Artisan Jeweler

Theo's been very into making bracelets using the Rainbow Loom at his day camp. However, I'm told the Rainbow Loom is actually rather challenging to use, and I was surprised Theo had the patience to do it, given that it requires a fair amount of fine-motor skill. So when he gave me my latest bracelet, I said, "Wow! You made that for me, all by yourself?!" He replied calmly, "No. I hired someone to help me, Mom."

I'm not sure how he paid this employee of his, but I wasn't surprised to see that he already sees himself as the boss in his fledgling enterprise.

Split Personality

Theo has two very distinct sides to his personality. The other day, they were on full display. First we had this conversation:

Me: Theo, I can pick you up from camp at either 4 or 5 this afternoon. Which would you prefer?
Theo: 5:00, Mom. Because that gives me and Maddy more time to punch each other!

Um...okay. Mr. Prizefighter then proceeded to show everyone who would pay attention the $3 he brought from his piggy bank for that day's field-trip walk to the dollar store, telling them, "I would like to use this to buy my mom a present! I'm going to buy her a candle."

Alas, his sweet idea did not end up happening. The lure of a bow-and-arrow set and a megaphone won out over my candle. A megaphone. Because he's not loud enough already. It's the gift that keeps on giving....

Mr. Romantic

So Theo's in love...with Sam's Early Intervention teacher, BeLinda. Every day, he brings something to show her, and I watch my normally self-assured boy get a bit shy and tongue-tied as he talks to her. Not long ago, after we dropped Sam off, he sighed and said, "I just love Teacher BeLinda, Mom. She makes my heart beat soooooo fast!"

Today is BeLinda's last day, much to Theo's dismay. He made her a card that says "I love you, BeLinda. We will miss you," and he picked out a hydrangea to bring to her. I asked him to hold the hydrangea in the car, and he settled the flowers on his lap and said, "I'm going to add lots of extra love to them!" Then he gently kissed the flowers and said, "Now, when Teacher BeLinda sees these, they will be kissing her because I kissed them."

Good heavens, where does he come up with this stuff?! Perhaps he'll be a romance novelist someday....

His Softer Side

For someone (lately) so into war and weapons and all things "boy," Theo is a total softie when it comes to the ladies. He has developed a crush on Sam's Early Intervention teacher, and every day he brings something new to show her. One recent day when we left, he said dreamily, "I just love BeLinda, Mom. She makes my heart beat sooooo fast. And she makes my eyes fill up with love." 

Police Intervention

We've been on vacation for a couple of weeks, but one morning we had an interesting start to the day after I turned off the cartoon Theo was watching:

Theo (picking up the unplugged hotel phone): I'm calling the police to come talk to you, Mom!
Me: Really? Why?
T: Because you turned off my show, and that was NOT a good choice!
Me: Well, I think the police have more important things to do than come talk to me about that.
Theo: They're just going to send the hotel manager to talk to you, Mom. [Pretends to call the cops.] They'll be here in a few minutes, Mom.
Me: Okay, well, I'll be sure to tell the police WHY I turned off the TV--because you tried to hit me. The police won't be very happy to hear about you trying to hit me. They don't like that....
Theo (turning pale): No!! Never mind! They're not coming! Don't tell them!!

Don't try to outsmart your mother, young child....

Literature and Booze

On the subject of Father's Day:

Theo: What are we doing on Father's Day, Mom?
Me: I'm not sure. I think Daddy wants some time to go read a book by himself, so you and me and Sam will probably go do something.
T: Well, how about I stay with Daddy and you and Sam go somewhere?
Me: I think Daddy wants to read ALONE, with no one talking to him.
T: Well, I won't talk to him--I'll just be reading my books about beer and wine and art.

Oh. Of course...

The Wisdom of Suze Orman

Theo woke up this morning and asked if he could watch TV. I told him he could put on PBS. I wandered downstairs 10 minutes later to find him watching Suze Orman.

Me: Theo, why are you watching this?

Theo: It's PBS. And it's REALLY good, Mom. You and Daddy should watch it! Have you watched it?

Me: Suze Orman? Not really. 

Theo: But it's very good information, Mom! It's about stuff like sending me to college. That's what's important, Mom--not having new, fancy cars and stuff.

Well. I'm glad to see he has his financial priorities straight, but given that our used, seven-year-old base-model minivan is our GOOD car, I don't think there's any worry about us blowing his college fund on a fancy new car.