Let's just say, comedic timing is not Max's forte. Cute kid, pretty good at sports, very good at math, loves to create things.. But he will never, ever be a stand up comedian. And that's ok..
However, every dog has his day..
We ended up having a bonus Hanukkah night as my parents were away over the holiday. So on Christmas Eve my family, my parents and my sister's family all got together for dinner and to celebrate.
During dinner, Mitchell leans over and says "Dada, are we getting presents tonight?" So naturally I said "Mitchell, is getting presents the only reason for Hanukkah?" He answers with "No?" Of course I should have responded with if he was asking me or telling me, but I'll let that go. I did respond with "Good answer."
After a few seconds go by, Mitchell leans in again and says "so, are we getting presents"? And as we're all laughing Max chimes in perfectly and says "Well played Mitch. Well played".
The room was in hysterics not only because of the initial laughter of the question and not only from what Max had said but the fact that his timing was impeccable and it was the first time ever he had nailed it.. We were all so proud of him!
It may not seem like much, but to see the interaction of the boys with adults and starting to use more adult phrases that we use is amazing to watch. They are only 7 and I have to keep that in mind, but the difference just between 6 and 7 has been astronomical. They are like real little people now. #ImARealLittleBoy
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Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
Reading Is Fun
I've been telling my kids since I felt they could comprehend it, "If you can read, you can do anything". It's true. Think about it. Back during slavery, they wouldn't allow the slaves to have access to books or learn to read for fear they would become educated. It was a way of keeping control. So I explain to them, "if you can read, you can do anything".
Well they are six now and while we've been working hard with them, reading to them forever as well as working with them on spelling, sounding out words, etc, you can't push it. If you push it, they can become frustrated and shut down. Then they'll see it as more of a chore and not learn to enjoy reading. As a parent or as anyone who is teaching someone something, you really have to walk that fine line of knowing when to push someone and when to back off.
Well, it turns out that Mitch can read. We'd be walking in a store and he would just point to a sign and read it. Or we'd be at the kitchen table and he would point to a magazine and read a few words. Turns out, that while at parent teacher conferences a little ways back, his teacher gave us a list of words each Kindergartner should know by the end of the school year. He knows them all. I'm not saying he's reading novels or anything, but this is a child who hasn't exactly done things on what we would call the "normal" timetable. He never crawled. He didn't walk until he was 19 months old. He was about 6 before being fully potty-trained. Granted the kid has had it a little rough, so we were thinking more often than not he would do whatever it was at his own pace. Well, I'm glad if something was relatively accelerated, it was this.
And he's excited about it too. A new book from school every week and he's excited to read it at night. We get them both new books all the time and they make it part of their routine before going to sleep to make sure we read at least 1 book. And, now that Mitch is doing well reading and how much praise he's getting, Max is starting to step up his game.
So hopefully, perhaps by the end of the calendar year they'll be reading books to us instead of the other way around. And once that happens, it's a whole new world.
Update: I wrote this awhile ago and never posted it. Since then, Max is definitely better at reading, but just shy about reading out loud. Mitch however will read out loud to himself or to anyone. He'll read anything including magazines, shopping circulars, it doesn't matter. He actually calms down at night but taking out his flashlight and reading a book to himself, out loud before going to bed. I couldn't be more proud.
Well they are six now and while we've been working hard with them, reading to them forever as well as working with them on spelling, sounding out words, etc, you can't push it. If you push it, they can become frustrated and shut down. Then they'll see it as more of a chore and not learn to enjoy reading. As a parent or as anyone who is teaching someone something, you really have to walk that fine line of knowing when to push someone and when to back off.
Well, it turns out that Mitch can read. We'd be walking in a store and he would just point to a sign and read it. Or we'd be at the kitchen table and he would point to a magazine and read a few words. Turns out, that while at parent teacher conferences a little ways back, his teacher gave us a list of words each Kindergartner should know by the end of the school year. He knows them all. I'm not saying he's reading novels or anything, but this is a child who hasn't exactly done things on what we would call the "normal" timetable. He never crawled. He didn't walk until he was 19 months old. He was about 6 before being fully potty-trained. Granted the kid has had it a little rough, so we were thinking more often than not he would do whatever it was at his own pace. Well, I'm glad if something was relatively accelerated, it was this.
