Names

[brigid]

We went to a wedding on Saturday and Niko got to play with some other kids who were at the wedding. One of them, Evan, became his special running around like a wild thing friend and they chased each other up and down a (empty, unused, carpeted) hallway, crashed into each other, fell down dramatically, tried to use the water fountain together, etc. Good times! We went to the library today for story time. The kids’ librarian at the Independence Library Branch is really dedicated and involved and story time with her is pretty awesome. The social aspect – sitting on his bottom, being quiet, taking turns, not interrupting, interacting with other kids, sharing – is great for Niko. But as far as he’s concerned the best part of the library story time is running around the story time room in laps for fifteen minutes with the handful of other kids who’ve also stayed after the program.

One of the kids he played with is named Eddie. They had a fun time, chasing each other around and being lions and dinosaurs and trains, and crawling under chairs because they were caves, and playing freeze tag (poorly). Niko referred to Eddie as “Evan” once and after I corrected him he commented wistfully that it’d be nice if his name were Evan. Yeah, kiddo, it WOULD be convenient if all your friends had the same name. How easy would that be? You’d never have to learn a name again! But, alas.

Niko and I and Eddie and his mom shared a table in the library together and the boys looked at books and played with Lincoln Logs and worked out a toy-sharing deal until my MIL came to pick us up and we hustled out of there… to McDonald’s where Niko peed “in the special pee potty” and shuffled out of the bathroom with this pants and underpants around his ankles like the class act he is. (YES, I let my 3 1/2 year old go into the empty, clean, men’s room alone as I stood outside the door)

Then he went to Baba’s house and I crashed at home reading a library book instead of cleaning the bathroom or living room or doing any laundry because I feel like I have a cold or the flu coming on and hurt in all my joints. Do you know how many joints the human body has? A lot. I know, I can feel them all.

Mirrored from Now Showing!.

Comments

[sara]

My son got very firm about using the men's room rather than the ladies' at about age four. When we are out in public this means, yes, a lot of lurking outside the doors of men's rooms, making friends with strange gents who just want to get their urination on.

Usually, honestly, when I explain that he is very firm that he is not going in the ladies' room, he has no trouble getting some help with the sink or the door or whatever, but everyone concerned is VERY clear on the thing where Mom is right on the other side of the door.

[brigid]

I think the main thrust of his insistence about using the men's room is that he's used it 5 or so times with his dad helping him, whereas he's never gone into the lady's room. So it was a known quantity. Also he could "pee on the blue stuff in the special pee potty!" which I guess is a rare treat. Urinals! So exotic! So exciting!

[al_zorra]

"Urinals! So exotic! So exciting!"

>giggles<

I hope you are NOT getting Something. But that joint aching, ach!

Love, C.

[sara]

Heh. The boy refers to it as the "stand-up potty" and definitely feels that it is superior to other kinds of potties.