May recap!

So now May and June passed by

I cannot say May was a cheerful month

But I’m simply glad it’s summer already!

I was so lazy in May i almost posted nothing, so here's a  quick recap of May which would include:
A visit to the park, we met Ghadi’s friend by coincidence and we found out he was our neighbor!

Ghadi was thrilled meeting his friend!

The boys had hell of fun together!!

racing, playing

and Sary enjoyed the swing!!!!!!!

Viruses attacked us in mid May, Sary had bronchitis but we didn’t need antibiotics! A week later, he suffered light fever.

Ghadi had also caught a virus and had fever for 3 days. He had to be absent from school for one whole week.

He was not fussy or whining... to the contrary, he was so sweet and fragile!

-      

Football and the lesson about winning!

My Boy wants another mom!

Last night I’ve passed through one of the big tests in parenting!

Ghadi said he wants to live in another home, where he can play as much as he wanted!

Luckily, I’ve read about this just couple weeks ago, (otherwise I would have had a heart attack), so I was well prepared for such situation… still, my heart bumped quickly as I heard him say that

I took the whole subject calmly, and I started a long conversation with him to discuss his statement…

Then I told him he can go but he shall leave all his stuff at our home, and that he won’t be able to live with us

And that other homes have rules as well, rules that could be more strict than ours!

And when he mentioned he wanted a nicer mom, I was instantly panicked but, I was so confident and firm replying: but I’m the best mom in the world honey!

And I waited for his reaction…

He smiled and his eyes were shining, then he said: yeah, right and he was almost willing to hug me (which he didn’t do indeed)

I would say that after almost 5 years of parenting , this was the hardest part…

And I tried to think about the  coming years, the adolescent Ghadi, the teenager

Ghadi now listened to me and talked about his wishes and his feelings…

Definitely he would NOT have the same patience later…

So now I'm having the urge to read more about parenting! More about boys… and more about anger management!

Cheese Vs Chocolate sandwich

Ghadi: 

- Can I have some chocolate?

Moi:

- Not before you eat a sandwich.

-….mmmm.

-…

- Can I have a Chocolate sandwich?

- No... How about  a cheese sandwich?

- Or what?

- Or... labneh sandwich?

- Or what?

- A zaatar sandwish?

- Or what?

- ……………(sigh)………… or .. (running out of patience) a cream cheese sandwish?

- Or what?

- …. I won’t just keep saying options, u have to choose honey. (now really running out of patience, Sary screaming in the background, phone ringing in the far away background--in another world)...

- Listen mommy, we should continue until we reach 100! (so excited!)

- (Rolling eyes) sorry?

- you keep saying more options now we said: (counting on his fingers) 1,2 3…4

now you should keep on telling options until we reaaaaaaaaach 100 !

- (sigh)

 (Smiling)

 (about to cry)

(Sary's voice getting higher)

 (surrendering)

...

Now how about a Chocolate sandwich?

- OKEY! 

Bravo mama!

(He literally said that!)

***

Mommy's mission to feed her boy a healthy sandwich: FAILED

Embracing Technology

Couldn't resist taking this photo while imagining the same scene in few years (maybe more, or less if we lived in Japan)

Would he be shaking hands with a real Robot, living with us, helping me in households, while cooking soup and tuning on the washing machine?

On the other hand,

I really can’t stop buying books… at least children books

Though I promised myself that I will be buying less books.

(Whispering): two weeks ago I made online order of 10 books, yes but these are not available as e-books and not owned by anyone I know

Thus: I allowed and forgave myself of breaking my own promise!

define the world!

While driving home yesterday:
- c'est quoi " le Monde" maman?
- Ah mon petit...
  en Arabe, c'est " Al Dunia"
- oui, mais c'est quoi?
-mmmmmm.......

I love my 4 years old-boy's questions!
I mean, when was the last time you were asked to define "the world"????
this is really challenging and cute...
I freak out thinking of way more complicated terms he would ask about...

Topping the list of embarrassing moments offered by my boy!

If I would have a list of the top embarrassing moments my boy has been granting me for four years now, taking aside stories like the usual whining at toy markets, or running and jumping at a book exhibition (three years ago), or even singing children songs loud at a Guggenheim art exhibition (two years ago), all of this would seem normal compared to this one, which would definitely top the list!