And he's excited about it too. A new book from school every week and he's excited to read it at night. We get them both new books all the time and they make it part of their routine before going to sleep to make sure we read at least 1 book. And, now that Mitch is doing well reading and how much praise he's getting, Max is starting to step up his game.
So hopefully, perhaps by the end of the calendar year they'll be reading books to us instead of the other way around. And once that happens, it's a whole new world.
Update: I wrote this awhile ago and never posted it. Since then, Max is definitely better at reading, but just shy about reading out loud. Mitch however will read out loud to himself or to anyone. He'll read anything including magazines, shopping circulars, it doesn't matter. He actually calms down at night but taking out his flashlight and reading a book to himself, out loud before going to bed. I couldn't be more proud.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Parent Teacher Conferences?
Did I really just come back from my 6 year old's parent teacher conference? It was a pretty surreal experience.
I recall being that age and my parents going to my teacher conferences.. Of course these were at night and the one I went to was in the middle of the afternoon, but let that go..
My parents would get a babysitter for my sister and me and they would go to the school.. Then they'd come home and report back to us what our teacher said and what we had to work on and what we were doing well. Of course they would always have glowing reports from my teachers because I never did anything wrong.
It is a little weird to hear all about your child from someone who spends more time with them overall than you do. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. But we try to have conversations with them about what they did during the day. They're getting better, but they usually go something like this:
Me: So, tell me about your day? (Anyone who has read one of those Pigeon books must be laughing)
TofA: It was good.
Me: What did you do?
TofA: Stuff
But after the conferences I am 100% confident both boys are in very good hands.
However, next year I am dreading that first grade homework!
I recall being that age and my parents going to my teacher conferences.. Of course these were at night and the one I went to was in the middle of the afternoon, but let that go..
My parents would get a babysitter for my sister and me and they would go to the school.. Then they'd come home and report back to us what our teacher said and what we had to work on and what we were doing well. Of course they would always have glowing reports from my teachers because I never did anything wrong.
It is a little weird to hear all about your child from someone who spends more time with them overall than you do. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. But we try to have conversations with them about what they did during the day. They're getting better, but they usually go something like this:
Me: So, tell me about your day? (Anyone who has read one of those Pigeon books must be laughing)
TofA: It was good.
Me: What did you do?
TofA: Stuff
But after the conferences I am 100% confident both boys are in very good hands.
However, next year I am dreading that first grade homework!
Monday, April 1, 2013
How to Diffuse a Tantrum
For centuries, as long as there have been children, there have been temper tantrums.. Actually, as long as there have been adults there have been temper tantrums too..
But the hard part is what to do once it happens.. You can see it coming too. They ask for the toy and you say no. First, they get really sad when they don't get what they want. With some kids you might even get that lip quiver trying to make you feel badly. Then they might hold their breath. And when all else fails, they start crying loudly and falling to the floor wailing. Then, the last step is to go boneless. It's really quite simple and depending on the parent, effective in getting what they want.
Except when you know how to diffuse a tantrum. Knowledge is power. Every parent is afraid of that situation when you are in public, perhaps at a supermarket or department store and the tantrum starts.
I have to say I cannot take credit for this. My wife is the one who came up with it.
When you see the tantrum start, follow these 3 easy steps to diffusing most tantrums:
1. Tell the child they are doing it wrong.
Huh? What are you talking about? Just trust me. Clearly the child will stop to look inquisitively at the parent trying to figure what they mean. Don't they understand that I am trying to throw a tantrum here?
2. Tell them how to do it properly. Show him that it's stomp, stomp, arm, arm and not arm, arm, stomp, stomp.
You will have the most bewildered child in the world at this point. Is my adult human really trying to tell me how to properly perform a temper tantrum? I'm the temper tantrum master don't they know this?
And then, when you have them all sorts of confused, lay the big one on:
3. Then, you flop down on the floor and flail!
Seriously, just do it. Your child will think that this is so funny and the best thing ever. Don't get me wrong, they will throw the tantrum, but they'll be LAUGHING while they do it.
Not only did you just change your child from crying to laughing in a matter of a minute, you just diffused a potentially embarrassing situation (especially if you are in a public place) and you didn't lose your temper yelling at your child.
