Week Ten: Sociology 101
I'd like to say that I have art on the wall to nurture a love and appreciation for the arts in my kids. I'd like to say that we're following some sort of plan to stimulate and educate these kids of ours. But then sometimes I wonder if it's not just better to let them discover the wonderful things in this world naturally. Take Will for instance, I have four paintings (okay, well, prints) on our living room wall, one of which is Picasso's Blue Nude, one of my favorite, favorite paintings in the world. The subtle tragedy and sorrow have always drawn me to the woman in the painting, and I can still sit, looking at it and just get lost in the shades of blue and simple outline of the human figure. But I digress. Will loves to sit in his chair and just stare at wall with the paintings, cooing, squealing, and smiling. Hey, who needs a mobile?
Speaking of culture, we also all went to see the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown this weekend up on campus. Imagine, two months old, and already going to the theatre! Will made it through most of the show, and actually sort of watched the second act, but Emily is such a little citizen now. She sat there with her legs crossed, program in hand, and only got a little bit shy when Charlie Brown was saying a monologue and she thought he was talking to her. After the show, we went to the cast party at Ian's coworker's house (she was the assistant director) and Emily actually got to meet all the actors, which was really cool for her. These are the times that I truely appreciate living in a college town.
I guess I haven't talked too much about how Will lately with my anxiety about Emily starting kindergarten (and turning five in five days!). But he's doing great. He seems enormous, I've had to drag out the 3-6 month sizes already (well that's all pretty relative, but still!). He's also a pretty happy guy which (and I realize that I shouldn't compare, but I think that's the nature of the second child) isn't at all what Emily was like. Emily was, and still is, tempermental. It was a major event when she would coo, making this sweet little "ahh", and that was it for the week. But not Will. Just take his diaper off and he's so happy he carries on and on about it with these loud "Ohh" and "Arrg" sounds. Pretty much the only thing he's not happy about is waking up and being put down. At least that he has in common with his sister.
His great attitude is really making me dread his checkup this week, where he'll get the onslaught of shots, for, what I'm sure seems to babies, no good reason. Think life got a little bit better outside the womb? Finally getting control of those hands? Ha, how about several sharp jabs to the leg with an enormous needle? It's so hard, this road to personhood.
I'm actually finding myself trying to come up with questions to ask at this checkup. You do sort of feel like a bad parent when the doctor asks "So, do you have any questions?" and you have to answer, "Nope, none at all" and you find yourself looking at your mate like "God honey, my mind's a total blank, how about you?". In today's world of stress-parenting, it really seems like you should have your list of questions prepared, memorized, and laminated for god's sake.
So, needless to say, we're not exactly holding up flashcards for the baby, but I'm also not sure we're at the other end of the spectrum. But really, Will is obviously growing, he's a great eater, and I'm really not all that concerned, he seems to be doing great, so if it ain't broke...
Speaking of culture, we also all went to see the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown this weekend up on campus. Imagine, two months old, and already going to the theatre! Will made it through most of the show, and actually sort of watched the second act, but Emily is such a little citizen now. She sat there with her legs crossed, program in hand, and only got a little bit shy when Charlie Brown was saying a monologue and she thought he was talking to her. After the show, we went to the cast party at Ian's coworker's house (she was the assistant director) and Emily actually got to meet all the actors, which was really cool for her. These are the times that I truely appreciate living in a college town.
I guess I haven't talked too much about how Will lately with my anxiety about Emily starting kindergarten (and turning five in five days!). But he's doing great. He seems enormous, I've had to drag out the 3-6 month sizes already (well that's all pretty relative, but still!). He's also a pretty happy guy which (and I realize that I shouldn't compare, but I think that's the nature of the second child) isn't at all what Emily was like. Emily was, and still is, tempermental. It was a major event when she would coo, making this sweet little "ahh", and that was it for the week. But not Will. Just take his diaper off and he's so happy he carries on and on about it with these loud "Ohh" and "Arrg" sounds. Pretty much the only thing he's not happy about is waking up and being put down. At least that he has in common with his sister.
His great attitude is really making me dread his checkup this week, where he'll get the onslaught of shots, for, what I'm sure seems to babies, no good reason. Think life got a little bit better outside the womb? Finally getting control of those hands? Ha, how about several sharp jabs to the leg with an enormous needle? It's so hard, this road to personhood.
I'm actually finding myself trying to come up with questions to ask at this checkup. You do sort of feel like a bad parent when the doctor asks "So, do you have any questions?" and you have to answer, "Nope, none at all" and you find yourself looking at your mate like "God honey, my mind's a total blank, how about you?". In today's world of stress-parenting, it really seems like you should have your list of questions prepared, memorized, and laminated for god's sake.
So, needless to say, we're not exactly holding up flashcards for the baby, but I'm also not sure we're at the other end of the spectrum. But really, Will is obviously growing, he's a great eater, and I'm really not all that concerned, he seems to be doing great, so if it ain't broke...
posted by Kate @ 3:21 PM
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