I have to apologize because I began to write this entry back in August, but it is now early October which tells you a little something about my life right now.  Anyway…..

The boys were thrilled to spend a day with Opa on Sunday (two months ago).  He came down from San Luis for a little visit and they entertained him with the latest dives and swim maneuvers in Bubbie and Papa’s pool.  We were thrilled to see them.  Chris had a day with his dad, which is both wonderful and painful at the same time.  I think, like any child, the relationship they have involves the sweet memories of watermelon in the summer sun, and the sharp smack of a spanking or timeout chair (depending on the decades in which you did the majority of your misbehaving.  Anyway, it was fabulous to see him and let the boys climb all over him, physically and emotionally.  They were in heaven.  Chris introduced him to Margo (see archives under Meet Margo) and all he could do was shake his head in dismay.  I think sometimes we do things because we really want to do them, but also, in part, because we enjoy the reaction that we will receive from those in our little orbit.  Take Alex, for example (poor guy is always standing in as my example).  Sometimes he gets this twinkle in his eye and I can tell he is about to do something for which he knows he will be punished…..and yet, he wants to do it anyway.  I think some of that is just the deep desires of a four-year-old comet with a burning tail full of stardust and no where to put it.  But sometimes, I really think he enjoys the science of action and reaction.   Watching with a sick, masochistic kind of glee as my eyes widen and my voice rises to that particular level of shrill that only a mother can produce.  But then there are those moments that fill me with glee to witness his Alexness.  The other day he came out of his room with a mile-wide grin and said, “I’m goin’ mango, Mom!”.  I had to stop and let my 4-year-old language interpreter’s program whir into action in my head until I realized that he meant, (of course!) ‘going commando’, which, in our house, means clothes sans underwear.  He was so  very proud that I didn’t want to dampen the mood (no pun) by correcting his word choice.

I am, at once, fortified and exhausted by the machinations of all three of these little people who careen about me.  Please remember to hug and love those that make you craziest in your life, because those are the ones that give you the most.

Much love,

Tiff