tidbits

Me: [stepping into Owen's room] Owen, it's time to settle down right now and go to sleep.  You are very tired and if you want to have fun with Daddy tonight, you need to get some sleep or else we'll have to have an early bedtime.
Owen:  I don't like to sleep anymore.  I want to stay awake all the time.  I don't want to sleep, I just keep my eyes open all the time long.
Me:  I understand that, but I can tell you are tired.  Time to lay down and get some rest.
Owen:  [looks me in the eyes]  No.  I don't take orders.
Me:  [silence. dazed silence.  remembers uttering those exact words a few times in a row a few days back after getting a few too many marching orders from a 3 year old]
Me:  [deciding to fight or flight]  Well, sir, yes you do.  You see, mommy and daddy are all grown up and we have been kids before and we know all about how to grow up.  We know what is best for you and we get to obey God's rules and teach you to obey our rules and God's rules too.  So tell me Owen, who is in charge in this house?
Owen:  [a bit sassily]  Mommy and Daddy!
Me:  ...and who gets to obey?
Owen:  Me. [pause] And Asher.
Me:  [thinking myself the poster-mommy of authoritative yet calm]  Owen, I love you.  I want you to be healthy.  Time to lay down quietly and sleep or rest.
Owen:  I don't take orders, Mommy!

Well, I am not the poster-mommy.  I won't detail all of the ensuing events.  What I ended up 'winning' was 5-10 minutes of him lying quietly with eyes closed on the bed, and then if he couldn't sleep he could just stay quietly in his room.  Didn't get a nap, and boy did it show at bedtime.  Anyway, the crux of the matter was the absolute self-control it took to not explode in laughter and give up my position entirely when he came out with his response to my directive.  Granted, all of this may sound pretty harsh, but if you were in my shoes, you'd see all of what goes on around here and realize there is some law and order needed...usually firmer than what I give, actually :} 
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Owen LOVES the They Might Be Giants DVD for kids with songs about science that Aunt Pam and Uncle Ethan sent for Christmas.  He particularly loves Solid, Liquid, Gas, a song about the phases of matter.  'Mommy, I want solid liquid!!!' is frequently heard around here.  I also find him humming the tune under his breath.  He's apparently started to grasp onto the details of the song.  Today I was saying at one point that I was getting really warm, while changing the sheets in our room upstairs.  Owen says, 'Mommy, if you get warm enough I'm going to drink you all up!  You'll turn into a liquid.'
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We brought home our CSA veggies today in the big yellow Farmer Dave's bin.  I was carrying Asher and the crate (don't ask me how...mommy super-power) and Owen ran up ahead of me and said, 'I'll be that gentle-man and open the door!'  I was very impressed.  Daddy must be doing some good training behind the scenes.  Then, later in the day Owen saw a package that had been delivered to the front stoop.  I told him he could go out and get it.  I hear the front door close behind him, then a muffled, 'Mommy, I need you to be that gentle-man!' and I step to the door to see his arms all full of package.  Very cute.
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Turn away, those who dislike potty stories.  Totally out of the blue, Owen went to the potty by himself today (we've been working on this...he'd been very demanding of me standing by his side each and every time, which was getting older than old), and came back BEAMING with his chest puffed out and yelled, 'Mommy I went to the potty all by mySELF and I went potty like a big DADDY!'  After a high five, I queried the details, then got a demonstration 10 minutes later after a bladder refill.  'See mommy, I stand on my stool and then if I stick my tummy out really far the pee pees go in the potty!'  Well, actually first they land on the back of the toilet seat and then aim is readjusted so they hit the mark.  But I have to say it was pretty impressive for a self-taught 3 year old.  Reuel says he had nothing to do with actively teaching him that.  Owen is quite, quite proud of himself on this one.