11 January
The other day we had the Callahan Christmas, trading our gifts between us after I was out all day shopping. I may not be able to buy things for myself, but at least I can buy stuff for other people and get off that way.
I got a t-shirt that has a little cat on it and says "What part of MEOW do you not understand?" and Romper Stomper on DVD, which, since it's about racist fascist skinheads, should have some blood on the face action, Russell-wise. Yum.
After the gift-giving, though, the kids were going to bed, and Bonnie said:
"Goodnight, Zoe!"
"What?"
"Goodnight, Zoe!"
"Did she just call me Zoe?" (my character name in Ol' Mange)
Cynthia: "O, she knows the whole movie by heart! Bonnie, do you wanna do the movie? Let's do the movie! 'Come in, Zoe'."
" 'Viola...' "
" 'I know, Zoe, I saw it through the window'."
" 'I am so sorry Viola'."
" 'Put the groceries down before you drop them and do more damage'."
" 'I just don't know what happened'."
" 'What happened, Zoe, is that you ran over little Leroy's dog'."
" 'I did, didn't I'."
At this point I was simply rolling with laughter. Hearing my lines, my inflections, in this little two-year-old's voice just slayed me. I love living with children.
Bonnie is absolutely refusing to be potty-trained.
Cynthia said that when she read my book she laughed when she read about when Molly was potty trained and how we were all complaining that she was so late and everything, when in fact she was two years and six months, whereas Bonnie is currently two years and ten months and is clinging to her diapers like Peter Pan, flat out refusing to grow up.
"Bonnie, do you want to go on the potty?"
"No."
"O c'mon, Bonnie, let's go to the potty."
"No, I do not want to go on the potty."
I say that it's time to start ridiculing her. You really cannot underestimate the power of a little jeering, I mean, you have to give them something to complain about to their shrinks when they are older! Although doing the old "only babies wear diapers!" routine doesn't work when what you have is a giant, hulking two-year-old who stomps around roaring "I'm a BABY!"
She will have to stay back in the nursery class, though, if she isn't trained, and she won't be able to swim this summer, and she loves the water, so maybe that'll do it.
Honestly, though, when they are big enough so that you can almost hand them the wipes and a fresh diaper and tell them to change themselves, enough is enough.
Today's horoscope:
You and your spouse notice different things and what one misses drives the other crazy. It's normal; relax and don't sweat it.
One year ago today:
Well...um... David Morse is in it, shooting a big gun.
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Last Updated Thurs 11 January 10:29:09 2001