Playing with Other Children

On Friday, Henry and Miss R went over to Grammy and Poppy's house in the late afternoon. Grammy and Poppy took them across the street to play with some other neighborhood grand kids. The kids across the street are a bit older (7, 8, 9 years old). Poppy said that they were perplexed and amused by Henry's boldness. He took a jump rope and tried to swing an end. He also showed them how he could jump. Miss R rode a trike.

I picked up the kids after my final exam (given on a Friday night between 5-7PM). The exam went well, other than a do-do blurting out some answers as I was explaining the fill-in-the-blanks. Sigh. I don't think that it was intentional...the gal just doesn't know how to think or when to keep her trap shut. I don't think that anyone cheated, which is a relief. I really didn't want to have to deal with the extra paperwork involved in dealing with lapses of integrity.

When I arrived, Henry and Miss R had just had their diapers changed. Miss R greeted me with the usual enthusiasm. She is an excellent greeter. Henry's mood ranged from indifferent to wanting me to go away so that he could stay at Grammy's house. In the car, he said, "I don't like Mommy. I don't like Mommy. I don't like Mommy. I want to go back to Grammy's house." On the ride home, I asked him about his day. He said that Aidan had taken his book and Alex had hit him. Then he said that Alex had taken a book, so I don't know if it was true or made up.

On Saturday, Jeff made the kids French toast. He took care of the kids in the morning while I attended the funeral for the mother of a former colleague who is perhaps the nicest, most genuine fellow whom I've ever met. Two of my current colleagues were there. One of them sang one of the hymns, which was nice. My parents were unable to attend b/c my dad was giving a speech to a political group in town.

I stopped by my parents' house on the way home. The funeral had been had my childhood parish, not far from their house. They had just returned. They ended up meeting Jeff and the kids at Costco. Costco is one of Henry's favorite stores (after Barnes & Noble, Toys R Us, Trader Joe's, and Walgreen's). Henry can identify the names/logos of many stores. The boy loves to shop. The other day, he told me that he wanted to go to Walgreen's. "Walgreen's make me feel better," he said. I don't know if he said that b/c shopping generally makes him feel better or if it has to do with us getting our pharmaceuticals there.

The grandparents took Henry and Miss R after the shopping excursion. They played outside a lot today. Jeff picked them up. When they got home, I read them "Mickey Mouse and the Haunted House."

Then it was teeth and bed. I'm staying up grading exams tonight. Fun, fun.