Tonight I got an explanation from Alex about what Uncle Ben meant when he said "With great power comes great responsibility."
It means: "You need to help people and share things and not be a thieve."
Cool. That sorts it out then.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Alex hasn't watched the M-rated Spiderman for about 6 months. We had let him watch bits of it under supervision for a while, but the boundaries kept getting pushed back and it became a bit hard to police. After a spurt of what we saw as possible 'copycat' behaviour we realised that a blanket ban was called for.
Alex took it pretty well, all things considered. He likes to know where he stands and is a rules boy, after all. When we explained the ratings system - that M-rated things are only for grown-ups, PG is for older kids if their parents say yes, and G is for any one - he seemed fine with it. We also described in some details the reasons why M rated things were for adults, namely that they showed bombs, guns and other stuff that could give kids nightmares, or stuff that kids would find boring or wouldn't be able to understand easily.
He then proceeded to find a loophole in the system by locating the one Spiderman cartoon DVD that is in fact G-rated (even though it features a scary-looking baddie called Venom). We've let him watch it on occasion until such time as his behaviour indicates it's not doing him any favours. He displayed a remarkable understanding of the ratings system recently by commenting, "Mum, I don't know why this Spiderman cartoon is G. It's got lots of bombs and fighting and things. It really should be PG at least." I asked him if he thought that meant he should stop watching it, and he assured me that, no, it was ok, he could handle it.
Recently we went out and my mum came over to baby-sit. Alex, like the cat that ate the canary, convinced her to let him watch some of the M-rated Spiderman while we were out. I can imagine his saucer-like eyes and the illicit thrill of getting away with something so devious!
When we came home and it was revealed that Nan had allowed him to watch it, Nan and Alex were each quick to point the finger at each other. Nan claimed Alex had told her he was allowed to watch it. Alex just shrugged and said "Well YOU let me."
Today he further emphasised his point by commenting, "Nan is the grown-up and I am the kid. The grown-up gets to say yes or no if a kid can watch something or not. Nan said I could. If she didn't want me to she should have said no."
He also told me that Peter Parker's Uncle Ben says "With great power comes great responsibility." I asked him if he knew what that meant. His eyes glinted. "Yes" he replied, "but I'm not telling you right now."
I guess I'll just have to wait to find out.
Alex took it pretty well, all things considered. He likes to know where he stands and is a rules boy, after all. When we explained the ratings system - that M-rated things are only for grown-ups, PG is for older kids if their parents say yes, and G is for any one - he seemed fine with it. We also described in some details the reasons why M rated things were for adults, namely that they showed bombs, guns and other stuff that could give kids nightmares, or stuff that kids would find boring or wouldn't be able to understand easily.
He then proceeded to find a loophole in the system by locating the one Spiderman cartoon DVD that is in fact G-rated (even though it features a scary-looking baddie called Venom). We've let him watch it on occasion until such time as his behaviour indicates it's not doing him any favours. He displayed a remarkable understanding of the ratings system recently by commenting, "Mum, I don't know why this Spiderman cartoon is G. It's got lots of bombs and fighting and things. It really should be PG at least." I asked him if he thought that meant he should stop watching it, and he assured me that, no, it was ok, he could handle it.
Recently we went out and my mum came over to baby-sit. Alex, like the cat that ate the canary, convinced her to let him watch some of the M-rated Spiderman while we were out. I can imagine his saucer-like eyes and the illicit thrill of getting away with something so devious!
When we came home and it was revealed that Nan had allowed him to watch it, Nan and Alex were each quick to point the finger at each other. Nan claimed Alex had told her he was allowed to watch it. Alex just shrugged and said "Well YOU let me."
Today he further emphasised his point by commenting, "Nan is the grown-up and I am the kid. The grown-up gets to say yes or no if a kid can watch something or not. Nan said I could. If she didn't want me to she should have said no."
He also told me that Peter Parker's Uncle Ben says "With great power comes great responsibility." I asked him if he knew what that meant. His eyes glinted. "Yes" he replied, "but I'm not telling you right now."
