Things you don't want to hear...

coming out of your kid's mouth.  Today we were talking about Adam's friend Tyler.  We asked Adam something like, "You like you're friend, Tyler, right?"  He responded, "I do, but I don't".  Do you want to know what he said as the reason for NOT liking Tyler?  "Because he's a different color and has weird hair."  Great.  Our kid is a racist!  We talked about how it was not nice to say that, how Tyler is just as silly and fun as Adam no matter what color his skin or hair is, and how he should never tell someone that.  Digging a little deeper - Adam has a tendency to follow his "friends" around.  I don't know how many times I have heard kids say, "Stop following me!" when we are at the park or Community Center.  So - that is what happens at school with Tyler.  Adam wants to play with Tyler and follows him around and Tyler gets tired of it. THAT'S (I hope) the reason Adam says he doesn't like Tyler.    But you should see these two goofing around in the hallway before school.....

It's been a while!

Since it's been so long, I thought I should write something.  Adam's biting has pretty much stopped, so that's good!  We finally turned his bedroom door knob around so that we can lock him in his room.  That way there is no chasing him around and trying to keep him in a time-out and getting bitten and spit on anytime I grab him to put him back in the time out.  He kicks and throws things at his door and tries to yell down the vent for Dave to come up and help him but at least I stay safe and all the noise he makes, I know he is OK too.  The boy is such an attention seeker that it is the worst punishment for him to be out of sight and no one responding.  There was one time maybe a month ago where the 3 of us were at Home Depot and Adam wanted to climb all over the lawn mowers.  When I said he couldn't, he had a complete meltdown and I had to carry him out screaming (screaming "DAAADDYY!! so everyone was staring at me as I was trying to run out of the store and yell to Dave we were leaving).  I got him in his seat and just ignored him. He continued screaming. Dave came back and we both just ignored him on the ride home.  He kept screaming, "MOMMY!!  DADDY!! TALK to me!!"  After that didn't work, he started saying, "DRIVER!! DRIVER! Talk to me!"  It was pretty funny!  Once he calms down, we talk. 

I don't know how to get Adam to NOT depend on so much attention.  (Only child syndrome?)  Last week at gymnastics, I started reading an article on my phone.  Next thing I know, Adam is standing in front of me.  I told him to get back to his class (he said he doesn't like his new teacher but she is SO much better than his last one).   He went back, I started reading again and he was back in front of me again.  I HAD to watch him the whole time.  When we're at home, I have to sit near him and watch him even if it is something like an easy puzzle.  Today, I gave him an art project to work on and then the dryer went off so I needed to go fold some laundry.  I started folding and he got up from his table, grabbed some paint brushes and started poking them at me and grabbing the clothes I just folded.  I tried to explain the more he messed with me, the longer it would take for me to get back to his art project.  To that, he threw his hippity-hop at me.  I had to put him in his room so I could finish.  Aargh! 

Speaking of art projects...he LOVES arts/crafts but he gets "tired" after 5-10 minutes and wants to know what else I have planned.  I've got nothing!  The past couple of days I have found some things on Pinterest and other Blogs but we end up doing everything in a couple of hours and I spend all night searching for new things. If anyone has any lengthy ideas, let me know!  He also likes science "experiments" but those don't last that long either.  We have only done colored water in oil and now have a "wave" bottle and tonight we did vinegar and baking soda "explosions" (which actually kept him occupied a lot longer than I expected). 

Oh - and here's a funny story from school yesterday.  When I picked Adam up, the first thing he wanted to tell me was that his girlfriend, Abby, brought in Scooby Snacks for snack that day.  Then he started following some girl that I'm pretty sure wasn't Abby and asking her why she brought in Scooby Snacks.  (Her granddad hurried her off).   His teachers saw us still outside the room and told me that Adam kept asking Abby for her phone number because he wanted me to call her Mom and get the recipe for Scooby Snacks!  Mrs. M. told me to go to any grocery store.  Ha ha!

OK - I think that's it for now.