Love Note

A couple months ago Christian handed me an envelope that he had found taped to his locker.  It had been placed there the day before when he had stayed home from school.  Thinking it was an invitation to a party, I opened the decorated envelope and read the enclosed:

I said, "Oh, Christian!  This is your first love note!  How sweet; You have a secret admirer! And she's a poet." 

Christian was embarrassed and completely appalled.  He told me not to tell ANYONE about this note, especially DAD because he likes to tease.

Although Christian has never found out who his secret admirer is, someone at school wanted to know what the note was about and who it was from.  Christian told her, "It's none of your business!"

I think it was brave of this girl to write such a note even though she didn't reveal herself.  I remember writing notes to certain boys when I was young.  Oh, I could write stories about that.

Refreshing Candor

Overheard while driving this afternoon:

Jojo:  "Christian, I'm talking to you, butt cheeks!"

Christian is the child who is forever daydreaming and who has vivid dreams during his sleep.  He also likes to express himself verbally and through the written word.

His class spends time writing daily.  Earlier in the year he wrote about topics that interested him, such as dinosaurs....

If I Had a Dinosaur

or dream houses (the kind that hold dreams).

If I Had a Dream House

Lately, he has been writing letters to me.  Last week he advised me on how to discipline Jojo when he screams.

What To Do If Jojo Screams

Jojo does not like Chuck E. Cheese, and I don't blame him. I don't have anything against Chuck E. Cheese, but such places induce such sensory overload that I want to stick a fork in my eye.

The letter I received today was about how refreshed he felt when he emptied his bladder.  The latest vocabulary word he puts to use, 'refreshed', has appeared many times in his recent communications. 

Full Bladder

Maybe he meant to say 'relieved' instead.  However, emptying the bladder is a good analogy for a confession. It really is.  Christian says he'll feel 'refreshed' when he makes his First Confession this month.   Instead of his full bladder causing him to feel tense thereby requiring relief, Christian instead felt invigorated once he released it all (probaby because he plays tetherball after lunch on the playground). And that's how our souls feel when we've made a good confession.

Speaking of confession, we had an incident with one of our neighbors last week.  It was very unfortunate that she made Christian and another boy apologize without getting the full story.  She took her daughter's word (her daughter is three years older than Christian) that he and the other child were making fun of her dead dog when they were actually singing silly rhyming songs about an annoying purple dinosaur and other ditties.  Christian and his friend were in the midst of helping other neighbors move things from their garage to their house, and after getting the story straight I realized that the boys were most likely ignoring this girl who wanted to play with them.

After my neighbor told me they were singing a song about "mustangs and dogs" or something, I asked Christian in front of her if he was singing about mustangs and dogs.  He asked, "What's a mustang?"

I have been pondering this all weekend because this is not the first time this neighbor has come to complain about Christian's apparent cruelty towards her daughter who obviously pines for her mom's attention. This neighbor has come over to complain about the other neighborhood boys even when she admits that our boys were not responsible for teasing her daughter.  Why she still came to tell me is beyond me, but I rounded up the kids and asked them to stop bothering her daughter that time.

What really concerned me about this latest incident was the way she forced the kids to go into her house and apologize to her daughter.  She did not tell me this when she came over, yet she knows that my kids are not allowed in her house.  Christian was scared, and secondly, a forced apology does not teach kids a thing, especially if you did not witness the episode. I am prepared for the next time and I will ask the neighbor to bring her accuser daughter to explain to me and the boys what happened.  It will be her word against theirs.  And if I feel that there was wrongdoing on their parts, I will ask them to apologize.  I am sure Christian didn't feel 'refreshed' when he apologized to the accuser.

Sometimes adults are more difficult than children.

"Diversity Is..."

Christian's picture was chosen recently for his grade group at school for the PTA art show, and the theme is "Diversity Is..." I wonder how diversity was explained to his class. In his picture it shows Christian fishing with Mike and his brothers.  I especially like the eagle and the curly clouds. We were allowed to vote for his picture and we'll see if it gets selected to the next level.

Mating, Interrupted

With Christian's interest in all things found in nature, Mike got him this caterpillar cage.  Well, it was supposed to be for the caterpillars, but then he and his friend put a monarch butterfly and a few ladybugs in there.  They added some lovely flowers and a bowl filled with cottonballs soaked with water for the butterfly. 

