My 45th birthday has come. Just another day I suppose, but I feel fortunate to be alive. Each morning I awake with the feeling that I have been given the greatest gift that a man can be given; my family. I can honestly say that I enjoy spending every minute of spare time with them. Apollo and Orion are my world. I dislike the hours that I have to spend away from them each day as I go to work, and I anxiously hurry home to see them when my day is done.
Friday night comes, and I want to hang out with my boys. I know Melanie is burned out with kids by this point in the week and can use a night of just adult conversation, and although we fit those nights in, I am just as happy if we take the boys out with us. This is what I signed up for. My only regret as a parent thus far, is that I do not have more time to spend with Apollo and Orion. That statement can make it sound as if I work 60 hours a week, but that is not the case, I work 40 to 45 on average, but I feel as that is time I miss out on spending with my boys. In contrast to Melanie, by Friday evening I am done dealing with the adult populous, and look forward time with my boys to keep it real.
On a typical weekend morning, I am almost always up by 7:00 am...usually much earlier. The morning plays out one of two ways. I usually awake, slide out of bed, grab my lap top and slip out of the room undetected, letting Melanie and the babies sleep. By 6:30 am, I usually hear little feet hurrying down the hall. It is Orion, carrying a fresh diaper, which he offers to me in order to change him. Although Melanie would have you believe that he got the diaper on his own, the truth is that she opens the bedroom door, hands him the diaper and says, "Go take this to dada,"closes the door behind her and goes back to bed. Don't get me wrong, Melanie is a morning person too, but she just thinks that mornings shouldn't start until after 10:00 am. I will start breakfast for Orion, and Apollo usually shows up about 20 minutes later.
The second way that my weekend morning could go, is that I will wake up, but stay in bed pretending to sleep. Orion begins to stir and will eventually sit up. I will keep my eyes closed and continue to act as if I am asleep. In a moment, I will get a smack of a small hand on my head followed by a pause. Still, I act as if I am asleep. Next, I will get a small hand on one cheek, another small hand on the other cheek, and then my head will be turned right towards Orion. In a soft whispering voice, I hear "Da". ('Da', is Orion's nickname for me.) After a brief pause, I feel Orion pull his face closer mine, "Da!" his whisper is a little more urgent now. Unable to keep up my game any longer, I will open my eyes and smile. I am greeted with a big smile, a kiss, and a hug. Together we sneak out of the room before being verbally accosted for waking up her Majesty the Slumber Queen.
~
Apollo is a pretty cautious kid. He is leery of strangers and new situations. Not to the point of being afraid to try something new, he just needs time to process the pros and cons, and then requires some encouragement to work through his apprehensions. I think he has a better understanding of consequence than most young kids. He always has. However, once he overcomes his initial hesitations, he embraces the new situation with open arms. Once he understands the risks, and can navigate around them, then he enjoys getting his adrenaline fix.
His newest challenge this month was learning to ride his bike on his own. Keep in mind that he has had a "Boot Scoot" (peddle-less bicycle) since he was 3-years-old. This is a great bike to teach balance and control. He has been racing around on that bike for almost the whole time that he has had it. Last summer, we got a "Tag-a-long" bike that connects to my bike. It has peddles on it, but I am the one that provides the balance and control. We also have another small bike for him that has peddles on them that I removed for him to be able to scoot round more easily on. When presented with the opportunity to put his peddles back on and to learn to ride his bike, he has defiantly declined the invitation.
Since Apollo will turn 5 this month, I presented him with a challenge (aka, a bribe) using his greatest motivator; offering to buy him a new toy that he wanted. The price; learning to ride his bike on his own in 5 days. The deal was that he had to start on his own, ride across the patio, and stop on his own, 5 times in a row. I put his peddles back on his bike on a Monday evening and he had until Saturday morning. Keep in mind that he all the skills already, he just lacked the confidence. Monday evening, I taught him the basics. He could peddle on his own, but did not want to start on his own and wanted me to run along with him and help him stop. There was ample melt downs and renegotiation. He wanted the toy bad, but was mad when I would let go of him, even though my hands were an inch away from his arms and I was trotting along with him.
I set Apollo up for success. I gave him all the tools he needed to start and stop his bike on his own, but he still needed time to process, and he likes to practice when no one else is looking. Tuesday evening, we started again, this time the results were much better. I could get him started, let him go and he would ride across the yard and stop on his own, He was so proud of himself (as was I). More attempts were made at renegotiating the deal. I held my ground. All he had to do was start his bike on his own, but he was unwilling to try, at least while I was watching.
Wednesday evening; complete success. He was starting, riding and stopping on his own. "Now can we go get my toy?" He asked in a, 'I held up my end of the bargain' kind of way.
One trait of Apollo's that I feel will serve him well in life, is his ability to put his fears aside in order to achieve a goal. He becomes very focused and determined.
As for Orion, he will probably be riding a bike when he is 3. They have completely different approaches to things. I refer to Orion as a pissed off 5-year-old. He doesn't know he is only 20-months-old and is really irritated that he is so short compared to his brother. His size does not hold him back though and he will try to do anything his brother can.
It is a task finding a balance between both personalities. Apollo and Orion are so different in many ways. I love their uniqueness from one another and as individuals. I welcome the challenge of finding what works and what does not for each boy in hopes of giving them both the tools they need in life to succeed. To this end, I have found that is more about being a super hero to my kids. I get to see their faces light up when something "clicks". I get to challenge them and show them that they can do something that moments before was un achievable.
But for all that I might have to offer them, it is I that reaps the greatest rewards.
