The alarm clock flashes 4:00 AM. I switch on the lamp, find my glasses and robe, and trudge to his room with thermometer in hand. He's kicked his blanket off again and his white t-shirt is sticking to his laboring chest. The thermometer under his armpit reads 101 F.
After replacing the warm wash cloth on his forehead with a cold wet one, I kiss his hot head, thankful his fever hasn't increased, before heading back to bed and setting the alarm for 6:00 AM.
After replacing the warm wash cloth on his forehead with a cold wet one, I kiss his hot head, thankful his fever hasn't increased, before heading back to bed and setting the alarm for 6:00 AM.
"We`re spending the night with Daddy, yay!"
I point at the next word. He looks at it, then me.
"Jump."
"Jump," he repeats. I point again.
"The."
"Good."
He looks at me.
"What are they holding?" I ask, referring to the picture in the book.
"A rope?"
"Yes, rope," I say, pointing at the word again and turn the page.
"He. Jumps. The. Rope?"
"Yes, very good!"
I point at the next word. He looks at it, then me.
"Jump."
"Jump," he repeats. I point again.
"The."
"Good."
He looks at me.
"What are they holding?" I ask, referring to the picture in the book.
"A rope?"
"Yes, rope," I say, pointing at the word again and turn the page.
"He. Jumps. The. Rope?"
"Yes, very good!"
"Daddy let's us do it!"
"I don't like this."
He's poking the homemade dinner with a fork.
"You haven't tried it."
"It looks gross."
"Take a bite. Look, it's got meat and vegetables, make you strong and smart. Let me see your muscles!"
He lifts the sleeve of his shirt and flexes his thin arm muscles proudly.
"Puny! You need to eat your dinner."
"How many bites do I need to eat?"
"Five."
He starts the countdown with carefully selected bites, but soon he's lost count. Soon, he has an empty plate.
"I don't like this."
He's poking the homemade dinner with a fork.
"You haven't tried it."
"It looks gross."
"Take a bite. Look, it's got meat and vegetables, make you strong and smart. Let me see your muscles!"
He lifts the sleeve of his shirt and flexes his thin arm muscles proudly.
"Puny! You need to eat your dinner."
"How many bites do I need to eat?"
"Five."
He starts the countdown with carefully selected bites, but soon he's lost count. Soon, he has an empty plate.
"I have more fun with Daddy."
The streaming water is just the right temperature for a little boy, who brings enough toys for a birthday party.
"Mama! I'm ready to get out!"
"You need to wash your hair first. It's time you learned how to do it yourself."
"No! I can't!"
"Yes, you can. First, grab the green bottle. Put a little bit in your hand."
He squirts enough in his hand for twelve more showers.
"Rub it on your head and wash, wash, wash!"
"Aaughhhhh!!!! It's getting in my eyes!!!!"
"Okay, okay, okay. Here's the bucket of water. Once more. And the towel. Is that better?"
The streaming water is just the right temperature for a little boy, who brings enough toys for a birthday party.
"Mama! I'm ready to get out!"
"You need to wash your hair first. It's time you learned how to do it yourself."
"No! I can't!"
"Yes, you can. First, grab the green bottle. Put a little bit in your hand."
He squirts enough in his hand for twelve more showers.
"Rub it on your head and wash, wash, wash!"
"Aaughhhhh!!!! It's getting in my eyes!!!!"
"Okay, okay, okay. Here's the bucket of water. Once more. And the towel. Is that better?"
"When are we gonna go to Daddy's?"
"Goodnight, baby. I love you."
"Goodnight, baby. I love you."