Finn's a Quick One

Elwood & Finn - BMOC

BMOC = Big Men on Campus

That's how I saw my two little guys last Friday as we participated in our local Relay for Life.  

As we walked the thru the park, kids and adults were yelling "Hello" to Elwood and Finn.  Little girls ran up and hugged them.  It was crazy.  

Even though I've lived here for 8 years (5 full time), I'm always going to be that girl from St. Louis that Todd married.  But my boys, they're natives.  They have friends, even at this stage in their young lives.  People know me as their mom - which I don't mind at all.

My husband made friends in this tiny town that he has carried with him throughout his life.  They are good men who married wonderful women who I am proud to now call my friends.  They are people he can count on, be it to fix something around the house or to support him in difficult times.  I hope that growing up in this small town, this is what my boys have to look forward to.

When "That's Not Funny" Really Is

Usually, there's a very clear line between what's  acceptable and what's not.  And while I admit to not being the most consistent about discipline, Elwood knows what is right and what is wrong - and what he should and should not say.  

However, there are times, when discipline is just not possible.  Times when the giggles overcome you and the child sees that they have won solely because of their cuteness.  

Case in point  - 

The other night, Elwood was over tired, over stimulated, and just out of control.  He was all over the furniture like a monkey on speed.  Jumping from couch to couch.  Diving off the arm of the couch.  Up and down for what seemed like hours.  Then, he set his sites on his brother.  Finn, while no longer a completely innocent victim, is still not always a willing participant in his brother's antics.  Elwood pounced on him.  There was no subtly, no stealth - just a belly flop onto his little brother.  

After pulling them apart and reprimanding Elwood, he stood, arms crossed, bottom lip out, and looked at me.  Glared is probably more appropriate.  He opened that little mouth and growled "Finn's a jert!" (For those unsure about toddler-speak, jert=jerk).

 

Well, I lost it.  I tried to look and sound stern as I told him "That's not nice.  You don't call people that", but there was just no way to keep the smile off my face and the chuckle out of my voice.  I turned to Todd, hoping for a little back up (or back bone), but there was no help there. He kept his back to me while he did dishes, his head shaking and his shoulders rocking with laughter the whole time.

When I turned back to Elwood, he had the most beautiful, triumphant grin on his face.  He knew that he had won.  So, I gave up.  I surrendered to my little monkey and I laughed until I almost cried.   

So Many Words yet No Complete Thoughts

I think I'm making this blogging thing harder than it truly is.  I've come up with countless things I could write about, yet they aren't completely formed thoughts.  A few sentences of a good idea here and there, but nothing more.  It doesn't help that my mother told me one of my entries bothered her.  I know it's just because the idea of airing your feeling for the whole world to see isn't something she's comfortable with.  But it makes me over think everything I start to put up here.

I want to hone my writing skills and find my voice.  I want to record all of the wonderful and difficult and crazy and sublime things my kids do and bring into my life.  I want to put this out there so that I can say "There it is - it's in writing - it's real".  

Maybe with the coming of spring, my brain will thaw and the ice jam will loosen in my brain and some of the thoughts can become flowing prose that I will be confident enough to post.