This Saturday we were invited to our neighbor's Birthday,
he is turning four
his classmates were invited
and among them a very handsome young boy
who has extremely long eyelashes!
he caught my eyes, I smiled at him then turned towards Ghadi...
he was dancing but then suddenly it was quite, music stopped (what a coincidence!) and Ghadi was standing there, in the middle of the space, waiting for the music to resume his dance,
and...yes,
starring at the boy....
I was between calling him and letting him think and analyse by himself when he suddenly searched for me with his eyes, then yelled at me: "hey mom, look at this!" pointing at the boy...
OMG, that was embarrassing... I didn't have time to think, the boys's moms eyes were slowly turning at me, ( I think everybody were looking at me at that moment)
I was screaming from inside to the mom to help
but this help never came and the following seconds of silence were like heavy rock falling down at me from a high top....
just before the rock hit me, I smiled at Ghadi, and at all the crowd, and I took him gently by his shoulder saying loudly that yes my dear he has such special eyes... and while I was trying to walk away, Ghadi stopped, yelling at me: "Why???"
I looked puzzled at him, my hands pressing his shoulder trying to force him to walk but he just stood there still, asking why!
I said that it is not polite to yell like this... so he approached my head, put his mouth over my ear and whispered: "Why"?
still all ears directed towards me now, I smiled again, saying that it is normal in life that people are not similar
I reminded him that his skin color isn't the same as his nanny's (who is from Africa)...
and that some people have blue eyes while others don't...
then at this point it was crucial I distract him from the whole subject, thinking firmly to myself that I should talk to him later about many issues : manners, talking loudly in a crowd, and above all, explaining to him that pointing at people is NOT allowed under any circumstances!
I think now that I shouldn't have waited for this moment so I explain all this...
I should have foreseen such situations and I should start talking to him about many aspects in life, that would prevent such situations!

Any suggestions?

A story that will never end...

Ghadi and his cars is an endless story, a post that will keep repeating year after year! :)

I love the fact that he loves playing with his cars.

it's stimulating and way better then watching TV or jumping on my bed...

but the amazing fact is what i discovered lately,

the fact that he has a very precise memory about every car, its color, model,

so if u closed his eyes and took away one of these, 

in one look, he'll tell you which one is missing!

I think this is normal for his age...

and I think it's awesome!

ready for the Grand Prix!

About how to please kids and Bad Decisions

Sometimes we tend to please our kids

We THINK we are doing the thing they mostly like

We ASSUME it IS what they will enjoy…

Well, sometimes we think wrong…

During my parenting years, it has happened several times

and too bad it is still happening

(hope this will stop someday and I will become emotionally smart enough to undertsand their needs and what would REALLY make their day)

The origin of this post is what has happened yesterday.

It was holiday, we were at home, ghadi playing with his cars…

After lunch, I insisted that i want to take him to a nearby mall where they were displaying real sizs Flash-Macqueen

Yes, the real car coming all the way from disney (that was was written in the Ad)

I KNEW he’ll be thrilled.

And above that, I convinced our neighbors to come with us so the it’ll b more fun for all kids!

As we saw the car, Ghadi was thrilled ...

for like 5 seconds…

No, thrilled is too much...

he was like standing there, looking at something new, but NO signs of excitement or fun or a WAW expression…

I was qeen to take a picture

He was unwilling to stand and rest…

And then it happened…

Behind the car

There was a full stand of Disney toys, with all kinds and all sizes of CARS characters, in huge boxes with remote controls!

Kids ran to the stand and Ghadi was standing there, seeing tens of Francesco and lightning Macqueen and other racing cars

photo credit

And

Yes!

He simply wanted to have them all,

To open all boxes,

Play with all the cars…

and I discovered how naiive I was

And how easily we can be driven to just commercial attraction…

Ghadi isnn’t the kind of boy who likes to manipulate cars from distance… he loves rolling cars with his own hands…

And from my experience with cars with remote control,  I knew that buying him such expensive one is meaningless, it’ll only last few minutes before he starts rolling it with his hands

As he had done in many cases before…

Besides, I felt angry at Disney because this stand shoudn’t be there at first place…

I mean many people came to this public place to show their kids the real-size car with no intention to spend money or to put their kids in front of such seducing stand! It was there just to force parents to get a car any kid wouldn’t resist!

 So,  It took me a HUGE effort to convince him not to buy one

And another huge effort to convince him to go back home…

On the way back, Y.B insisted Ghadi should come play with him in his house…

I agreed… and their laughs was filling the house in no time…

And I looked at them and saw how happy they were …without Huge cars, or the Mall frustrations, or the temptation of expensive toys… or all those “NOs” and “PLEASE HOLD MY HAND”s and “DON’T RUN AWAY”s and all other expressions I had to repeat 100 times whenever I go to the mall with ghadi!

And I realized I should be smarter in the future and do the things he would REALLY appreciate and enjoy…

 

after one hour playing at our neighbor's house,

again,

one last HUGE effort to convince him to go back home… 

***end of a combo-frustrating-Macqueen-ish-day***

Rhythms of my life- part 1

No this is not the title of a song, but of a really long post!

