A month! Already?!

Tamra at Good Intent pointed out that I haven't posted anything on the blog in a month (and happy birthday to you, Tamra). It's true that I feel the Twitters are a substitute, albeit an inadequate one, for more consistent posting. Nevertheless, I've got lots of material -- almost all of it longer than the confines of a 140 character Twitter post -- to take note of here.

There are concerns, of course, about the general march of life in the Rizkerson household. Reid is growing up in some ways -- finding new friends, moving toward a new school, getting excited about camp -- and seems to be completely unchanged in other ways. He sometimes is still needy, mostly in response to his sister's more age-appropriate neediness. Sania is, despite this, a surprisingly independent and focused individual. She likes things her way. Each night we read a book together and at the final page, she encourages me to lay down a certain way, and "go sleep daddy." And then she jumps on he and laughs hysterically. She designates one parent (me) to put her down for bedtime, designates another (usually K) to hold her for breakfast, and a single deviation from plan leads to a thorough rebuke. Very thorough.

And yet, in little ways, they are both growing up. Sania and Reid helped me make breakfast for K on Mother's Day, and their help, although negligible, was surprisingly non-destructive. Two kids, on chairs, flanking a man turning pancakes, and nobody got burned. Not even me. Both kids, turning and nibbling "practice pancakes" with spatulas. For a moment, I paused to think about this. Sania, at age two, is more independent and able to process more information than her brother at this point in his life. She's more fearless, and while that means she's more likely to do something silly, she's also more accomplished, because she tries more things. Reid tried fewer things because, the story goes, I was a crazy parent following him around and making sure he didn't hurt himself. (For the record, I disagree with the interpretation that being protective of my son was somehow wrong. I'm no less concerned about Sania than I was about Reid; I'm just outnumbered.)

Reid, quietly approaching the five year mark, is at times a revelation. He is able to communicate so much now. He still stumbles at times, and relies on strange little dependencies to get the ideas across, but it's clear that his main problem is only that his vocabulary has failed to keep pace with his imagination. For months and months, he would tell stories about his imaginary friend John. We went through all sorts of Socratic sessions trying to determine if John was real, if John was a threat, if imaginary people were threatening, and on and on. Then John disappeared. Recently, he made a resurgence when Reid started beginning stories with, "Know what? My friend John..." did this or that incredible thing. I told Reid I thought we had seen the last of John. Now he starts stories, "Know what? My friend not named John..." did this or that incredible thing.

There are other times when Reid seems like he hasn't changed a bit since his last birthday. He's a crazy kid. He gets wound up and hollers and runs around and whoops and you're just about to be done with it, and then he stops, and takes a quick, tender turn like the sensitive little boy he is. And it just breaks your heart.

Sania -- possible because Reid wishes it weren't so -- has decided like Reid did most of his first three years that Daddy is the go-to-guy for bedtime. (I seem to help K fall asleep, too, for what it's worth; maybe sleep-companion is my true calling.) For months, Reid has mostly handled this problem with grudging acceptance. Tonight, though, he just wanted his dad, and it was too late really to disengage from Sania. She's still young enough to throw the kind of tantrum that will really ruin your night. I apologized and told him I would read him stories tomorrow night. He closed the door to return to his room, but behind it I could hear him crying.

I've got pictures, from Reid's spring concert, from the kids tonight sharing a box (Rizk family tradition, natch), and even video of Reid somewhat-singing various spring time songs and other bizarre choices. I'll try to get that stuff up, well, not this weekend, but maybe the one after. Sorry.