I guess I'll just have to wait to find out.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Master negotiator
This morning Alex had two pieces of toast with honey for breakfast. Then he asked for a bowl of Weet Bix. One bite into the Weet Bix and he wanted two more pieces of toast. I was reluctant to make them as I thought his eyes were getting too big for his belly so I said that once he had finished the Weet Bix, I would make the toast.
"No mummy," he said, remaining calm and rational (not the "noooooo!" whine I had expected), " I do need the toast to be in front of me at the same time as the Weet Bix. I just do."
I repeated that I didn't want him to run out of space and waste food.
"I promise you," he assured me, "It won't be wasted. Mummy, I still love you but I'm not happy about this. I really want you to make me the toast now. Please." I could see him mustering the strength to control himself as he looked at me plaintively.
I suppressed a smile and agreed to make the toast. I wanted to trust his judgement and reward him for asking in such a polite way instead of whinging. I figured if he then wasted the toast, my point about not wasting food would be made for future reference. But do you know what? He ate the whole thing.
"No mummy," he said, remaining calm and rational (not the "noooooo!" whine I had expected), " I do need the toast to be in front of me at the same time as the Weet Bix. I just do."
I repeated that I didn't want him to run out of space and waste food.
"I promise you," he assured me, "It won't be wasted. Mummy, I still love you but I'm not happy about this. I really want you to make me the toast now. Please." I could see him mustering the strength to control himself as he looked at me plaintively.
I suppressed a smile and agreed to make the toast. I wanted to trust his judgement and reward him for asking in such a polite way instead of whinging. I figured if he then wasted the toast, my point about not wasting food would be made for future reference. But do you know what? He ate the whole thing.
Evidence-based approach
Alex is nothing if not concrete in his thinking. After breaking his leg and having it in a CAM boot for 3 weeks, I told him that he could bear weight on it as long as it was comfortable, enough to move around and walk a bit.
He refused. Getting out of the bath he would fold the leg up like a bird with a broken wing. He insisted on being carried everywhere or he would crawl. He was just too nervous to put weight on it. I told him the doctor said it was ok to give it a try, it would be healed enough to put some weight on it by now. If he didn't find it comfortable he didn't have to do it. He shook his head. No.
"I'll wait till we get the second lot of x-rays done today, and if it looks fixed then, I'll walk on it," he declared.
And so it was that I carried him in to the specialists appointment, into a full waiting room. We had another discussion while we were waiting about maybe trying to walk a bit into the doctor's room, to show him how much better his leg was. No dice. So I carried the 21kg+ of him (as I had been doing for three weeks) into the consulting room. I actually suspected he was more than capable of walking on it, at least a bit, but I knew better than to force the issue with Alex, and besides, publicly admonishing a boy with a broken leg to walk might have looked a bit suss. The doctor showed him the x-ray and assured him it was ok to walk on it.
Imagine the amusement in the waiting room when, ten minutes later, the boy who had been carried in, walked out (albeit with a slight limp, but full of confidence.) That doctor is a miracle worker!
He refused. Getting out of the bath he would fold the leg up like a bird with a broken wing. He insisted on being carried everywhere or he would crawl. He was just too nervous to put weight on it. I told him the doctor said it was ok to give it a try, it would be healed enough to put some weight on it by now. If he didn't find it comfortable he didn't have to do it. He shook his head. No.
"I'll wait till we get the second lot of x-rays done today, and if it looks fixed then, I'll walk on it," he declared.
And so it was that I carried him in to the specialists appointment, into a full waiting room. We had another discussion while we were waiting about maybe trying to walk a bit into the doctor's room, to show him how much better his leg was. No dice. So I carried the 21kg+ of him (as I had been doing for three weeks) into the consulting room. I actually suspected he was more than capable of walking on it, at least a bit, but I knew better than to force the issue with Alex, and besides, publicly admonishing a boy with a broken leg to walk might have looked a bit suss. The doctor showed him the x-ray and assured him it was ok to walk on it.
Imagine the amusement in the waiting room when, ten minutes later, the boy who had been carried in, walked out (albeit with a slight limp, but full of confidence.) That doctor is a miracle worker!
Transformers defy logic - who knew?