I Was thinking too much lately about this crazy life

And the change I experience everyday

And I know that it is a BLESSING from God

I can not imagine myself living a routine, of any kind!

It suffocates me and brings me crazy!

And I am not gonna write about 35 years of nonstop marathon

But I would love my kids to know more about me

About this human being hovering above them day and night

So why not starting by documenting one typical day

One normal –like –any – other – day of my life now?

My Son wasn't invited to my Wedding!

How did it begin?

Ah I was driving ghadi to school today (a strike prevented public – and school- buses from rolling the streets-

Gahdi was somehow excited

He sat in the front seat (yes, I know it is wrong, but I prefer seeing him seated with seatbelt on in front, than having to ask him to sit down, stay away from windows, put back seatbelt in the back!)

So,  We were talking

And he asked if I’ll pick him up at noon

And I explained to him that I won’t be able to do that cuz I have to go to work

Then he said: (and here is the keyword that started all that): inti w …rof2atik?... (you and your colleagues?)

And I was like pleased to hear him picking the right word

Me: yes!

Ghadi: w min ekhwetik?

Khalto jumana w khalto hala

W min khayyik?

Khalo jihad

Ghadi: w ana w sary … wledik!... (again, proud of himself for picking the right designation!) ( sary and I are your sons)

Me: Exactly, bravo!

Ghadi: and what is jamil (he means how does he relate to me)

Me: Jamil is my husband!

Why? Because you married him?

Yes

And u had big party?

Yes

Then in a REALLY sad voice?

W ana wein kinit???????????? Leish ma shifitkon?

He was almost about to cry

And by the time I got what he was saying I couldn’t help myself and I was laughing out loud

And it didn’t help cuz still he needed an explanation!

HELP!

children museum

First time at the Movies!

two weeks ago Ghadi's Cousin, L.K. took him to the movies!

yes, it was the first time, and he watched...surely, what else than CARS 2!

AND it was 3D

as every first experience for my boy I feel great excitement and I expected everything

but L's report was MORE than positive~!

Ghadi enjoyed and watched the whole movie!

he enjoyed so much that at the same night he started playing with his cars, repeating scenes and quotes and he assigned every car he had to a character from the movie

why- episode 2

some of Ghadi's daily questions, repeated over and over again:

Why are you my mother?

Why am I your son?

why is it summer?

Why is it Sunday?

Why tomorrow is Monday?

Why sary is my brother?

then when it comes to CARS, it gets much easier really

at least i have direct replies!

- leish "bar2 benzine"  sari3 ktir? "why is Lightning Macqueen speedy?

- la anno sayyaret siba2! Because it is a racing car

- “leish sayyaret el siba2 btimshi bsir3aaa?”Why the racing car is speedy? 

- La anno douleba kbir…. W bit3abbi benzin ktir (because tires are big... -not convincing enough- and they have lots of fuel.(baaaaaaaaaah, silly answer, can not even convince a toddler!) that why i deserve the next question:

- leish douleba kbir?(why its tires are so big?)

- La anna sayyaret siba2 

looking at me, Ghadi is thinking

looking ta him, feeling so bad that at times like this i have no REAL CONVINCING ANSWERS for evident questions.

I am preparing for an exam, reading reference guides, about 300 pages each, and yet I can not find a simple convincing answer for a preschooler!

this is BAD

A Child’s imagination

I am trying to train Ghadi to go to the toilets independently, but I keep an eye on him and I watch him while he tries his best to keep me next to him and for this purpose he starts talking and talking and singing just to impress me!

Last night I helped him a bit then I turned around to leave the bathroom, 

he grasped my jeans, I looked back at him and continued walking so his hand slipped

Before passing through the door he called me, a wide smile on his face, saying: “if I could keep holding your jeans, u’d go to living room, and the whole toilet would follow you to the living room, including me!”

Of course he said this in a very childish way I cannot explain in words, but the image was so funny, and so unexpected that I burst in laughs, and we continued to imagine what would happen next…after a while, I found out he got his purpose, he kept me next to him until he finished and he left of the bathroom before I did!

Why oh why!

Today's Morning conversation:

Ghadi: why is Sary putting diapers?
me:     because he is a Baby! --- wrong answer!---
Ghadi: when I become a baby again i'll put also diapers
me:     we never go back to be babies, when you eat healthy food full of vitamins you'll grow up and become big boy, and then a great man like dad...
silence
thinking...
Ghadi: yes but when I eat so much i'll have a baby in my tummy
me:   this is impossible... only mamas would have babies in their tummy! ---wrong answer, again---
silence...
Ghadi: so when I become a girl I'll have a baby inside my stomach!
me:    but I said u'll never become a girl...
Ghadi: no, you said i'll never become baby!
me:     u'll become neither a baby nor a girl
Ghadi: why????????
silence
Ghadi: why???????
me:    (a sigh....)
Ghadi: why???????
me: (I had to use my rescue plan A)
aaaaaaaaaah, look at Sary, he is smiling at you!!!