Friday night comes, and I want to hang out with my boys. I know Melanie is burned out with kids by this point in the week and can use a night of just adult conversation, and although we fit those nights in, I am just as happy if we take the boys out with us. This is what I signed up for. My only regret as a parent thus far, is that I do not have more time to spend with Apollo and Orion. That statement can make it sound as if I work 60 hours a week, but that is not the case, I work 40 to 45 on average, but I feel as that is time I miss out on spending with my boys. In contrast to Melanie, by Friday evening I am done dealing with the adult populous, and look forward time with my boys to keep it real.
On a typical weekend morning, I am almost always up by 7:00 am...usually much earlier. The morning plays out one of two ways. I usually awake, slide out of bed, grab my lap top and slip out of the room undetected, letting Melanie and the babies sleep. By 6:30 am, I usually hear little feet hurrying down the hall. It is Orion, carrying a fresh diaper, which he offers to me in order to change him. Although Melanie would have you believe that he got the diaper on his own, the truth is that she opens the bedroom door, hands him the diaper and says, "Go take this to dada,"closes the door behind her and goes back to bed. Don't get me wrong, Melanie is a morning person too, but she just thinks that mornings shouldn't start until after 10:00 am. I will start breakfast for Orion, and Apollo usually shows up about 20 minutes later.
The second way that my weekend morning could go, is that I will wake up, but stay in bed pretending to sleep. Orion begins to stir and will eventually sit up. I will keep my eyes closed and continue to act as if I am asleep. In a moment, I will get a smack of a small hand on my head followed by a pause. Still, I act as if I am asleep. Next, I will get a small hand on one cheek, another small hand on the other cheek, and then my head will be turned right towards Orion. In a soft whispering voice, I hear "Da". ('Da', is Orion's nickname for me.) After a brief pause, I feel Orion pull his face closer mine, "Da!" his whisper is a little more urgent now. Unable to keep up my game any longer, I will open my eyes and smile. I am greeted with a big smile, a kiss, and a hug. Together we sneak out of the room before being verbally accosted for waking up her Majesty the Slumber Queen.~
Apollo is a pretty cautious kid. He is leery of strangers and new situations. Not to the point of being afraid to try something new, he just needs time to process the pros and cons, and then requires some encouragement to work through his apprehensions. I think he has a better understanding of consequence than most young kids. He always has. However, once he overcomes his initial hesitations, he embraces the new situation with open arms. Once he understands the risks, and can navigate around them, then he enjoys getting his adrenaline fix.
His newest challenge this month was learning to ride his bike on his own. Keep in mind that he has had a "Boot Scoot" (peddle-less bicycle) since he was 3-years-old. This is a great bike to teach balance and control. He has been racing around on that bike for almost the whole time that he has had it. Last summer, we got a "Tag-a-long" bike that connects to my bike. It has peddles on it, but I am the one that provides the balance and control. We also have another small bike for him that has peddles on them that I removed for him to be able to scoot round more easily on. When presented with the opportunity to put his peddles back on and to learn to ride his bike, he has defiantly declined the invitation.Since Apollo will turn 5 this month, I presented him with a challenge (aka, a bribe) using his greatest motivator; offering to buy him a new toy that he wanted. The price; learning to ride his bike on his own in 5 days. The deal was that he had to start on his own, ride across the patio, and stop on his own, 5 times in a row. I put his peddles back on his bike on a Monday evening and he had until Saturday morning. Keep in mind that he all the skills already, he just lacked the confidence. Monday evening, I taught him the basics. He could peddle on his own, but did not want to start on his own and wanted me to run along with him and help him stop. There was ample melt downs and renegotiation. He wanted the toy bad, but was mad when I would let go of him, even though my hands were an inch away from his arms and I was trotting along with him.
I set Apollo up for success. I gave him all the tools he needed to start and stop his bike on his own, but he still needed time to process, and he likes to practice when no one else is looking. Tuesday evening, we started again, this time the results were much better. I could get him started, let him go and he would ride across the yard and stop on his own, He was so proud of himself (as was I). More attempts were made at renegotiating the deal. I held my ground. All he had to do was start his bike on his own, but he was unwilling to try, at least while I was watching.Wednesday evening; complete success. He was starting, riding and stopping on his own. "Now can we go get my toy?" He asked in a, 'I held up my end of the bargain' kind of way.
One trait of Apollo's that I feel will serve him well in life, is his ability to put his fears aside in order to achieve a goal. He becomes very focused and determined.
As for Orion, he will probably be riding a bike when he is 3. They have completely different approaches to things. I refer to Orion as a pissed off 5-year-old. He doesn't know he is only 20-months-old and is really irritated that he is so short compared to his brother. His size does not hold him back though and he will try to do anything his brother can.
It is a task finding a balance between both personalities. Apollo and Orion are so different in many ways. I love their uniqueness from one another and as individuals. I welcome the challenge of finding what works and what does not for each boy in hopes of giving them both the tools they need in life to succeed. To this end, I have found that is more about being a super hero to my kids. I get to see their faces light up when something "clicks". I get to challenge them and show them that they can do something that moments before was un achievable.
But for all that I might have to offer them, it is I that reaps the greatest rewards.
Loved reading this. Parenting is the best!! Tiring, trying, and hard, but the best! :) I sure wish we could get Kysen on a bike w/o training wheels. I could also say the same for Kollyns. She wants to do everything brother! :) Hope you guys are well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy. It sure is an adventure, this whole parenting thing. Kysen will ride when he is ready. I think we are raising the "I will do it my own way, in my own time" generation!
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