Mikey and Development

Mikey is his own "man" - that is, nothing YOU think or say about him influences him in any way most of the time (or me either). And he is such a funny mix of things. I think I already mentioned that we are having issues with appropriate behaviors and appropriate touching now that he's entered puberty. He'll be going along on the Internet, looking a Clifford, Sponge Bob Squarpants, or combing the Disney site for news about when revamped attractions will reopen. And then he's onto a site with scampily-clad men and/or women.

Age apprpriate?  How about, "Age gamut." After many years, he has pulled out VHS (that'll tell you how long) tapes of Percy (from the Thomas the Train collection) and "I love Trains" - a preschool video. Go figure.

He loves music. Opera, classical, Celtic and SOME rock. His mom tells me he doesn't tolerate the 70s and 80s collection she prefers, and he will not tolerate either of us playing our guitars and/or singing. He doesn't like much regular TV and he will watch videos - well, "watch" needs explaining. He moves through them quickly, skipping major parts; then he'll fixate on one section and play it over. and over. and over. AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER >>>>>>>.

Ah, well. It's MIKEY, after all ......

Mikey / Socialization

It varies with Mikey. But Saturday, he came in, walked out to the kitchen where Grandpa and I were, and said, "Hello, Grandmother. Hello, Grandfather" before he started wandering off.

And he was responsive to questions - once we got his attention :-). 

"Mikey. MIKEY." (Eyes finally on me.) "We are having chicken for dinner. We are baking potatoes. Do you want a sweet potato, or a regular potato?"

"Sweet potato!"

"OK."

Hey, it's a step forward!!

He also was cooperative when he came back from doing chores with Grandpa and David and I were still using the computer to complete math. He asked for the computer and I said, "10 minutes."

(David protested, "10 MORE minutes??" I said, "Probably not but I want to set expectations for Mikey.")

So he went away and came back when we told him it was OK, without any protest. I love the good days.

David / Math /Responsibility

Normally, I send an assignment for the week to David over the weekend. It includes sets of items for him to review online and/or worksheets. This past Sunday (after we'd had the boys for a more-or-less normal Saturday), we were going out of town - and I totally forgot to send anything.

Got an email this morning:

i did two of the three review items at the front of the review section.

one of them (interior/exterior angles) i couldn't do.

(What he was referring to was ALEKS' automatic putting out review items based on recent work.)

I was totally jazzed that he took the initiative to do some work absent an assignment! Especially in light of some recent, totally irresponsible and typical teenage behavior ...

And, YES, I acknowledged and praised the behavior!!

Aunt Lori

Aunt Lori was here on a short visit (my slightly younger sister) - and David was apparently quite taken with her. She lives near Ft. Lauderdale, and sent a shirt for him for Christmas one year that he's almost worn out. He was with some friends the other day and started talking about her. His mom reminded him, "You know, she's really your GREAT aunt."
"Really?" David responded, "But she's so YOUNG!!"

David

MATH
David sent me an email regarding a quiz I gave him (through ALEKS). He advised me, "I got ___%, which is x / y right. In fractional terms, x/y [fraction simplified]." [I left out the actual numbers on purpose.]

David has always found tests difficult; especially, timed tests. I started giving him quizzes in ALEKS (which are timed; but I set the time really long). He is doing better on these; and more importantly, seems less intimidated by the quiz function. I know many kids are test-phobic; this just seems a good way to get him used to the idea.

SOCIALIZATION
A really fabulous thing happened: someone from the home school group invited David and a couple of other kids over to play a role-playing game. David actually asked his mom not to stay, and he did OK. He's been invited back!

Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma

Yes the topic is Mikey. He was running around in the yard today, and said, "Let's Go!"

I said, "Where do you want to go, Mikey?"

He responded, "Ride the subway."

"And where are you going to ride to?"

"Balloon ride," he replied.

We often figure out later what Electric-Company-esque rationale exists with these notions, but I'm stumped right now ....

Football!

Background: I am from the Pittsburgh (PA) area. You Know What That Means, at least when it comes to football ...

Neither of the boys is big on sports. David takes karate lessons; neither of them is into any kind of ball sport; they do like to hike.

I am (see "Background") a Steelers fan. They boys were over the Saturday and Sunday of the last two playoff series games. I have a Terrible Towel, and made David wave it and yell, "Yea Steelers." (Also had to explain some of the game to him - no snickering at me, Siblings!!).

At the end of the evening (after the win over the Jets), David was on the phone with his mother, letting her know we were about to come home. She must have asked about the game; David said the Steelers had won. AND THEN he said:

THE STEELERS ARE THE ONLY REASON I WATCH FOOTBALL.

Go, David!  Grandma has succeeded in educating you well.