Joint bedtime has arrived!

Nick is forcing me to write this blogpost under duress.  We feel compelled, though, to document the moment in time in which both boys go to bed at the same time in the same room and remain there all night long.  It is the month of April.   Maceo will be six in a few days and Cassius is a rather stubborn but ebullient 3.75 year old.  Please stay tuned for a blogpost in approximately 3-4 weeks in which I report how this new modus operandi has failed.  Because, well, kids.

Cassius's Midyear Progress Report

We didn't really know what kind of report we would expect to get about Cassius from his PK3 teachers, especially halfway through his first year at his first formal school and at one in particular that happens to be taught in Chinese.  Turns out, his teachers have this to say about our moody, giggly, tantrum-oriented, and silly little guy.

"Cassius continues to have a great year in PK3.  It has truly been a pleasure getting to know Cassius more and work with him.  He is able to understand all the directions in Chinese and he tries to communicate with teachers in Chinese.  Cassius loves singing all the Chinese songs we have learned and is always eager to learn new songs.  He is sensitive to language and picks up new words easily.  He loves playing with animal toys, reading dinosaur books, and being a little leader to read stories to others.  He shows interest in all the activities and projects we do, especially when he feels challenged.  Cassius made a lot of efforts to create with all the shapes we have learned; he enjoys creating toys and musical instruments using recycled materials. Next unit Cassius will work on taking some leadership roles and using more Chinese to communicate with teachers and friends.  Cassius is amazing, keep up the wonderful things you are doing!

Napping, but not so much

Each weekend, Kate and I have great hopes of the boys napping and thus, us too, by extension. This happens less and less, sadly. Saturdays are my days to sleep in, and Sundays are Kate's. This used to mean that Kate would get to nap with Maceo on Saturdays and I would on Sundays. Both boys now actively fight the nap, and Cassius pretty much only falls asleep in the car. Maceo almost never naps. We still try, though, and on a recent Sunday afternoon, I lay down with him in my bed and told him to get ready to be still and try to sleep.

"Can I sleep on you, Daddy?"

"No, you weight something like 60 pounds! Let's just snuggle." 

"Mama lets me sleep on her."

"Well, it's too uncomfortable for me."

"OK, but you're missing out on the good stuff!" he told me.

And I did because in the end, neither of us took a nap.

Storytime with Cassius

At Yu Ying, parents and relatives can come in and be mystery readers during a class's library time.  The PK3 teachers waited several months so that the little ones could get their routines established at school and (in theory) wouldn't be crying every day about missing mom and dad.    So I went and read to Cassius's class.

It was ah-dorable.




I brought Room on the Broom to read because it's one of Cash's favorite.  When he saw me waiting for the class in the library, he got all shy and quietly whispered, "Momma....." and came over for a hug.  Once they were all seated - and about 4 of them were approximately 1" from my knees,as close as they could get without touching - I brought out the book for them to see.  Before I could introduce it, Cassius calls out, "Momma! Momma!  These (gesturing around him, dramatic pause, dramatic pause) are all my friends."  


Because apparently Room on the Broom is everyone's favorite book in there, it took me about 20 minutes to get through it. Adorable interruptions abounded!  Spoiler info left and right, which animal was getting on the broom next, what object fell off the witch, shouts of everything, small and large, that happens in the book, basically, well before I got to reading those particular parts.   We spent so much time on Room with a Broom we didn't have time for another book.  Three year olds and time management were never meant to go together. 

Maceo learns about the ways of the world

Maceo was having a hard time the other night, not listening well and getting scolded and having privileges revoked. By the time we went upstairs to get ready for bed, both Kate and I were a bit frustrated with him. In the bathroom, he and I loaded up the app we are using during tooth brushing to encourage getting all the teeth and brushing for the full 2 minutes. Kate poked her head in and said, "The way Maceo has been behaving, I don't think he gets to play the brushing game." "Ok," I said and turned the phone off. Kate left to get Cassius ready for bed. Maceo turned to me and exclaimed with some disbelief, "She tells you what to do, too?!"

Election Day Observations

On the way to Yu Ying on this auspicious Tuesday morning, Maceo, Cash and Nick listened to Story Bots, a current favorite cartoon band (if that is a thing).  But then Maceo said he thought Trump would beat Hillary because "he took all her words." 

Here's hoping some glass ceilings get broken tonight. 

Single Dropoff Nirvana

Well, the time has come for some monetary and scheduling efficiencies in the Manoloewen household.  As of Monday, August 29, Maceo and Cassius attend the same school.  That's right, single dropoff (and pickup) nirvana.  And, gloriously, wonderfully, liberatingly, no more full-time daycare fees!  Nick and I already planning where we'll purchase our second getaway home, perhaps some pied-a-terre in the south of France or, if we are feeling splurgy, something tucked away in the Seychelles.  Not too ostentatious, of course.  Understated, classy.  You know.

But, because the universe has a snarky sense of humor, we've been kept from celebrating fully due to our obstinate little 3 year old's inability to potty train.  So, there's that.  I'm reminded what a great school it is, staffed with wonderful teachers and administrators, many of whom I'm now talking to 2-3 times per day to track Cassius' utter lack of progress on making it to the potty.  I imagine him going to bed each night, snickering just a little in his fox sleeping bag, secretly celebrating how much control he, such a little person, has over our entire family.

Here's the only photo I was able to take of Cassius on his first day.  No kisses goodbye, no eye contact.  Just some total devotion to a train (god bless that train!) that allowed me to walk away with just a smidge less anxiety I had when entering the room.

Et voila, our kindergartner, wrestling with wanting to smile but letting nervousness win.