Dibs and Dabs

Driving Aidan to karate practice this afternoon, Aidan asked if he could look at the GPS.

"No!"  Pax responded in a slightly panicked voice.  He continued,
"Mommy NEEDS the GPS so her knows where her is going.  That is why you CANNOT HAVE the GPS."

Oddly, Aidan had no response.  I'm afraid he realized the truth of Pax's words.... never mind the dojo is just 3 miles away from home.  And even worse, at the tender age of three, Pax already knows how directionally challenged his mother is.

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Last week, our family hit a bit of a rough patch.  Thursday was particularly awful since Pax and I were completely miserable at having to go to both Food Lion and Wal-Mart on the same day.  In this case, though, Misery did not love Company.  Thus, Pax decided to throw the Mother Of All Tantrums.  I thought I was past the point where my children's behavior was embarrassing to me.  I thought I'd seen enough of it to not let it bother me.  I was wrong.  It was the kind of scene that  induces visceral flashbacks, that makes you shudder in horror, that leaves a staggering memory in its wake.

But as I steered my cart back to the car, the incurable optimist in me offered this tidbit:  "Well, Anne, look at the public service you provided.  Pax's Mother of All Tantrums provided those teenage cashiers a healthy reminder to practice safe sex. What a contribution you and your son have made to this little community today!"

Wise words from the voices inside my head.
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Want to know more about that rough patch?  Take a listen to the book Leo composed at school last week.  It's titled "Pax Bit Me."  (Editor's note:  the author's spelling is in caps; "grown up writing" in italics)
PAX BIT ME.

ONE DRA I WAS GINE TREST.  I TUC SUTHEEN FUM PAX.  HE BIT ME. I CRID.
One day I was getting dressed.  I took something from Pax.  He bit me.  I cried.

PAX GOT IN CHUBL.
Pax got in trouble.  

DAD PUT A BAADAD ON ME.
Dad put a band-aid on me.

I GOT DRES.
I got dressed.

AND I WIT TO JIMNASTICS.
And I went to gymnastics.  

The illustrations are hilarious.  On page 1, when Leo cried, the stick figure has a speech bubble with "Mom!" written plaintively inside of it.  On page 2, when Pax gets in trouble, Mom, Dad, and Leo, all have sad, frowny faces.  Pax is grinning.

And on the last page, apparently, we all get into our Motor Home to drive off to gymnastics together...

(Just be sure the GPS is working, will you?)