While I can't guarantee success, I can say you have a much better chance of making a bad situation into a funny one. It seems to work with a 100% success rate in our house.
And as you are leaving the store, be sure to bow to the rounds of applause from the other parents. You will have earned it.
But the hard part is what to do once it happens.. You can see it coming too. They ask for the toy and you say no. First, they get really sad when they don't get what they want. With some kids you might even get that lip quiver trying to make you feel badly. Then they might hold their breath. And when all else fails, they start crying loudly and falling to the floor wailing. Then, the last step is to go boneless. It's really quite simple and depending on the parent, effective in getting what they want.
Except when you know how to diffuse a tantrum. Knowledge is power. Every parent is afraid of that situation when you are in public, perhaps at a supermarket or department store and the tantrum starts.
I have to say I cannot take credit for this. My wife is the one who came up with it.
When you see the tantrum start, follow these 3 easy steps to diffusing most tantrums:
1. Tell the child they are doing it wrong.
Huh? What are you talking about? Just trust me. Clearly the child will stop to look inquisitively at the parent trying to figure what they mean. Don't they understand that I am trying to throw a tantrum here?
2. Tell them how to do it properly. Show him that it's stomp, stomp, arm, arm and not arm, arm, stomp, stomp.
You will have the most bewildered child in the world at this point. Is my adult human really trying to tell me how to properly perform a temper tantrum? I'm the temper tantrum master don't they know this?
And then, when you have them all sorts of confused, lay the big one on:
3. Then, you flop down on the floor and flail!
Seriously, just do it. Your child will think that this is so funny and the best thing ever. Don't get me wrong, they will throw the tantrum, but they'll be LAUGHING while they do it.
Not only did you just change your child from crying to laughing in a matter of a minute, you just diffused a potentially embarrassing situation (especially if you are in a public place) and you didn't lose your temper yelling at your child.
While I can't guarantee success, I can say you have a much better chance of making a bad situation into a funny one. It seems to work with a 100% success rate in our house.
And as you are leaving the store, be sure to bow to the rounds of applause from the other parents. You will have earned it.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Hummala Bebhuhla
In honor of Van Halen's semi-reunion (it can't really be a full reunion without Michael Anthony), I thought I'd tell a little story I had forgotten about until someone accidentally brought it out of me.
The Twinado was about 18 months old or so and we were taking a car trip up to the edge of nowhere, otherwise known as Maine. And we're not talking about Portland, either.. It was about 5 hours north of Portland, at least.. Ok, maybe only 2-3, but it sure felt like it..
Anyway, neither of the boys was talking yet.. They were making sounds yeah, but talking was far off.. Hell, one of them wasn't even standing on his own so them speaking was the furthest thing from our minds.
We're driving along and listening to the radio, sometimes singing along. Sure enough, Panama comes on the radio. This song is perfect for the boys.. It's not like Roth doesn't repeat the word Panama about a billion times (well, really only 15 if you can believe that; seems like so much more). So in addition to him saying it, we're saying it. And wouldn't you know it, from the backseat we hear "panama".
Even though I was driving I have never whipped my head around to the backseat so fast.. We know that we heard it. It was crystal clear. One of sons had just said their first word and it was the name of a Van Halen song.
For some reason, I didn't mind the rest of ride.
The Twinado was about 18 months old or so and we were taking a car trip up to the edge of nowhere, otherwise known as Maine. And we're not talking about Portland, either.. It was about 5 hours north of Portland, at least.. Ok, maybe only 2-3, but it sure felt like it..
Anyway, neither of the boys was talking yet.. They were making sounds yeah, but talking was far off.. Hell, one of them wasn't even standing on his own so them speaking was the furthest thing from our minds.
We're driving along and listening to the radio, sometimes singing along. Sure enough, Panama comes on the radio. This song is perfect for the boys.. It's not like Roth doesn't repeat the word Panama about a billion times (well, really only 15 if you can believe that; seems like so much more). So in addition to him saying it, we're saying it. And wouldn't you know it, from the backseat we hear "panama".