Christian thinks we should have an animal shelter to help all creatures so they can mate and then we can take care of the babies. I disagree.  When he's a park ranger or zoologist or something like that then he can pursue that goal. He knows the word 'mates' and he understands that it has to do with having babies. 

Recently Christian told me that he saw two squirrels mating.  How did they do that, I asked.  "They rubbed each other's noses and then they swished their tails around."  That's good enough for me.

I convinced him that butterflies don't belong in such a small cage, so the lovely creature was freed.  But then so were the now dead caterpillars.  And I'd hoped to see them, especially the green one which was supposed to be a moth.  We always talk about how each living creature, even if it's just an earthworm, and each person has a purpose in life. 

"What's the purpose of a penis?" he asked yesterday. "Is it to have sex or something?"

It's amusing how Christian likes to ask 'big' questions in a casual manner.  It seems that his older friends have given him a little too much information.

"Why, yes, there are two purposes for a penis: mating and peeing.  Some of that sex stuff you'll hear more about when you are older," I told him.  "You don't need to talk about it too much with your friends yet because you're only 8 years old.  But if you have any questions -- any at all -- come to me or Dad and we'll answer them for you when the time is right." He nodded his head and that was that (for now).  I also reminded him not to talk about his or anyone else's privates because it's private. It's a broken record routine, but one that I hope sinks in. "It's not appropriate," I added.

Christian is aware that somewhere around 5th grade he'll have the big sex education talk at school.  Thank you, neighborhood boys, for keeping him abreast of such important news.

I feel like lately I'm catching glimpses of a pubescent Christian.  Today after school he gave me some momentous news: "Mom, I have something to tell you, but you're not going to like it."

"I'm sure I'll live.  Tell me," I said.

Christian breathlessly told me, "A GIRL likes me. She told her friend and her friend told me." She is the one he helped at the skating rink yesterday by rolling her to her mother after his classmate had fallen.

Me: "Why would I be upset about that?"

Christian: "Because I'm not allowed to have a girlfriend."

Me: "She's not your girlfriend, Christian.  Did you ask her on a date?  No.  She's a friend who happens to think you're cute, and that's ok."

Christian: "But I'm not allowed to have a girlfriend until I'm a teenager, right?" This is something I've been telling him since birth; not really, just since kindergarten. 

Me: "Maybe you'll be allowed to, but it's best not have a girlfriend for a really long time. And even then, it's best to have a group of friends you spend time with who are both girls and boys."

Christian: "When I'm about 15?" He needs to know the magic number.

Me: "I haven't decided yet, but it'll be a long time from now."

Plenty for him to ponder these days.

Bad Mom Week

Three little random vignettes:  First, I don't always join in my kids' reindeer games so they can learn a lesson. Second, I take all three to doctor appointments and grocery store errands because there is no alternative right now. Third, Christian perseveres through his hard homework assignment through tears as I, his mom, am having flu-like symptoms and want to call the assignment off.

Episode 1:

It's been a long week filled with doctor appointments, sick husband, sick children, and sick me.  Yesterday I went to the store with the kids after Gabriel's appointment to check on his ear (he'd had a burst ear drum and ear infection a couple weeks ago).  It's such fun to take three kids to the store, especially when they run around, fight, and/or play 'Me and My Shadow' behind my back.  I was not in the mood and I gave them fair warning before heading into Kroger.  Towards the end of our errand, Gaby and Christian thought it would be fun to 'hide' from me, but I decided it would be less stressful to pretend I didn't know they were hiding and continue shopping instead. I really should've been more concerned, but I figured if anyone got lost they'd learn a little lesson. I'd already scolded the boys and I just needed to finish shopping.

About 10 minutes later I heard over the intercom, "Can Uh-lay-nuh come to the cashier?"  I found Gaby sobbing with two Kroger employees by his side.  He told me it was Christian's fault he was lost.  How so, I asked.  "Because he was playing the hiding game!" I reminded him it was his fault he was lost; he shouldn't have strayed away from me to begin with.  By the way, it was not Gaby who sought out help. Two very attentive Kroger employees noticed him crying and asked if he was lost.