Face Off!

as i said in a previous blog, Sary is truly a Happy Baby!

he smiles often, rarely cries, sleeps deeply, and loves to stay in his bouncing chair....

BUT

 

 when it comes to Mealtime,
here he shows us the "other"face!
I looooove  this boy!

CARS

 I think it IS time to post about Cars

Not any cars, but that “Cars” movie by Walt Disney

Years ago, when I saw the ad of this new cartoon movie, I thought: who on earth would go to the movies to watch talking cars with weird eyes

(though being a Huge fan of all Disney movies)

Now, I have  to admit that I watched this movie more than 20 times… and yet I may be watching it more in the next months-years… nobody knows

Ghadi is like any boy, has a collection of small cars

So when he first saw this movie, it was like a whole new world for him.. and since then, we are obsessed with all the characters, Flash Maqueen and his friends

Now I can repeat some scenes by heart

And watching it synchronized in Egyptian dialect makes the whole thing funnier

Ghadi began repeating his favorite scenes with his own cars

Especially when bar’e benzene (Flash Macqueen) looses track of his fellow truck who (allow mw to use who- these are talking cars after all) continues his way to California without noticing that bar’e benzene is left behind

All this introduction is to point out that 2 days ago, I noticed the truck under the TV station

yes..there it is 

 on its way

to?

I thought it was there by mistake and I wanted Ghadi to take it back to his room

I asked him this several times

Then at last he looked at me and said: I can’t… it’s on his way to California!

 and this is the "real"truck

Yes

And another related issue, is that after I noticed that his excitement for reading stories is much less than before, I went to the library and bought several –really expensive- books

He was not at all interested

Until I waved with a thin squared story… yes… it was “Cars”

I thought maybe this would encourage him while the others failed

And it DID!

He was so excited

Held the story and flipped the pages and stated to look into every detail of the illustrations…

 his favorite illustration!"

I was happy about that

hoping he’ll be interested again in his books just as he used to be.  

some Updates... from my everyday Life

At last!

We are wearing half sleeves!

This spring was a cold one

And I was sooooo excited to see Sary wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts!

And so excited to stop putting layers and layers of clothes on him to keep him warm while he goes early morning to my in laws

At last

It’s 29 degree

And I’m HaPpY about it!

Sary began to smile and react to my smiles and whispers

It’s amazing

and it gives me tons of energy just when I need it

still my housekeeper didn’t arrive

and I’m getting so exhausted with my full-time work, taking care of my home, my two boys, and my lovely hub

I still have to take care of myself, my mom, answer my sisters calls and hear my friends

I know I have to take a deep breath,

And I thank God for the blessings

When I look around me and I see my kids I smile

When I see Jamil holding Sary, I smile

When I hear Ghadi’s excitement whenever Sary makes an “ouugh” I smile

I AM happy and that is what matters

Q&A

Yesterday Ghadi asked for an Art Attack, he wanted to paint with watercolors

I promised him that we’ll do that when Sary sleeps… In fact – admitting that I was a bit mean- I didn’t expect sary to sleep before Ghadi. But this little boy seems to be just like his mom: he loves sleeping and now that he is 2.5 months old, he sleeps more than 6 continuous hours through the night!

So, against my calculations, sary slept at 7… so Ghadi ran to me asking with a wide smile (which he knows that it helps his case very well): shall we start painting now?

By that time, I had to do the dishes (a mission I will b leaving soon to the –soon to be in Lebanon- housekeeper)

I told Ghadi that I still have some stuff to do in the kitchen and he insisted on standing there watching me until I finish…

And there it began… the infinite questions of a 3.5 years old!!!

They were so funny, yet dazzling cuz I always get stuck with the answers!

Example? – while washing dishes, Ghadi stepping on his toes, nose reaching the sink, eyes wide open…

he asked:

where does all this water come from?

From an underground well (easy answer- way to go mom!)

Where does it go?

Into pipes to the sea (this one wasn’t convincing)

He narrowed his eyes: but it’s all dirty water!

mmm…silence…

then asking, again: how does it go to the sea with all that dirt? (probably he was imagining all those lovely fishes swimming happily then suddenly surprised by a huge dirty flow of water!)

how?????????

Now an answer shall b given..silence isn’t enough

(thinking moment: terms like filtration or similar explanation would be simply too complicated to him…  but now I admit, I could have explained it to him but really at that time I didn’t have any energy to go through all this…)

Let’s go painting… I dropped the dishes, snapped the brushes, and we spent an amazing hour together!