Even though I was driving I have never whipped my head around to the backseat so fast.. We know that we heard it. It was crystal clear. One of sons had just said their first word and it was the name of a Van Halen song.
For some reason, I didn't mind the rest of ride.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Rosetta Stone
People say that twins have their own language, and it is true. When the boys were little, (and to a certain degree now) they would have this indecipherable language that only they would know and it would crack them up. Not unlike that viral video of those 2 babies laughing in the kitchen. That actually happens.
The other day we were driving home from school and Max was taking his whining to a new level. We always tell him that he needs to use his words and not whine because we can't understand him. He also has this tendency to speak really softly which, especially when you're driving, it's difficult to hear. (Usually because the music is turned up too loud to drown out his whining)
After about 7-8 times of asking him to repeat himself (and yes I turned the music down, maybe after #4), finally I employed his brother for some assistance.
"Mitch, can you help daddy out, what is Max saying?"
Mitch leans forward and proceeds to say that Max is trying to tell me that my door is clean...there are no more boogers left on it".
Who needs Rosetta Stone when you have a twin? But as I learned, some things are just better left unsaid.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Why Is the Sky Blue?
Daddy, is it raining? Yes, Max is it.. Why?
Ugh.. I had written a blog a while ago for another site titled the Age of Why.. Now they've been pretty good lately about asking those endless "Why" types of questions, but I had to think on my feet for this one.
"Well Max, the clouds in the sky are full of water. And when they get to a point where they can't hold any more water, they have to let it go and it rains."
Now we all know less is more when explaining things to little kids. The less words you use, the more apt they are to pay attention. The longer you string something out, you've already lost them before you start the second sentence.
Max: "Why?"
"Well", I went on to explain "there is moisture in the air and the clouds trap it in and when they can't hold any more, they have to let it go" (not quite sure if that's 100% accurate or not but it sounded good. Dylan Dreyer if you are reading this, feel free to comment).
Still looking perplexed from the backseat, I tried one more..
"Max, think of the clouds as your bladder. When you drink a lot of water, your belly gets full right?"
Max: "Yes"..
"Ok, so when your belly gets full, you have to pee right?"
Max: "Yes"..
"Ok, so the clouds' belly got too full and had to pee. So think of rain as the clouds peeing all over you because they drank too much water."
Max: "Oh, ok.. Thanks daddy.."
Think of how many mysteries of the universe could be explained to kids if we only put them in terms they can understand.. Relate everything to pee or poop and this parenting thing is a snap..
Ugh.. I had written a blog a while ago for another site titled the Age of Why.. Now they've been pretty good lately about asking those endless "Why" types of questions, but I had to think on my feet for this one.
"Well Max, the clouds in the sky are full of water. And when they get to a point where they can't hold any more water, they have to let it go and it rains."
Now we all know less is more when explaining things to little kids. The less words you use, the more apt they are to pay attention. The longer you string something out, you've already lost them before you start the second sentence.
Max: "Why?"
"Well", I went on to explain "there is moisture in the air and the clouds trap it in and when they can't hold any more, they have to let it go" (not quite sure if that's 100% accurate or not but it sounded good. Dylan Dreyer if you are reading this, feel free to comment).
Still looking perplexed from the backseat, I tried one more..
"Max, think of the clouds as your bladder. When you drink a lot of water, your belly gets full right?"
Max: "Yes"..
"Ok, so when your belly gets full, you have to pee right?"
Max: "Yes"..
"Ok, so the clouds' belly got too full and had to pee. So think of rain as the clouds peeing all over you because they drank too much water."
Max: "Oh, ok.. Thanks daddy.."
Think of how many mysteries of the universe could be explained to kids if we only put them in terms they can understand.. Relate everything to pee or poop and this parenting thing is a snap..
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Cheng Du Conundrum
So recently I went to go visit my friend Terrence who was in from the west coast.. It was a last minute decision to go as my wife had an appointment after work and I was going to be home with the boys.. I thought, why not.. I'll just pick them up from school and take them to the restaurant. He's never met them before and would love to meet them..
Now, let's back up and refresh.. Max is completely potty trained.. I mean, this kid is 1 step away from wiping his own butt.. It is truly a miracle, and not one of those "I saw Jesus in my grilled cheese" kind of miracles.. But we were seriously starting to believe that Max was going to be the first child in the history of the world to graduate high school still wearing pull ups.. And then, one day, it clicked.. Thank God..