Episode 2:

A few nights ago I started to feel real woozy and feverish.  By 2:00 that afternoon I was ready to crawl into bed.  That evening Christian began work on some math word problems.  The more frustrated he became, the more exasperated I became.  It was a one-hour battle.  Finally I told him to put the homework away and leave it for the next morning.  This agitates Christian more than anything -- an unfinished assignment.  Oh no! It means he will be in trouble at school.  I explained, as patiently as I could, that I was tired and that he could complete it the next morning before school.  Then I lost it and took it away from him and proceeded upstairs to their room so I could put them to bed.  Poor Christian wanted to finish the homework, and out of sheer frustration and sadness he cried, "I'm an idiot!"  That got to me.  That really got to me.

So I hugged him and told him he is not dumb, he's just having trouble with this particular assignment and he'll get it. I told him that I had the same trouble in school when I was his age.  Some things took more time to learn and I used to feel pretty stupid, too.  I told him that I was going to help him learn different ways to solve problems.  Christian is a visual learner like me.  He needs drawings and charts to 'see' the answer and organize information, but like a young me, he sometimes gets caught up in using only one strategy to find a solution.  I remember my dad trying to show me different ways to solve problems, but if it was not exactly the way my teacher had shown us in class that very day, I worried that I was not doing it correctly.  I thought there was only one way to a solution. 

Christian told me he gets nervous about tests at school, and unfortunately, this is a life-long process.  Teachers measure kids to see not only what they know, but what they need help with.  So he completed his assignment and I praised him for his perseverance. He told me he was worried about moving "a clip" (used for discipline at school), and I told him that if we used clips in our house, I would've moved my own for the unfortunate way I reacted to Christian's frustration earlier in the evening.  He then spent the next hour with me downstairs for one of my "pep talks" that he seems to enjoy enduring.  This is the time we spend talking about life, how it's not fair at times, and why we are constantly tested by all things material and spiritual.

Episode 3: Awkward

Yesterday I had an appointment with a podiatrist to check on the annoying pain in my left foot. It's always a joy to go see a doctor with three kids in tow. I warned them not to clown around and they did ok, except when they fought over the water machine in the waiting room and fought over who got to sit in the round chair in the examination room.

Over the weekend Mike gave me a good foot massage, and I could only describe where the pain was as the doctor felt around the heel and arch of my foot for sore spots.  I assured the doctor that I was practically limping for the past several weeks and that the pain has been intermittent over the past couple years.  As he continued the exam he joked, "I'm not going to give you a free foot massage.." Ha ha. He really put his foot in his mouth...oh the foot puns that come to mind. Obviously, Mike had done a great job of stretching and kneading the tissue. 

I was given a steroid shot in the heel and told to come back in a couple weeks to see if the pain is completely gone.  Apparently I have plantar fascitis.  When the doctor left, Christian asked loudly, "Why was the doctor acting like your husband?  Is he a massage doctor?"   On the way out, Christian informed me that as we were walking towards the car, he peered into the window and saw the podiatrist.  Christian said, "I pointed at him and told him, 'You're a massage doctor!', and the doctor told me, 'I can hear you.'"  Oh boy, my follow up visit might be a little awkward in a couple weeks. I wish doctors' offices had waiting rooms for children so parents could complete their appointments in peace. 

Last evening as I was putting the boys to bed, Christian again joked about Dr. Massage. He said, "I should've told him my arm hurts so that he could massage it."  He asked me several times if I'd told Mike about this, and I assured him I had.  Christian double checked with Mike after he came back from his trip this afternoon. This doctor's appointment really seemed to bother Christian.  Perhaps, if the podiatrist had been a female it would not have struck Christian as something strange for someone to touch my foot in a similar way Mike does for me. I'm sure it had everything to do with the 'massage' comment, though. 

Conjunction Conjunction, What's Your Function?

It was a(nother) cold and rainy night as we drove through the streets of a Columbus suburb.

Christian: "What really freaks me out are old ladies who are bald-headed like Grampa."

And Gaby chimed in: "Or old lady BUTTS! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" (Gaby's favorite word is still 'butts'.)

Jojo's song ended our drive home: "Butts! Butts! Butts!"

P.S. Anytime we read stories, they never miss the conjunction 'but'.

P.P.S. I'm beginning to wonder if the hearts on Gaby's graffiti bathroom drawings were actually butts, not hearts.

A Mouse in the House

Yesterday, Christian came bearing a gift for me as I worked furiously on the computer.  He and his brothers and friend were outside and found a disgusting, dead mouse that his friend's cat had already found.  It may have been slightly alive, but I'm not sure. Stuart Little it was not. 

