUT)

2 we don't 'learn' it. it's instinctual...and besides....how is it sometimes men are just begging for it to be done? rp..seriously... a woman's shoes - are ALWAYS...prettier sigh silly man at least...you are catching on to the actual level of your complete screwtitude.

Posted by: sn at September 12, 2005 09:54 PM (cHOGW)

3 rp..seriously... a woman's shoes - are ALWAYS...prettier I couldn't agree more heartily. And for the record? She's only warming up, sweetie. You just wait. I have a sudden urge to hug your wife. Can't explain it, but what a woman. :-)

Posted by: Jennifer at September 12, 2005 11:04 PM (1X5Jq)

4 Oh you really are in trouble! Certainly girls learn about how men think from their fathers and its great experience. However, keep in mind that females see the whole picture rather than the more obvious one that men tend to view. I'm still laughing! Thanks for the glimpse of your family life!

Posted by: dee at September 13, 2005 11:19 AM (sZnML)

5 Dan calls it, "Don't clip the blue wire". You know, the way you guys sweat it sometimes, worrying about mysteriously upsetting us by what you guys think is an innocent enough comment. It's not mysterious to *us*, though. And as my co-genders said above, women's shoes are ALWAYS prettier than men's. Shoes and compliments; remember, that's what we thrive on. It all makes perfect sense to me. GC is doing a bang-up job as far as I'm concerned. ;-P However, I can return the favor; I still have NO idea how men just seem to "know" car makes and models, what all the tools do in the hardware department of Sears, how the various football/baseball/basketball teams are doing *AND* who their individual heros are to boot. Dan doesn't watch sports, ever, picks up a hammer maybe once a year and doesn't go *near* cars other than our two, yet when he's with other Men, he can prattle on about all that stuff like he's a mechanic sports freak who's in construction. You may not get our idiosyncrasies, but I don't get *yours* either, so I guess it's a wash. :-)

Posted by: Amber at September 13, 2005 12:05 PM (zQE5D)

6 It's in the DNA, I swear it's in the DNA. I've had similar conversations with my 19 year old sister-in-law. You're definitely in trouble. The good news though, you've got some testosterone backing by BC. My poor father in law had three girls, it's no wonder he's crazy as a loon.

Posted by: phin at September 13, 2005 01:09 PM (Xvpen)

7 You forgot the golden rule. There are only two answers to any personal question a woman can ask. If it is about favorable traits the answer is "Why you are, of course". If it is about derogatory traits the answer is "My secretary" (or other female that the questioning woman could possibly hold a jelous spike for). Carry this wisdom close to your bosom, RP.

Posted by: Jim at September 13, 2005 01:40 PM (tyQ8y)

8 Those conversations made me laugh so hard. We have two little girls and the almost three year old is becoming so girly. It is so interesting to watch and wonder where they get it from. I had to send the link to this to my husband, because I think he's doomed too.

Posted by: Jordana at September 14, 2005 09:53 PM (M3W6j)

9 My husband calls those "Bullet in Every Chamber" conversations and you didn't see 'em coming! Poor lad. It's because she's 4 1/2 yes? Well, remember, darling, that women are far more advanced. And I hear Jen and raise her another hug for your wife! If the Boy Child is half this witty and remarkable, you BOTH are in for it but GOOD.

Posted by: Margi at September 15, 2005 01:42 AM (nwEQH)

10 Listen, RP, ont the shoe thing: I am male, and I do not have kids. Still, I would have said her sneakers were prettier. I mean, come on. It's like telling a woman that her dress does, indeed, make her butt look bigger. You must have been having an attack of the dumbs that day!! LOL

Posted by: Mark at September 17, 2005 08:15 AM (qEeIY)

11 RP... I rather missed hearing about your cute family escapades! Someone once told me that the trick to dealing with a question you aren't sure how to answer is 'Just one thing before I say anything else, I love you!!' and then you can answer it.;p

Posted by: Zya at September 17, 2005 06:49 PM (HOCyD)

12 Yup, you're doomed. Just wait till she's 15.

Posted by: owlish at September 18, 2005 02:17 AM (bJF7u)

13 There is something I've learned at great cost over the years which I will share with you for free. When a woman asks a man a question, a man thinks she is looking for a direct informative answer (as would another man). She is not. In fact, as the female child in question has here demonstrated, she's usually looking to have her ego fed or to manipulate the man or both. Therefore, when asked a question by a woman always reply with another question. My favorite reply to baffle the female is to reply with the question "Are you looking for actual information or you looking for confirmation of that which you have already decided?" Gets them every time.

