My Fourth Grader

Somtimes I feel like the 4 year old gets all the blog love. Probably because he's around me all.the.time and I just have more to say about him. That...and he's totally ridiculous.

Not to be left out is the FOURTH GRADER. People, let me just tell you, fourth grade sucks. It just does, as I mentioned before in my rant on homework. We'll survive. Thank goodness there is a liquor store nearby. I kid, I kid.

Fourth grade plus a new neighborhood and new friends? Well, that part is pretty awesome. I've talked about where we lived before, it was pretty ghetto fabulous. It wasn't HORRIBLE, I went for walks, took the kids to the park and felt fairly safe. It was just run down and dirty and depressed...and not getting any better. I couldn't wait to move even though I was a little stressed about all the changes that would mean for everyone.

I can't even begin to explain how awesome it is when your kid comes home from school and the firs thing he wants to do is run outside and play..and ride bikes...and just be a KID. It's awesome. It's something we just didn't have before and something I always wanted for my kids. In general, I think this is one of those things that we just take for granted. As a kid I was always outside running around and playing so the fact that my kids really couldn't do that ate at me.

Tonight he came home in time to eat dinner and do chores. It was 6:15 and he asked if he could go back out and come home by 7:30. I let him go even though he still has things to do. Our hours of daylight are dwindling and I can't help it...it makes me happy to see him so happy. He gave me a hug and ran out the door.

I love that kid.

Fourth Grade Homework

Anyone that has a child old enough to have homework knows that it's not just for the kids, it's for the parents as well. And it sucks for everyone! Aiden spent his early elementary days in a Montessori school. It was a great school that I truly do miss and a major perk (or so I thought...) was no homework. Well, very little homework, he did have spelling that we worked on each night.

The downside to no homework? We didn't really fully grasp what he was struggling in. He always made it seem that he was doing fine and while his teacher would say he needs to work on his math facts it was never made out to be something he was falling behind in, just something he could practice. So when we'd think about it or had time we'd run through some extra math games, we put a game on his DS to practice addition, etc. We went through 1st-3rd grade thinking that he was doing okay.

Now, here we are in a traditional public school with homework each night in math and spelling and he's behind. I feel like this is my fault and when I'm upset with myself I tend to take it out on other people. I try not to show him how frustrated I am because he's frustrated too...but o.m.g. I have a whole new appreciation for why my dad threw his hands up while trying to help me with geometry when I just didn't get it. It's painful to watch!! Every night it's a battle and I am just hoping that sometime soon that light will go on and all those little tricks that we learn while memorizing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division will just click.

Until then, send advil and wine. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Another Aiden Moment

We had a bit of a melt down this morning. Let me start at the beginning.

Last week I was going through Aiden's back pack and found a birthday party invite. I looked at it and it was for a little boy in his class. I've talked to this boys mom a few times and I think we'd get a long great...so I ask Aiden if he wants to go. (Because let's be honest, if I didn't want to go...I wouldn't have even asked) He, of course, says yes. After all, birthday parties mean cake, friends and toys.

Fast forward to yesterday, the day before the party. Guess what? Mommy never RSVP'd for the party! Now, if it had been a close friend or family member, no biggie. I'd call and tell them I'm an ass but yes, we are coming. For someone we barely know? Nope, can't do that. I know what goes in to planning these parties...planning the food and the goodie bags and making sure everything is set to go. The last thing you want is some asshole calling the day before and saying "oh by the way, my rugrat and I will be there after all" and messing everything up.

I explained to Aiden that I didn't think we'd be able to go when he asked about it yesterday. He didn't make a huge deal out of it.

Until this morning. At 9am he starts asking about the party. Over and Over and Over again. I'm feeling about *this* big. I tried explaining why we can't just show up and that we don't have a gift...and that the party starts in an hour and there is no way we'll have time to get ready and get a gift, even if I would show up unexpected.

I'm sitting with Aiden on my lap, explaining that he's not in trouble and that we'll do something else...we have the Spring Festival at 2 today and we can call his mommy and plan a playdate sometime soon. It's going well. And then there is this:

M: Sweetie I will talk to his mommy tonight if they're at the festival
A: not paying attention, poking at my belly You have a squishy belly laughing in delight
M: Um, yes. Anyway, we'll set something up with his mommy...
A: His mommy has a squishy belly too more laughing
M: Aiden, that's not nice, you shouldn't comment on people squishy bellies.
A: But mommy, I've seen her...her belly is squishy too!
M: Really Aiden, it's not polite to say things like that. It's okay to have a squishy belly
A: Cracking up You have a squishy belly and daddy has stinky breath!

Yea, nothing like your 6 year old playing on your insecurities. Lovely

And...the birthday party has been forgotten in another fit of laughter!