Yesterday, for Mother's Day, we visited the cemetery where two of Anthony's great-grandmothers are buried. When we explained that this was where Grandma Tillie was and we were leaving flowers for her, he asked if we were in Heaven (because that's where Grandma Tillie is).
Gender Bias and Kids' Clothing
In theory, I'm against assigning strong gender roles to young children. In practice, I am pleased to have an infant girl that I can dress in cute dresses and things with bows, flowers, etc.
So, I was surprised when I went to the park with my baby girl (at just about two weeks old) dressed in what I assumed was unambiguously a girl's outfit (a cute outfit that included a bow on her light green shirt and white and green flowers on the pants), and an older lady said, "He's so cute!" She could not be convinced that this was a girl baby, despite my attempts to work "she" into the conversation. Apparently, if the clothes aren't pink or purple, it must be a boy baby.
The Wisdom of Anthony
The day after our new baby's due date, Anthony told me that the new baby couldn't come yet because she had to wait until spring. I asked him to look outside and see if there was snow on the ground or flowers. Spring is here! (And I guess it's a good thing the baby didn't come a week early - it snowed then and it would have just confused the whole seasons issue.)
Later that evening, Anthony asked me if I was happy. I told him I was, but I was a little disappointed that Cecilia hadn't come yet. He explained to me that she couldn't come yet because she was still growing. She had to get bigger and bigger and bigger first. He said she'd come tomorrow (which, when Anthony says it, sounds like a British pronunciation of tomato and means some time in the future).
Not the Expected Reaction...
On a recent visit to our house, my mom ended up with a small pickup truck of Anthony's in her sweatshirt pocket (presumably he gave it to her to hold on a walk or something). She found it when she returned home (about 2 hours away by plane). She told him about it on a video call as if it were a funny story, "Guess what I found in my pocket?" and she held it up. He immediately started crying hysterically. She promised to bring it back next time she visits.
Since then, Grandma and Grandad have been called thieves and criminals and bad guys. Grandad (my dad) eventually convinced Anthony that he hadn't stolen it, only Grandma.
For weeks if you asked Anthony how he was feeling, he might say, "A little sad." When asked why he felt that way, he said, "Because of my pickup truck. My favorite pickup truck. Grandma took it." (As far as I can tell, it was not a favorite pickup truck and he didn't he didn't even miss it before Grandma found it and told him about it.)
Almost every time he talks to my mom he asks to see the pickup truck. When they traveled somewhere else, he asked if they took it with them (they did not).
Meanwhile, Anthony left a small Sheriff car at his other grandfather's house. He knew he was missing it before we even left their house (it was eventually discovered under their couch and he got it back the next week...it's one advantage of only living 5 minutes away by car and visiting every week). He told my mom about it and she asked if these grandparents were also criminals. They were not.
Recently, my dad asked Anthony if he could keep the pickup truck. Anthony said, "Sure!" Apparently, you just have to ask nicely to get a different reaction. Just don't be a criminal.
What Sleeping Anthony Wants: Part 2
Anthony took a nap on the couch recently, using my lap as a pillow. In the middle of it, without waking up all the way, he said, "Stop holding me!" So, I moved my arm. He then said, "I want a big hug." I gave him one and he said, "Stop holding me." So, I let go. He sat up, but didn't open his eyes and said, "I need a big hug." I told him I didn't know the difference between a big hug and holding. He re-stated his need for a big hug, so I gave him one. He said, "That's holding." So, I let go. (Eventually, he lay back down and fell asleep again.)
A Knock-Knock Joke
I told the boys this knock-knock joke. (I don't think I made it up; it feels like I heard it a long time ago and just recently remembered it, but I don't know where I heard it originally.)
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive you! (I love you!)
Anthony's reaction: Big smile on his face. "I love you too!"
Francis' reaction: Walks to the kitchen, opens the fridge, gets a jar of olives, brings it to me and demands one.
Going Pro
If I'm cooking dinner, Anthony says I am a chef (and he is too if he's helping). If we're looking for something, we're detectives. If his Daddy picks up a pizza on the way home from work, then he's a pizza delivery man. I didn't know that was all it took to be a professional!
Mommy, you're so...
The first time I wore a new, solid red shirt, Francis (2) looked at me admiringly and said, "Mommy, you're so red!"
Finding the Story
Recently, Anthony and Francis went with their Dad to watch an older cousin's sporting event. It started an hour late due to a power failure. When they got home, I didn't hear anything about the sport, only about the power failure. It wasn't enough to say there was one. Anthony kept telling the story and it got more elaborate every time. Eventually, despite not knowing anything about the cause of the power failure or observing any of the following, the story was, "A bad guy crashed into a telephone pole and the electricity went out. Then the fire trucks came and put up road blocks and the police came. Then the electricity bucket truck came and fixed the power."
Sometimes
Francis (age 2) describes things as happening "sometimes" that leave you wondering what happens the rest of the time, as in, "Sometimes, I wear pants at the airport." Really? Shouldn't he always wear pants if he's at the airport? I want to ask what happens the rest of the time. Is it that he only sometimes goes to the airport? Or does he think he sometimes runs around naked at the airport or wears a dress or pajamas? Or does he just mean he takes them off to go potty? Maybe he used to wear a diaper, but now he doesn't?