Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Blah, blah, blah...

Yesterday on the way home from the cabin I was trying to talk Cai down off of a no-nap, too-much-sugar, long-drive-home kind of edge. I was making fast small talk about some plants we had purchased earlier in the day and this is what ensued.

“Hey Cai, tomorrow we can put those new plants in the garden. That’ll be fun.”

“Oooooh, saw-wee Mama. I can’t. I have to do some stuff awound da house.”

“Oh really? Like what?”

“Oh, just stuff Mama. Like I have tooooooooooooo, um, wash da floors aaaaaaaaaannnnddd, um, I have to cut my nails. Oddu stuff too Mama, saw-wee. I’m busy.”

“Oh, ok. Well if you finish all your other stuff then maybe will you plant with me?”

“Um, maybe Mama, but I’m pwitty busy.”

We have been in a downward spiral ever since. Solomon is cranky and not sleeping. When I ask Cai to do something now not only does he ignore me, but after my fourth request when he can tell he’s about to really get it he says something like. “Um, ok Mama, I’ll pick dat up. But you is bothering me. Don’t bother me and then I’ll pick it up.”

These are the moments that corporal punishment was made for. I admire myself daily for not hauling off and popping that kid sometimes. My friend just brought over “Raising the Strong-Willed Child”. Let’s hope there’s a chapter on miracles.

Speaking of, I’m just coming off of a really outstanding book run and must share:

“The Kite Runner” (Hosseini)– a friend’s rec. Amazing story, gorgeous and the flavor lasts for days after the final page.

“The Confessions of Max Tivoli”(Greer) – my friend’s book club rec. I was thinking of joining the book club, but I’m not sure I’d really mix so I’m just gonna steal their books for awhile. This book is a fucking masterpiece. Ok, maybe that’s going too far. No, it’s not. It’s brilliant and if I met the author I would do obscene things with him simply based on this book. Really.

“Bel Canto” (Patchett) – Another gorgeous, complex story. Rec from my friend who’s in the book club .

Now I’m reading “Prodigal Summer”, two of my closest girlfriends’ favorite book. I’m really enjoying it, however nothing like these last three. There is nothing like a good book run after a long dry spell. Inspiring and so good to feel like myself again. Children are so beautiful, and they suck the life out of you at once.