(S)mothering Much?

Woooooog....!

Oh, there you are. I was wondering what you were up to...

What's that you're doing?

Heyyyyy, cool. Those look good. You're actually working with your hands for once, good boy! It's a whole lot better than working with your mouth, no? Can I take a picture of that? Great job! You should do more stuff like this.

Isn't this better than just talking too much? Sometimes, when you talk too much and too fast I can hardly understand you. Your sentences are full of “and” and “but” and “so” and “then”. And everything you say runs together like “waway” soup. Sometimes Mommy wonders if you even breathe when you talk.

Which reminds me, what are you doing up so early on a Saturday? There's no school on Saturdays.

What's that? You're excited because school's out? Well, I guess I understand that, but why can't you wake up earlier on schooldays? Why does Mom have to pull you out of bed moaning and groaning and kicking out at her?

I thought you loved school. It's not like they torture you out there. Do they? No? Good. They'd better not. You tell Mom if they do, okay? I'll whup their butts so hard, they'll go flying to the moon.

Why are you laughing?

Yes, Woogie, I wuv you too.

Anyway, since you're up early, you might as well come down for breakfast. We have pancakes, and they're still hot. Your favorite!

What do you mean “later”? You can finish cutting that up after breakfast. That won't go anywhere, you can come back for them. Let me take just a couple more shots. There.

You know what, Woog? Mommy's worried about you. You're so thin and you don't seem to be getting any taller. Your cousin Ia's only three and she's nearly as tall as you are. Heavier, too. You need to eat a lot so you'll grow big and strong, instead of always saying “no thank you”, whenever you're given something to eat.

You're lucky you have food. Remember those pictures of the starving children I showed you? Do you want to start looking like them? You should be thankful you have lots of good food to eat. Other kids have nothing to eat at all. Show Papa God you're grateful by eating everything on your plate, okay?

Okay?

Okay.

Don't forget to make your bed before you come down. Fold your blanket properly. Make sure the bedcovers are neat.

Mom has to hurry or she'll be late for work. By the time I get back I expect you to have eaten lunch and taken a bath so we can take our siesta together, alright? Share your toys with Eli and don't make him cry. Remember, you're the big brother. You have to show a good example. Don't give Yaya a hard time.

What's that?

Oh, Woog (*sniffle*), of course I want to stay with you forever, but you know I can't. Mommy has to go to work. But I'll be back soon and we'll have our siesta together, okay? How's that?

Yes, Woogie, I wuv you too!

*hug*

Now, let's go down and have breakfast.