i have decided how to handle the carys situation. i will not withhold food when she does not use "her manners". as i hand over the food, or remove it from her i will use my own pleases and thank yous. but when she wants a toy, or a book, and isn't willing to be polite for it, then i will not hand over the coveted item unless she requests it politely. i feel at peace about this decision, which is a sure sign i am doing the right thing.

something funny happened to sebastian today....i'm not sure if i have mentioned that he really gets his kicks "playing school" at home. we put the stuffed animals in a circle, and he pulls over a chair and sits on it, with a notebook, pen and glass of water on the table beside him.

why?

because im the teatsah

of course he is. playing school is his favourite game, as the teatsah he leads the good morning song, greets the students, gets to tick their names off in the "wegistah" and can ask them not only about the weather report and date, but what their plans are during play times. and he gets to ring the gong that signifies the end of open play.

after playing this game at home for close to a month, i opened sebastian's diary today and read that he played the game at school. apparently 10 kids and his teatsah, michelle, played the game and sebastian loved being the teatsah. michelle said it was uncanny how he copies her gestures and language...saying "okay" at the end of register, putting on his name badge exactly as michelle puts hers on.

and lastly, listening to jasper would make you grin. he loves singing row row row your boat, and the second verse gets sung about 99 per cent of the time. until i moved to hong kong i was unaware of this second verse, but here it is...

row row row your boat

gently down the stream

and if you see a crocodile

don't forget to scream

aaahhhhh!

you cannot be guaranteed jasper participation in the singing (although he does like it), but he gives the most dandy shriek upon the crococile sightings. he is delighted after emitting the scream, dances around a little and laughs. very very funny. when did they get discerning and funny?

Comments

[-A-]

I hadn't heard the second verse, but my daughter would love that!

I hope Carys decides to use her manners with her food as well as with her toys and books.

[Louise M]

The second verse I sung with my kids:

Row row row your boat
Gently down the stream
Ha ha fooled you
I'm a submarine

My daughter Rowen (Row for short) loved the song as a small child, took up rowing (doubles, fours, quads and 8's) as a teenager. Always thought it was very appropriate given her nickname.

[knobody]

seb is so cute. he's a natural leader. hmmmm, wonder where he gets that from?

[Boulder]

When did they get to be discerning?

Why when they chose you & MC as their parents, silly.

xoxo

[joeinvegas]

Crocodiles? Haven't heard that one here in the US. Please, tell me you don't have crocs in Hong Kong. Supposedly we have aligators in the New York sewer system, but crocs? What would Peter Pan think!

[knobody]

jiv: we do have crocs in florida, along with alligators. gators are found wherever there is water, and in large quantity congregating in stadiums on saturdays in the fall. crocs limit themselves to the swamps and estuaries of southern florida.

[Elaine D]

Your post brought back fun memories of singing Row row row your boat in the canoe with Sebbie this summer while watching airplanes approach the YK airport! Say hi to him from Nafan's mom.

[peri]

Hi,
stopping by,
what adorable little blessings you have!!