Alex often contemplates the many absurdities of life, and, in his own time, poses a question aloud to which there really is no sensible answer.
Most recently, it was: "When a Transformer is a car, it's the size of a normal car because people drive in it. But when they turn into robots they are as big as buildings. How does that happen?"
Me: "...." (Firstly, he's never actually seen transformers as far as I know so how does he know this information? Must be from pre-school discussions. Secondly, 0_0)
Most recently, it was: "When a Transformer is a car, it's the size of a normal car because people drive in it. But when they turn into robots they are as big as buildings. How does that happen?"
Me: "...." (Firstly, he's never actually seen transformers as far as I know so how does he know this information? Must be from pre-school discussions. Secondly, 0_0)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A for effort
Sometimes I wonder whether I overdo the praise.
Alex and Maya had been colouring in. Alex, in his usual focussed style, had worked hard to get the colours correct and all his colouring in the lines. Maya, being two, had scribbled randomly across the page.
I complimented Alex on his efforts.
"Good work, Maya," I added, commenting, "You've done purple all over yours."
Alex raised his eyebrows and leaned over conspiratorially, stage whispering to me, "Maya's is not really good work, Mum. It's actually pretty messy. Are you just saying that to make her feel happy?"
"Well it is good because she's tried to do a picture that she likes, and she is only 2..." I pointed out, trying to explain that I was commenting on the effort rather than the result.
On hearing this, he leant forward again and said to Maya, "Great work, Maya, that's really good work!"
Alex and Maya had been colouring in. Alex, in his usual focussed style, had worked hard to get the colours correct and all his colouring in the lines. Maya, being two, had scribbled randomly across the page.
I complimented Alex on his efforts.
"Good work, Maya," I added, commenting, "You've done purple all over yours."
Alex raised his eyebrows and leaned over conspiratorially, stage whispering to me, "Maya's is not really good work, Mum. It's actually pretty messy. Are you just saying that to make her feel happy?"
"Well it is good because she's tried to do a picture that she likes, and she is only 2..." I pointed out, trying to explain that I was commenting on the effort rather than the result.
On hearing this, he leant forward again and said to Maya, "Great work, Maya, that's really good work!"
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Interview That Made Me Come Out Of Blogging Retirement
When I saw the hilarious results of this interview on Bern Morley and the other greatfunnywonderful blogs (Jodie and Thea), I couldn't resist doing my own. It's kind of like the best kind of blog chainmail!
This interview took place while the kids were playing in the bath. Alex is 4yrs 4mths, Maya is 2years 2 mths (notice the nice symmetry there?) Also notice Maya gets a bit sassy which I am starting to think is more her temperament than her age...
1. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Alex: A superhero!
Maya: Cat.
2. How old are you?
A: 4
M: 1 (she has been saying this for six months. Four months ago, it was true. She hasn't caught on that 2 is the new 1)
3. How old am I?
A: 33 (correct)
M: 2 (maybe a delayed correct response to previous question? Either that or she's learning to count!)
4. How old is Dad?
A: 38
M: 8 (Ok so the counting's not going so well...)
5. What do you like most about pre-school/day care?
A: Playing with my friends
M: House. (Doesn't it make you wish you were 2 and could get away with such non-sequiturs?)
6. What do you like to do outside?
A: Run around and get pretend baddies with my friends.
M: No. House.
7. What do you like to do inside?
A: Everything. Play with robots.
M: Hello! Walking. So much.
8. What is your favourite toy?
A: Lego transformers and robots and Spiderman and a Ben 10 watch. (clearly writing his Christmas list aloud as he only actually owns one of those things)
M: Cat.
9. What is your favourite game?
A: The Ben 10 snap.
B: Jumping so higher.
10. What is your favourite TV show?
A: Spiderman and Ben 10 (again, watches neither of these)
M: Play School (good to see her comprehension of the words 'TV show' is accurate if nothing else)
11. What is your favourite movie?
A: Spiderman
M: Tinkerbell (again with the improved comprehension!)
12. What is your favourite book?
A: A Spiderman book. (Slightly disappointing given the 527 other books he owns, 236 of which are read to him nightly; but he seems to be working to a theme here)
M: Yes.