Posted by: Locomotive Breath at September 19, 2005 02:58 PM (W7Snj)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

My parents are about to take off for a ten day trip to Norway, their first time there. My mother told me that she had the following conversation with the Girl Child:

Nanna: Would you like me to bring you back a stuffed animal reindeer from Norway?

GC: That would be very nice, Nanna, but what I'd really like would be an IPod.

Gulp.

All I can say is that my mother better not bring that child an IPod. I don't care how far she is wrapped around the Girl Child's finger.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 01:35 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 104 words, total size 1 kb.

Recall, please, that the Girl Child is only just 4 1/2 years old, ok?

We are attempting to correct her behavior. She sucks her thumb at night, during naps, and when she is very tired. It is starting to deform her teeth and we have been advised to make it stop. So, we've talked to her about it, explained that it isn't good for her, that we'd like her to stop, and, per the doctor's suggestion, instituted a sticker chart reward system -- so many days without sucking will equal a movie or something like that. We're not at all convinced that any of this is working, mind you, but we're fighting the good fight.

On Sunday, my wife told me (I was out at Home Depot), the Girl Child came down from her nap and had the following conversation with my wife:

GC [tone earnest, eyes wide, head shaking for emphasis] : Mamma, I didn't suck my thumb during my nap. But, when I got up, I went and washed my hands for a really long time and I only washed my thumbs, so, if my thumbs look a little wrinkled, that's why.

My wife told me that she was instantly terrified. I mean, if this is the outstanding kind of lie she can come up with at 4 1/2, imagine what she'll be like at 13. We're doomed. She is probably smarter than us both.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 11:37 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
Post contains 245 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Oh, are you in trouuuuble.

Posted by: Allison at August 29, 2005 01:44 PM (ddjrP)

2 Oh my. I LOVE the GC. (Perhaps she and I are related somehow) May I suggest a sticker calendar for the parents?

Posted by: Wicked H at August 29, 2005 01:44 PM (BQhBn)

3 Ha,ha! I always laugh when I hear people carry on about how children Always Tell The Truth. Little do they realize how devious the little darlin's can be. Sounds like GC is varsity material.

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at August 29, 2005 02:14 PM (IkTb7)

4 My parents got me to stop sucking the thumb with a simple little bottle. The liquid in the bottle was called "Yucky Stuff". Or maybe that's just the name I gave it. It was painted on my thumbs sort of like nail polish would. If I ever forgot it was on there I would be quite disgusted when I popped my thumb in... it tasted AWFUL!

Posted by: suzanne at August 29, 2005 02:34 PM (GhfSh)

5 Yeah, but I'm pretty sure she'll use her powers for good and not evil. ;o)

Posted by: Margi at August 29, 2005 02:36 PM (nwEQH)

6 The Girl Child is my heroine. I want a T-Shirt with "Do What The Girl Child Says And No One Gets Hurt!" Heh.. Seriously, we went through this with my Girl Child at about the same age. I flat-out bribed her. Back then, we still had those big, thick toy catalogs from Sears or JC Pennys. I told her she could have anything she wanted in there *provided* she stop sucking her thumb for one month. She picked out the Fisher-Price Complete Kitchen set, with the refrigerator, microwaves, stove and oven and dishes set. The entire set came to over $100, which at that time was a LOT of money for struggling young couple with two little kids. But she did it and we bought it. It worked! Of course, maybe she'd like a trip somewhere or something as a reward. Or something else that she would greatly desire. I believe in bribes for children. They work very well. *grins* Anyway, good luck. Yes, her lying seems to be coming along quite nicely. HA! Did you ever see the Bill Cosby routine about little kids lying? Hysterical!

Posted by: Amber at August 29, 2005 02:37 PM (zQE5D)

7 Trouble, man y'all are in deep trouble. I'd recommend consuming large amounts of Gin to help ease the pain.

Posted by: phin at August 29, 2005 03:18 PM (Xvpen)

8 I too have a 4 1/2 year old girl that still is a big thumb-sucker--much more so than the 2 1/2 year old. There seems to be mixed opinions on whether it causes teeth damage or not, so we haven't pushed stopping it. Only very gentle nudging so far. It is amazing how well they can concoct a story. My husband and I already know we are in big trouble. Our only hope is to convince them we know more than we actually do.

