Sideburns

Brayden has had a slight tummy bug this weekend, so he's spent quite a bit of time sitting on the porcelain chair. After quite some time he emerged from the bathroom with absolutely no pants on. I said Brayden where are your pants?  He replied mommy did you know if you sit on the potty till you can't feel your legs you get sideburns. I paused knowing the rest of the story was coming. See mommy he asked as he turned around and showed me the big red marks up the sides if his thighs. See sideburns. Shaking my head...

NORM!!!

Have you ever entered a place and felt immediately welcomed because, well "everyone knows your name?" That's what it must be like to be Brayden.  My grandmother moved into an assisted living facility two months ago.  We visit often, as we are her caregivers.  When Brayden walks through the door, all eyes light up and everyone yells.....BRAYDEN as a greeting.  He smiles and waves to everyone.  In typical Norm fashion, he doesn't stop to chitchat, he just proceeds to his usual location.  Last door on the right he chants as he hikes down the hall.  He bursts through the door without knocking with my scolding going unnoticed each and every time.  That will bite him in the rear sometime in his future, I just know it.  He hugs her, plays with her arm fat (yes you read that right).  I've tried over the years to teach him that is rude, but it's their "thing."  He does it to her, then she does it back to him.  He then jumps up on her bed, kicks off his shoes and lounges on her pillows until it's time to leave.  He is comfortable there and has asked me many times to just let him stay the night.  She pleads with her eyes as well.  It's hard to tell them both that that is not allowed.  So I make myself the bad guy and say, no, that's not a good idea.  You might get scared and I won't be able to come back and get you because the door will be locked.  We visit for as long as we can and then back down the hall we go.  Usually everyone is back in their rooms for the evening, so we hear "Bye Brayden" echoing down the hall coming from each of the rooms.  I think they leave their doors open just to say goodbye to him.  It's sweet and funny all at the same time.  I love going there with him.  It makes my heart smile.  If you visit a nursing home enough times, you too can be just as popular as "Norm."

Job Schmob...

Again from the back seat.  Boy my car would be so boring without a back seat!  Brayden asked, "Mommy, who was my mommy before you?"  "Well Brayden, I've always been your mommy."  "No, when you were little, who was my mommy?"  "Well buddy, you weren't here when I was little, so when God gave me you, I was your first and only mommy."  Brayden sighed and looked very disappointed.  "What's wrong buddy?" "Well, I want two mommies and two daddies."  "Why do you want two?," I asked nervous of his response. Well that way the extra mommy could go to work and you could stay with me. We'd have a lot of fun together and you wouldn't have to hurry all the time.  As my heart broke into a million pieces...I contemplated for the first time in a very long time, where we could cut back so I could quit my "extra" job and just do the one that God gave me.  :(

Conversations from the back seat...

Walking into to the school to get Brayden is always an experience. He sees me from across the room. He turns and runs headlong towards me arms out wide. Today was no different but for one thing. About two steps away he tucks his head and shoulder and does a perfect wrap up tackle into my gut. Holding it together I grab his hand and walk or maybe drag him to the car so we can have a discussion about hurting people. He gets in the car quietly and buckles his seatbelt. Then he says, mommy, when I saw you I got so excited and just ran and ran to get to you. But halfway there my switch, you know, the naughty nice switch?  Well it sorta slipped out of position and fell down into the naughty position. But I have some brain glue at home in my room. When we get there I promise to glue it back where it's supposed to be. Well...apology accepted. 

Again from the back seat...

Mommy can people change their names when they get big?  Yes I guess. Why do you not like your name?  No I want to change it to Miniman Kenny. Why Brayden?  Because that name is super cool!  Hmm, ok Kenny...

Conversations from the back seat...

Mom, can people change people from a boy to a girl? (Mom enters battle of honesty in her mind). Finally, I decide he's not ready for that so I say no. Why? Well because I want to be changed into a girl. Why Brayden?  Well because I want to wear earrings. Well Brayden sometimes even boys wear earrings. No mommy I want to wear the red dangly ones like Allison wears. Oh I say. But I thought you wanted to grow up and play football. Well Mom, I can always be a cheerleader. That's just as fun. Oh yeah I guess you're right Brayden. 

Can I have two jobs mommy?  Sure what do you want to be?  I want to be a policeman and a horse driver. You know you can be a horse driving policeman?  I can?!?! He yelled very excitedly. Well how old do I have to be?  Well in your twenties I think. Ugh! He deflated..that's going to take forever. Is that how old daddy is?  No honey he's 39. What?!  That's really old!

I love conversations from the back seat. 

My Bestest Friend

Watching Brayden draw on his paper, I leaned over and asked him, "What'ya drawing?" "I'm writing my very bestest friend in the whole wide world." Who is that?" It starts with mmmmmm... Hmm who is that I smiled. MOMMY! He yelled. Mmmmmmelted my heart. Gotta hold onto that paper.