Christian: "Look what we found, Mom!" And the critter was curled up in his hand.

I realize now that the boys like to see my reaction. I still do not touch bugs or gross critters (like toads or caterpillars), but I am not as afraid of them as I used to be.  Earlier I had found a loose cricket that Christian failed to put into the froggy cage and I trapped it under a cup. I'll do things like that: save bugs under a cup for Mike or Christian to dispose of outside.  But bring a nasty thing like a mouse into the house? Well, that just about did it for me. 

I jumped out of my skin and screamed.  They thought my reaction was soooo funny and ran away laughing.  I was fuming.  I made them place the thing into a plastic bag, then I placed it into the garbage, which was then thrown outside into the can.  And then they each had to make a trip to the bathroom and scrub their hands with soap and water.  One of my worst nightmares is finding a surprise in the washer, dryer, or toilet. Or finding a mouse or raccoon in the house.  Or head lice on one of the kids. My skin is starting to crawl.

Cub Scouts Popcorn for Sale Until November!

I've been asked how to make sure that Christian receives credit for the order.  Please go to this link and then in the green area it may say "You are supporting no one. Change"  Click on Change and then type in (or copy/paste) Christian's Scout ID number:  16051753.  Click 'continue'.

Once you do this, make sure that at the top right this appears: Supporting Scout Christian C.  You are now ready to place your order for Christian's Cub Scouts den! You can click on any of the items on the red toolbar:  All Products, Signature Snacks, Microwave Popcorn, Other Treats, or Military Donation.  If you do not wish to order any of the items for yourself, you can have an order shipped to the military so the Cub Scouts den will still receive credit for your order. 

We'll receive immediate confirmation of your order, and you will then receive a 'thank you' from Christian so you'll know that the order was placed correctly.  This is the only way I know who placed an order in Christian's name; there is no other way to track orders otherwise.

Thank you!

On Parade

Handsome Christian

Today was the kick-off of Arts in the Alley festival in our suburb.  Instead of watching the parade, we were in the parade with Christian's Cub Scouts den.

Why trash? I guess I see the park theme with the bench, which is made of trees.  Recycling bins...maybe?

As we passed some of the other floats on the miles-long path to reach our spot, I took some pictures.

You look lovely, dahling!

The boys loved that rocket car.

Not sure why an office theme for this float.

The only thing missing on the Cub Scouts float:
running water

The scouts handed out candy to the crowds lining the streets.  Jojo enjoyed doing that, too.  Gaby rode on Daddy's shoulders to take in the view. 

 

 

Gabriel then took these photos while riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Later in the afternoon, Christian and I helped sell food at the Cub Scouts booth.  I warned them that I could not handle the cash register, but they let me do it anyway.  My anxiety increased when I remembered my disasterous two-month waitressing stint back in college because it is difficult for me to both a) listen while taking an order and b) remember what the person just ordered after keying it into a machine.  I was supposed to remember which kind of sauce people ordered with the chicken tenders and holler it out to the cooks on the other side of the tent at the same time as entering the order number into the machine.  Christian and the other kids handled the drink orders.  I was fired from my job as cashier after the second time the cash register went on the fritz for some reason, so I became the 'holler girl' after that. 

Although the menu was simple, one could order an adult or kids' meal, or order the same food choices a la carte...but whenever I hollered, "One two-piece with medium sauce!" someone on the other side would always want to verify whether it was a meal or not.  Whew!  Got that straightened out.  The drinks available were Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, or water.  Someone ordered a "pop" and Christian looked for that drink.  We southwesterners are used to "soft drink" or "Coke" before we specify which kind. 

Mike found the junky fried food section.  Deep fried cinnamon rolls are interesting.  I didn't try the deep fried Snickers (Mike's rating: "It's alright.") or the deep fried cookie dough (Mike's rating: "Very good.").  I had the fried cheese on a stick, which did not compare to Cheese on a Stick at our mall in Albuquerque. 

Lean on Me

This was sent to the boys, especially for Christian, from Nana and Papa -- and timely, too!  Poor Christian has been anxious about school and says that he misses being at home.  He said his stomach feels "funny", too.  I remind him that even when he feels alone, his guardian angel is always close by. 

