At Rantom

My 5 yr. old son, like every kid, mispronounces words.  And I, like other parents when their kids do it, think it's adorable.  However, you may remember that my son kinda likes to be right, so for the past couple of years, he's been asking to be corrected if he says something wrong.  "Why would you guys let me call it 'Miskelly and meatballs' if it's really 'spaghetti'?"  I should probably remind him that 'random' is with a 'd' and not a 't'.  I'll admit it, though.  Every time he learns the correct way to say something that he has mispronounced, my heart breaks a little.  It is a painful reminder of how fast he's growing up, and I feel like the next thing I know, he'll be teaching me the fancy new words he learns in medical school (or in Astronaut school- whatever).

He's had a bit of a rough go at school this week, and consequently, at home.  I'm pretty sure he's about to grow out of all the clothes he just got for Christmas to replace those he grew out of from the beginning of the school year, and growing seems to make him tired, grumpy, and moody.  Of course, I can't tell him, "It's cool that you were running in your classroom today, because I know your legs are getting longer."  (I definitely can't, right?)  I just keep reminding myself that these problems will pass, and that I'll miss these days when they're gone.

Oddly enough, playing school at home, doing homework, and reading together are activities that seem to break him out of his whiny, pouty moods faster than anything else.  Evidently, finding excitement and joy at the sight of a blank piece of paper is genetic, because I totally recognized the look on his face when I handed him a notebook and pen the other night.  After doing some writing and some math on his own, he requested that I write out some math problems for him:

"Good job on your check marks, Mom!"

When we started, and he saw the blanks on the page, frustration was his initial reaction, "What do you want me to do, Mom?  Just put rantom letters here or something?"  I explained that the number he should put in the blank would be whatever one would make the problem true.  He got the first one super fast, the second and third each in less than 10 seconds, needed a bit of help with the fourth, and figured out the fifth with ease.  He's a total genius.  And yes, he can be a genius who mispronounces words.  Who growls and yells during class.  Who tickles his friend's face with his (quickly completed) worksheet.  Who runs, jumps, and gallops when he should be walking.  He totally can.

Today's advice may seem rantom, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't follow it.  Don't be afraid to trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to ask for help*.  And if you happen to randomly see something pretty, take a picture of it!

Do you like mushrooms?

I'm thinking of breaking out of this 'ask a question at the end of each post' habit.  What do you think?

*Unless you're alone on a dark road with a flat tire and your instincts tell you that the person coming to offer aid is actually a murderer.  Then, you should be afraid to ask for help.