This is from Callum's birthday. This is him being his typical self with dirty trousers and an almost equally dirty face.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
MIA
Yes I know I've been missing for a few days.
I have a lot of thoughts going round in my head and keep starting posts but never seem to finish.
I'll write more very soon.
I have a lot of thoughts going round in my head and keep starting posts but never seem to finish.
I'll write more very soon.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Differences
We took Callum to one of his classmates 3rd birthday party on Sunday morning. About 15 3, or close to 3, year olds plus parents and a few younger siblings all hanging out at a local park, eating pizza, drinking juice and chatting. Sounds great doesn't it? but for us it was our first reality check for what most 3 year olds are doing.
Did you know that they talk? they have real conversations! they talk about stuff that happened at school last week, who their boyfriend or girlfriend is and give instructions for how to play the game properly. Of course we knew that that was what most typical kids did, but it hasn't really been up close and personal before. Callum can communicate, but I long for the day when I can ask him what he did at school today and he actually answers me. Now I see why most parent's aren't too bothered by the fact that the teachers don't write down what went on at school that day. They don't need the note, they can get a blow by blow account straight from the horses mouth.
Did you know how social they are? they hold hands, they run and hug each other in greeting, they seem to feel best in a big group. Callum accepted a hug from one of his friends, he briefly waved hello and bye but there wasn't that deep pleasure at being around friends. I know he does play with other kids at school, but in this new environment with lots of things to explore he was happy as long as Mark or I were close. He did happily chase Kieran and they played a game of trying to catch and tickle each other, but he didn't really interact with the other kids. A band were shooting a music video in the kids playground and Callum was in his element - whenever the music started, he would dance and dance and his whole face would light up. The other kids hardly took any notice, is there a social "herd" instinct that keeps you oblivious to what is going on outside your group?
Callum explored the whole area, he crawled through tunnels, he examined bushes, he discovered the pay phone just outside the park and went to talk to Granny, he found an abandoned baby doll and spent a happy 5 minutes putting her to bed, waking her up and soothing her tears with lots of hugs.
He's different, I admit it.
Do I want him to be like all the other kids, sometimes.
Did you know that they talk? they have real conversations! they talk about stuff that happened at school last week, who their boyfriend or girlfriend is and give instructions for how to play the game properly. Of course we knew that that was what most typical kids did, but it hasn't really been up close and personal before. Callum can communicate, but I long for the day when I can ask him what he did at school today and he actually answers me. Now I see why most parent's aren't too bothered by the fact that the teachers don't write down what went on at school that day. They don't need the note, they can get a blow by blow account straight from the horses mouth.
Did you know how social they are? they hold hands, they run and hug each other in greeting, they seem to feel best in a big group. Callum accepted a hug from one of his friends, he briefly waved hello and bye but there wasn't that deep pleasure at being around friends. I know he does play with other kids at school, but in this new environment with lots of things to explore he was happy as long as Mark or I were close. He did happily chase Kieran and they played a game of trying to catch and tickle each other, but he didn't really interact with the other kids. A band were shooting a music video in the kids playground and Callum was in his element - whenever the music started, he would dance and dance and his whole face would light up. The other kids hardly took any notice, is there a social "herd" instinct that keeps you oblivious to what is going on outside your group?
Callum explored the whole area, he crawled through tunnels, he examined bushes, he discovered the pay phone just outside the park and went to talk to Granny, he found an abandoned baby doll and spent a happy 5 minutes putting her to bed, waking her up and soothing her tears with lots of hugs.
He's different, I admit it.
Do I want him to be like all the other kids, sometimes.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
I've been tagged
So Michelle at Big Blueberry Eyes decided to tag me. I don't often do these things but I'll try!
I've been tasked to think of 6 weird things/facts/habits about myself, lets see what I can come up with.
1. In my dreams I'm very rarely me. I usually have a different body, but sometimes it's me inside. More often I'm on the outside just looking in - kind of like a narrator in a story.
