The Program

Life is changing all around us. Christmas is here, and the kids are now adjusting me working again. Finding a balance between cooking, cleaning, picking up and dropping off, working, being a wife and a successful business owner is proving to be harder than expected. Although so may call me a Jack-of-all-trades, it comes with it's costs.

I am exhausted and Elaina is having separation anxiety as of late. This falls somewhere between being one and having mommy back at work. Zachary is doing really well in school despite the fact that he is the youngest in his class. He did have quite a showing during his performance the other day.

It was the preschool Christmas program and the kids had learned a number of songs to share with all of the families. We all waited patiently for the kids to come into the room. They were all in a single-file line...until Zachary saw me. "MOMMY!!" And he came running full-force, plowed over sister and wrapped his arms around me. Now, I'm not saying I don't enjoy a great hug, but I was completely embarrassed by the fact that mine was the only child being unruly. I came to later realize that none of the parents were paying any attention, as they were all too enthralled in the likes of their own children, however, I remained red-cheeked.

Earlier in the day I had been changing Elaina's diaper when Zachary came over to check out the scene. He grabbed a wipe out of the dispenser and shoved it into his pocket.

Me: What are you doing?
Zachary: Saving this for later.
Me: Why?
Zachary: In case I need to wipe my nose.

After that, I had forgotten about the baby-wipe...until it made it's appearance. All of the preschoolers were lined up on the risers when the first song started. They all did the motions to the song, and sang. All but Zachary. Not a word. Not a peep, not a single sounds left his mouth. About a quarter of the way into the song he brought out the wipe. He started waving it around as though it was a flag. When it would get wrinkled up, he would put it down, and flatten it out for optimum flying potential. He continued to wave it around, high over his head for the duration of the program.

When all was said and done, I asked him...

Me: Why didn't you sing the songs?
Zachary: Because I was trying to listen to them.

And there you have it.

Later that day he decided to make a mess out of the cat food. Zachary love his cat. He loves that damn cat more than anything. The cat does not share the same appreciation for the boy, mostly because he is old, and Zachary squeezes him within an inch of his life so as not to let him "escape". The cat food was all over the floor when I said to him...

Me: Zachary, please clean up the cat food.
Zachary: Why?
Me: Because I don't want sister to eat it.
Zachary: Why?
Me: Because she isn't a cat.
Zachary: Oh yes, that is right. We are not cats, we are humans.

Later in the evening, Tim called. Unfortunately he had missed all of this excitement that I have been telling you about.

Tim: Hi, Zachary, what are you doing?
Zachary: Oh nothing. Just hanging out.

So I leave you with the age old question, where do they learn all of this?