The Very Hungry Boy





The main library in downtown Columbus has been rated as one of the best public libraries in the country, and I saw the reasons for such accolades.  I've never seen such an amazing place.  There must be at least three floors, but the children's section is a wonderland.  There is a castle with little seating areas where kids can read.  There is a puppet stage, all sorts of computers, and toys.  Fantabulous!  There is even a little cafe on the first floor, where I grabbed a bite to eat while the boys left me there to do some studying. 

I found a computer to work on, and when my eyes started to glaze over I explored the second floor media/fiction book section to find a different place to study.  I noticed that there were several copies of books available, not just one!  The boys picked me up and we went to the park by the garden of roses. 

At the park we went to a creek so Christian could look for creatures while the rest of us tossed rocks into the water.  Christian was very upset that we did not stay at the creek longer because he wanted to explore some more. Oh how he whined and pouted!  He even lagged way behind while the rest of us made it to the playground.  I sat down in the grass and started reading a book I had picked up at the library that I cannot put down, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a very light green color.  I reluctantly put down my book and looked closer at the grass.  And then I saw it:  a plump, lime green caterpillar.  I called Christian to come over quick!  I wasn't about to touch it and save it for him, but I didn't want anyone to trample on it either.

Christian made it over and I had him sit down on the grass, and then he saw it too.  It reminded me of a book his Uncle Sergio and Aunt Kyla bought for him long ago called The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Like the caterpillar, Christian is hungry, but he hungers for all things found in nature... holding them, reading about them, and nurturing them.

Someone came by and noticed the caterpillar and asked Christian to show it to the other kids in his group.  Finding the beautiful creature helped him to forget about the creek.  We brought it home and he showed his friends.  He was so proud of the caterpillar with the lime green skin and iridescent red dots!  He now had a "friend" for the other reddish hairy caterpillar he'd found earlier in the week.

At the end of the night his friend traded two toads for both caterpillars, and now Christian is bursting with joy at the good deal he made.  We now have three toads outside in a box.  I caught Jojo earlier holding a toad and poking it with a small twig.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "The toad needs a shot." 

Christian is going to start Cub Scouts soon, and his den will be marching in the town parade for the big Arts in the Alley event next weekend.  They are going to go camping next month and do all sorts of fun boy things.  He also has a subscription to Boys Life magazine and the first issue should be arriving soon. 

Postcards from The North Pole

Nana and Papa recently went on another adventure and travelled to/through Alaska by ship, train, and bus.  While there, they visited Santa's house at the North Pole, and Santa sent each of the boys a special message:

Tim the turtle was found at the creek at Nana and Papa's house this summer.  Nana convinced Christian to let him go back home to nature since Christian was already bringing home two new firebelly frog pets. 

We hope this will encourage Jojo to continue doing his potty business -- in the potty.

This reminded me that recently one of the older neighborhood girls who plays outside with the kids told Christian the TRUTH about the Tooth Fairy.  Christian was very matter-of-fact when he told me and my response was, "Of course there's a Tooth Fairy!  She does come at night because she used to come visit me when I lost a tooth!" He probably saw right through it, though, and that's ok.  He'll believe because he wants to continue believing in the magic, just as I remember doing so as a young girl.  Our little philosopher may continue to believe because he won't want to ruin the fun for his little brothers.

I pulled the little Grinch aside and told her, "C____, we still believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny, got it?" 

"The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now,

are the things called fairy tales."

G.K. Chesterton

Orthodoxy

The Drama of it All..Updated

Christian has been running a high fever since Wednesday night and had to miss school as well as today's soccer game.  On Wednesday night when the fever began Christian was coming upstairs and felt a little dizzy and nauseous.  I thought maybe he was coming down with strep again.  He did not feel better the next day so I took him to the doctor.

At his age, the doctors we have seen usually talk to the kids directly to find out their symptoms.  I try not to "coach" Christian, but he talks ALOT and tells lots of stories. So I went over his symptoms to help him focus before we met with the doctor.

Sure enough, during the exam the doctor asked Christian how he had been feeling.  Christian was doing well until he go to the part about the dizzy spell:  "And then I went up the stairs to find my mom because I was feeling sick.  And then, and then what happened I started to see two of her and two of everything I saw...and then..."

The doctor asked him if he was seeing double right then.  "Yeah...and then what happened..." 

The doctor was concerned, but the nurse knew better and turned to me and smiled.  This was my cue to nip this in the bud, "Christian, how many of me do you see right now?" 

Christian said, "One...?"  I explained that Christian never saw double the night before and this was the first time hearing about such a symptom.   