2. I like to eat Marmite on toast with baked beans on top.
3. I procrastinate, a lot.
4. I'm addicted to the Downsyn forum and spend waaaaay to much time there
5. I'm not very good at making or keeping friends. I've never really had a group of girlfriends that do girly things together, I wish I did.
6. I like to think that my Grandma (who died when I was 16) is watching over me and I still talk to her sometimes, but I don't believe in God or heaven.
I'm supposed to tage 6 other people, but I've got to run to a meeting. So if you want to take on this task please do and come back and leave a comment with the link to your 6 things.
I've been tasked to think of 6 weird things/facts/habits about myself, lets see what I can come up with.
1. In my dreams I'm very rarely me. I usually have a different body, but sometimes it's me inside. More often I'm on the outside just looking in - kind of like a narrator in a story.
2. I like to eat Marmite on toast with baked beans on top.
3. I procrastinate, a lot.
4. I'm addicted to the Downsyn forum and spend waaaaay to much time there
5. I'm not very good at making or keeping friends. I've never really had a group of girlfriends that do girly things together, I wish I did.
6. I like to think that my Grandma (who died when I was 16) is watching over me and I still talk to her sometimes, but I don't believe in God or heaven.
I'm supposed to tage 6 other people, but I've got to run to a meeting. So if you want to take on this task please do and come back and leave a comment with the link to your 6 things.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Callum Dancing
Just thought I'd share a little bit of Callum and two of his favourite things: Shrek & Dancing.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
It's Raining, It's Pouring
This isn't supposed to happen in Southern California! What happened to my year round sunshine? Oh well, at least we don't live in San Francisco where they've had a record 25 days of rain in March.
We did get a break in the weather on Sunday and had a really nice stroll along the Boardwalk at Venice Beach with the kids. Along the Boardwalk you can find people selling art, jewelry, tourist tat, food and drink. Tarot readers, psychics, musicians, tattoo artists and massage therapists. It's a big eclectic mix of people and culture and the boys (and us) love to people watch. Callum likes to stop by the musicians, he'll stand for a few seconds soaking in the music and then slowly start to dance along before giving a wave and moving on to the next thing that catches his eye. Both boys were very well behaved and didn't wander off too much. Callum got so tired in the end that he started crawling along the path but still didn't want to get into his stroller, Mr Independent was finally persuaded by tempting him with a snack of goldfish crackers.
Both boys took really good naps afterwards, which got them right into the swing of things with the whole spring forward time difference. I'm actually liking the time difference the kids are going to bed at their usual time of 7:30pm (which was 6:30pm last week) but they're waking up an hour later. The hour of sleep that we lost on Sunday was a small price to pay for not having to get up at 5:45 in the morning.
Photo courtesy of SameerKhan
We did get a break in the weather on Sunday and had a really nice stroll along the Boardwalk at Venice Beach with the kids. Along the Boardwalk you can find people selling art, jewelry, tourist tat, food and drink. Tarot readers, psychics, musicians, tattoo artists and massage therapists. It's a big eclectic mix of people and culture and the boys (and us) love to people watch. Callum likes to stop by the musicians, he'll stand for a few seconds soaking in the music and then slowly start to dance along before giving a wave and moving on to the next thing that catches his eye. Both boys were very well behaved and didn't wander off too much. Callum got so tired in the end that he started crawling along the path but still didn't want to get into his stroller, Mr Independent was finally persuaded by tempting him with a snack of goldfish crackers.
Both boys took really good naps afterwards, which got them right into the swing of things with the whole spring forward time difference. I'm actually liking the time difference the kids are going to bed at their usual time of 7:30pm (which was 6:30pm last week) but they're waking up an hour later. The hour of sleep that we lost on Sunday was a small price to pay for not having to get up at 5:45 in the morning.
Photo courtesy of SameerKhan
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