SOOC – Scot, Picts and other Britons
[From a few weeks back]
I drip around the house nursing my cold and a handful of tissues, a nose like Rudolph and skin like red sandpaper. My children are well, all of them, with far too much energy.
I print out ten pages of Polygons so that we can address a homework problem in a calm and value free manner, both regular and irregular. I restrict my other duties to sterilizing anything that they might touch. Purell soap and Clorox wipes vie for supremacy. I refuse to permit my eldest daughter to take Britons' germs to Australia or contaminate the other passengers on the 23 hour flight.
My son, the filthy one, is the source of great irritation as he dresses and undresses, many, many times. Gradually, he tries on every clothing combination available in his wardrobe. My other son is less irritating but far noisier as he chants “picta dey, picta dey, picta dey,” in a ceaseless mantra.
Fortunately my ears are as clogged as my nose and brain. Everything is irritating as I grump my way through the day, grouchy and crotchety, unlike other [LINK TO JACK RILEY] more sanguine mothers. Through the fug of my fog it occurs to me that his behaviour is unusual. He has never shown any interest in clothes, clothing or fashion, whilst his little brother has an entirely different set of motivations that perseverate upon texture.
I decide to investigate further.
“What are you doing dear?” I watch him pose before the mirror as he flips between nonchalant, cool and strut. He has each of them down to a tee. His sister steps across to adjust his collar and cuffs.
“What are you doing dear?”
“Oh I'm just tidying him up some. There you go! Perfect!” Three small people look at me expectantly.
Joint attention rules! But I am still clueless.
“Um…..very nice dear. You do look smart, er…..sharp……er…..hansom?”
“He looks awesome Mom.”
“Indeed, awesomely awesome I'm sure.”
“Perfect for Picture Day!”
“Ah!”
This is what happens to foolish parents who persist in typecasting their children despite the mountainous evidence to the contrary.
Cut and paste
from this little
boxy thing below
November 8th, 2008 at 1:43 am
oh, I could hardly read the rest I wanted to comment to quick on how handsome your boy looked! Evan did this too on picture day when he was younger, he wanted to wear ties, and have his hair combed just so…just like his grampy’s office picture…(tear)
November 8th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Aww, he does look awesomely handsome
November 8th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I’m sure his pics will be very handsome especially after all that work and planning! I loved how you ended your post with the bit about typecasting. So true, so true! Life is full of wonderful little surprises!
November 8th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Such a handsome lad with wonderful sartorial skills! They do surprise us don’t they?
November 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am
More evidence that showing photos of themselves to themselves is worthwhile, eh?
November 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I have often found myself attributing Autism to some unusual behaviour, only to be put in my place with some sensible, yet unexpected thought process. He is too cute by the way!
November 8th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
He is awesome, and he looks great! I agree about the typecasting, too.
Great picture, and I’m sure his official pictures turned out great.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I’m quite sure that the official picture will show your son as serious, manly(for his age) and quite earnest and well-dressed.
You ARE going to post that pic, are you not?
November 8th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
He looks very handsome for picture day!
They never cease to amaze us, do they?
November 8th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Sense and sensibility…and delightfulness.
Thank you for this.
November 9th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Cool. Love the picture of him in front of the mirror in an all-grown-up kind of way and the other with the two kids. I love it when I can catch my kiddos interacting just themselves.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
This is what happens to foolish parents who persist in typecasting their children despite the mountainous evidence to the contrary.
Oh, yes. You are certainly guilty of typecasting your children and not letting them live to their full potential.
*eyeroll*
*sigh*
*swat on the forehead* (YOUR forehead, for being such a ninny as to accuse yourself of such a thing.)
And, yes, he looks awesome.