At least he tested negative for strep.

P.S. Christian tested positive for strep last Monday.  Second time in the past two months!  I should've followed my instincts and asked the doctor to send the culture to the lab.

Onse upon a tyme

Christian brought home both of these stories that he wrote at school (click on each image to get a better view).  In the first story I like how he spelled 'vetaneryin'.  The second story he writes is about feeding his 'pets'.  I like his description of purchasing food at the supermarket and how his pets (the bird and hermit crab) point their fingers to and pay for the food they want.  No, his animals do not sleep with him on his bed.

In Other Important News....

Christian lost both of his front teeth last week one day apart; The first one fell out when he was at school.  The school bus driver, George, teases him and calls him Toothless, which is fine with Christian because Toothless was also his favorite dragon from the movie 'How to Train a Dragon'. 

Christian is enjoying first grade thus far.  When asked if he likes it as much as kindergarten, he said, "Well, kindergarten was more fun. But in first grade our teacher says we have to do 'important' work.  But recess is fun."

Christian's Big Week

Yoda and the gang helped celebrate Christian's 7th birthday.  He received many new Wii and DS games related to Star Wars, Mario Bros., Despicable Me, and Harry Potter.  Christian's time spent on such games has to be severely limited, though.

I can't believe he's 7 already!  Christian, what a special boy you are.  As a baby, he did not play with toys.  He did not like stuffed animals, noisy toys, trucks or cars. Cars and blocks were for lining up by color or shape.  But we discovered he liked puzzles, and so he started working on them at the age of 2. We also started reading to all the boys when they were babies, and now he reads to Gaby at night before going to bed.  Christian received some pretty terrific level 1 Star Wars books to read.  I like listening to him read to Gaby because if Christian can't decode a word, he makes it up as he goes along.  He's still reading and using his imagination, and that's good in my book!

Today was Christian's first day of first grade.  He slept with his Star Wars backpack near him, and as soon as the alarm went off, he and Gaby got out of bed and dressed themselves.  "Come on, Mom! I don't want to miss a thing at school!"  He enjoys being responsible, but Gaby is responsible for turning off the alarm clock (Christian still hates loud, buzzing noises).  Here he is (above) at his desk with his birthday rice krispy treats to give out to his classmates later. 

Last night we went over the rules -- and I stressed on thing:  If you do not understand what the teacher says, raise your hand and tell her to please repeat the instructions. Christian also informed me that in first grade they no longer have sticks to move when they do not listen: Mrs. B. told the kindergarteners last year that first graders go straight to the principal's office if they are bad.  Christian is on the lookout for those stamps, too.

"The bell is going to ring and I have to go in!"  Chill out, Christian, we still have five minutes for a few photos before I start to bawl. You're growing up too fast and I want these moments to last -- the ones where you actually want me to be around and when you still need me.

Things are going to get busy around here.  In the next couple of weeks Gaby and Christian begin soccer, and this will be Gaby's first year playing.  Christian will also start religious ed. at church (what we Catholics used to call CCD). Gaby and Jojo will begin preschool in September, and my classes start next week.  Busy days are ahead, but at least not everything is happening at once!  And after months of completing computer certification classes, Mike started an internship today, and hopefully this will lead to a permanent (paid) position.

Not so Swimmingly for Some

I enrolled Christian and Gaby in swim lessons. Christian swims quite well underwater and loves using his mask as he glides through the pool.

Here is Gaby swimming with his class playing. 

I went through the Five Stages of Grief within three days in trying to get Gaby to join his class. 

Stage 1:  Denial ("I know Gaby really wants to go swimming. We'll try again tomorrow.")

Stage 2:  Anger ("Why me?! I just paid for him not to go swimming!  &@&! You are going swimming, Mister!")

Stage 3: Bargaining ("I'll buy you an ice cream if you'll go swim with your class! We'll go to the Dollar Store and buy some toys!")

Stage 4: Depression ("Why bother trying to encourage this child to have fun and swim?")

Stage 5: Acceptance ("This child will always test my outer limits. Just accept it calmly when he does not want to do something and he will come around eventually.")

And he never went. He is that stubborn.  But he did want to go on the last day, which was when they turned on the sprinklers in the pool playground/slide.  I told him too bad he didn't want to go swimming because he's now missing out on the fun. Gaby did have a slight twinge of regret in his eyes.  I hope his first soccer experience this fall goes a little better.