Posted by: lawmom at August 29, 2005 03:46 PM (XhYQ0)

9 Oh, my. I'd say, Mr. RP, you will have an interesting set of teen years ahead of you. But I'm betting Margi's assessment is correct. My baby boy has sucked his thumb since before birth. He's even doing it in the ultrasound photos. And even still, at 17, every once in a great while when he's sound asleep early in the morning, I still catch sight of the thumb in the mouth. He'd absolutely *kill* me dead for putting that here. :-$

Posted by: Jennifer at August 29, 2005 05:15 PM (jl9h0)

10 The question is, can you spot the lies? As a lawyer, there must be a lot of lie detection as part of your daily life. My husband and I agree we were both shameless liars as children, but we grew to learn that it wasn't a good idea. Our son is either a really bad liar, or we are really good at lie detection. He learned quickly that it isn't easy to pull one over on us. As far as the thumb sucking issue: if you have a bad habit (and I'm not saying you do) you could agree that you will quit them together. It becomes more of a learning experience and something you can talk with honestly about with her - about how hard it is to quit something you are so used to doing. Laurel

Posted by: Laurel at August 29, 2005 07:47 PM (Mz7vH)

11 Troooooouble. That girl is going to be trouble with a capital 't'. I love the GC, but you two are so in for it

Posted by: Kathy at August 29, 2005 11:10 PM (QKvIa)

12 My sister gave up her fa-fa (passifier) to Santa at the age of 4--my parents were desperate. Of course, this only worked until she found it again in the knife utility drawer once she figured out how to access the kitchen counters. I can tell many stories about his period, but I won't. Definitely try the bribery! Unfortunately., you can't *really* hide the thumb like my parents hid the fa-fa.

Posted by: Mandarin at August 30, 2005 01:11 AM (+eH+G)

13 The solution, RP, is the Boy Child. Once he's old enough he'll be volunteering counterintelligence on the Girl Child. And vice-versa, of course. The challenge then becomes getting them to stop ratting on each other. Then again, GC seems to have BC wrapped pretty securely around her finger. Maybe she's figured out this problem with sibling witnesses and is taking proactive measures. ;-)

Posted by: Jim at August 30, 2005 06:22 AM (oqu5j)

14 LOL .... aren't kids great! Well there is a up side to the GC's creativity in that she is starting early and therefore you have a chance to teach her the importance of honesty. However, she probably is smarter than both of you. Its something that all parents learn eventually! Good luck and thanks for the laughing reminder of my memories of raising my daughters.

Posted by: dee at August 30, 2005 11:33 AM (sZnML)

15 Does this ever bring back memories! My husband looked at our GC at one point when she was about the same age as yours and said ,"she'll either be Prime Minister or a felon." Have fun trying to keep up with her.

Posted by: Jocelyn at August 30, 2005 02:44 PM (p6cmr)

16 RP, You could always refer her to this classic cautionary tale.

Posted by: MCNS at August 30, 2005 03:08 PM (pbCqD)

17 Oh wow, she is good!!! In terms of sucking her thumb; perhaps start with a specific, short, time period. It would be hard to stop a habit that one does automatically when one is asleep. When she is very tired, and starts to put her thumb in her mouth, stop her at that point, and reward her for not putting her thumb back in her mouth. You might also want to find her a different sort of soothing behaviour. Have her help you figure out something and then get her to switch to that instead.

Posted by: Rachel Ann at August 30, 2005 04:31 PM (Sb9NF)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Some day, I intend to look back at the last several days and laugh. Probably not for a really long time, mind you, but one day. Stands to reason, right? I mean, it kind of has to be that way. If not, I will be very sorry indeed.

Anyway, a bright spot on the horizon. I am off to have dinner with Simon, that exceptionally smart, erudite and all around good guy from Hong Kong. We're off for Austrian food way downtown. I'm very much looking forward to this and have been for weeks. And right now, at least, it looks as if I will not have to cancel on him, which is nice since he came all this way. Anyway, I'm pretty excited.

Finally, in lieu of any other post today, I will leave you with the words of the Girl Child from this weekend informing her mother and me about her plans for the future:

GC: When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina and a butterfly. The only problem is that I don't know how to make a cocoon.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 05:09 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 198 words, total size 1 kb.

The Girl Child, aged 4.5, just blows me away with the sophistication of her vocabulary and I wanted to note some of the things she said today before I forget them:

Me: Mamma, did you see that the Boy Child ate all of his mango with his fork?

GC (to me): Hey, so did I.

Me: Yeah, but his was a bigger accomplishment, it seems to me.

GC: But then why was mine a smaller accomplishment?

I explained, I promise, that it was because the Boy Child and the fork were but recent acquaintances.

GC: Pappa, where are the rest of the pieces of my puzzle?

Me: Well, did you leave them on the table?

GC: Yes, I did, but someone must have come along and removed them!

I don't know how special or different this makes her to anyone else, but to me, it seems quite remarkable.

Posted by: Random Penseur at 09:08 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 160 words, total size 1 kb.