13. What is your favourite colour?
A: Red and blue and green and white and black (It's good to have options).
M: I like red.
14. What is your favourite number?
A: Let's start with letters. My favourite letter is S. My favourite number is one hundred.
M : Cat number.
15. What is your favourite food?
A: Stroganoff and spag bol.
M: Stroganoff (this is true, she would eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner if she could)
16. What is something that is really good for you?
A: Swinging on branches and things and that big spiderweb thing at the park. (well I suppose if you were Tarzan...)
M: No.
17. Who is your favourite friend?
A: Bayden and Bailey and Ky.
M: Horse eating bubbles. (this is not as esoteric as it sounds, she was playing with a horse in the bath at the time, which was indeed eating bubbles).
18. What time is bedtime?
A: 4'o'clock (yep we run a tight ship)
M: Cats. Sleeping. No not bedtime!
19. What time do you wake up?
A: 6.30 (got that right)
M: Morning. (fair call. Don't get pinned down to specifics)
20. Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Playing with Bailey's bumble bee transformer toy is actually my favourite thing.
M: I want to get out now. Myself. (tries to hoist own leg over bathtub. Interview abruptly halted).
11.
This interview took place while the kids were playing in the bath. Alex is 4yrs 4mths, Maya is 2years 2 mths (notice the nice symmetry there?) Also notice Maya gets a bit sassy which I am starting to think is more her temperament than her age...
1. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Alex: A superhero!
Maya: Cat.
2. How old are you?
A: 4
M: 1 (she has been saying this for six months. Four months ago, it was true. She hasn't caught on that 2 is the new 1)
3. How old am I?
A: 33 (correct)
M: 2 (maybe a delayed correct response to previous question? Either that or she's learning to count!)
4. How old is Dad?
A: 38
M: 8 (Ok so the counting's not going so well...)
5. What do you like most about pre-school/day care?
A: Playing with my friends
M: House. (Doesn't it make you wish you were 2 and could get away with such non-sequiturs?)
6. What do you like to do outside?
A: Run around and get pretend baddies with my friends.
M: No. House.
7. What do you like to do inside?
A: Everything. Play with robots.
M: Hello! Walking. So much.
8. What is your favourite toy?
A: Lego transformers and robots and Spiderman and a Ben 10 watch. (clearly writing his Christmas list aloud as he only actually owns one of those things)
M: Cat.
9. What is your favourite game?
A: The Ben 10 snap.
B: Jumping so higher.
10. What is your favourite TV show?
A: Spiderman and Ben 10 (again, watches neither of these)
M: Play School (good to see her comprehension of the words 'TV show' is accurate if nothing else)
11. What is your favourite movie?
A: Spiderman
M: Tinkerbell (again with the improved comprehension!)
12. What is your favourite book?
A: A Spiderman book. (Slightly disappointing given the 527 other books he owns, 236 of which are read to him nightly; but he seems to be working to a theme here)
M: Yes.
13. What is your favourite colour?
A: Red and blue and green and white and black (It's good to have options).
M: I like red.
14. What is your favourite number?
A: Let's start with letters. My favourite letter is S. My favourite number is one hundred.
M : Cat number.
15. What is your favourite food?
A: Stroganoff and spag bol.
M: Stroganoff (this is true, she would eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner if she could)
16. What is something that is really good for you?
A: Swinging on branches and things and that big spiderweb thing at the park. (well I suppose if you were Tarzan...)
M: No.
17. Who is your favourite friend?
A: Bayden and Bailey and Ky.
M: Horse eating bubbles. (this is not as esoteric as it sounds, she was playing with a horse in the bath at the time, which was indeed eating bubbles).
18. What time is bedtime?
A: 4'o'clock (yep we run a tight ship)
M: Cats. Sleeping. No not bedtime!
19. What time do you wake up?
A: 6.30 (got that right)
M: Morning. (fair call. Don't get pinned down to specifics)
20. Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Playing with Bailey's bumble bee transformer toy is actually my favourite thing.
M: I want to get out now. Myself. (tries to hoist own leg over bathtub. Interview abruptly halted).
11.
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