Now, Mitch on the other hand is a different story.. He peed in the potty first and has been doing that consistently pretty well without too many accidents for over a year now.. It's the pooping he has a slight problem with.. Sometimes he'll tell us he has to poop, sometimes he doesn't. More often than not he just seems to slide away out of view and we don't notice what's going on until Max comes over and says "Mommy/Daddy (one word) Mitch is pooping".. And sure enough, he is.. I don't know if it's a twin thing or what, but more often than not he's right..
Fast forward to after work.. I pick up the boys from school and head to the restaurant. Now, since I came directly from work and this was a spur of the moment thing, I do not have the diaper bag. Repeat, do NOT have the diaper bag.. This would normally have such items as, oh, I don't know, extra pull ups and wipes.. These are two very important items to have when one of your children is not fully potty trained. He had already pooped twice that day however so I wasn't too concerned about him pooping again..
What's that old law from that guy Murphy? Yes, that one..
Inevitably, Mitch has to go potty while we are in the restaurant. I figure, great he told me, we'll go, he'll be fine.. Yeah well, he told me had to go potty, which he did.. But he neglected to tell me that he had already pooped.. What do I do? I have no extra pull ups, I have no wipes, I have no extra underwear..
So I wet a bunch of paper towels and wiped him till he's clean. And then Mitch learned a new phrase to add to his already extensive language: Going Commando
Now, let's back up and refresh.. Max is completely potty trained.. I mean, this kid is 1 step away from wiping his own butt.. It is truly a miracle, and not one of those "I saw Jesus in my grilled cheese" kind of miracles.. But we were seriously starting to believe that Max was going to be the first child in the history of the world to graduate high school still wearing pull ups.. And then, one day, it clicked.. Thank God..
Now, Mitch on the other hand is a different story.. He peed in the potty first and has been doing that consistently pretty well without too many accidents for over a year now.. It's the pooping he has a slight problem with.. Sometimes he'll tell us he has to poop, sometimes he doesn't. More often than not he just seems to slide away out of view and we don't notice what's going on until Max comes over and says "Mommy/Daddy (one word) Mitch is pooping".. And sure enough, he is.. I don't know if it's a twin thing or what, but more often than not he's right..
Fast forward to after work.. I pick up the boys from school and head to the restaurant. Now, since I came directly from work and this was a spur of the moment thing, I do not have the diaper bag. Repeat, do NOT have the diaper bag.. This would normally have such items as, oh, I don't know, extra pull ups and wipes.. These are two very important items to have when one of your children is not fully potty trained. He had already pooped twice that day however so I wasn't too concerned about him pooping again..
What's that old law from that guy Murphy? Yes, that one..
Inevitably, Mitch has to go potty while we are in the restaurant. I figure, great he told me, we'll go, he'll be fine.. Yeah well, he told me had to go potty, which he did.. But he neglected to tell me that he had already pooped.. What do I do? I have no extra pull ups, I have no wipes, I have no extra underwear..
So I wet a bunch of paper towels and wiped him till he's clean. And then Mitch learned a new phrase to add to his already extensive language: Going Commando
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Great Debate
There are many important debates in history: Lincoln/Douglass, Nixon/Kennedy to name a few. However none was more important than the stinky poop debate.
The penguins from Madagascar have their own show which my boys love. And one particular episode one of the characters uses the word "stupid" as an adjective referring to his eye patch. It was a squirrel. A red squirrel. Long story... Anyway, naturally my boys start repeating the line using the word stupid. I told them we don't say that word and instead say silly.
It seemed to work. They kept saying silly and when one of them said the word stupid, the other was quick to correct:
Mitch: "Stupid eye patch".
Max: "No, we don't say that word. We say silly eye patch".
Mitch: "Silly eye patch."
Seems to work.
Until the other day when Mitch said "stinky poop" and Max got all bent and told Mitch that for some reason they weren't allowed to say that. I told him it was ok to say stinky poop, but he was adamant that it was not allowed. Who was I to disagree.
I wonder where we'd be as a country if more of our debates were about stinky poop?
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