Is I. Intense?

For the last month, I. has looked forward to when her bedroom clock turns to 4:44. That's when we're snuggling in the rocking chair together, reading bedtime books. I don't know exactly why, maybe it just visually looks cool to her but she gets excited and watches the clock for when it turns. This week, I've warned her that soon she won't see that time because we are going to have to change the clocks. I know she doesn't understand this completely but she does understand that she's not going to see 4:44.

Just in case anyone thinks that I may be exaggerating that I. is intense and likes routines, tonight we got involved in the story's plotline and when she looked up, it was 4:45. She began kicking and then proceeded to cry for awhile until I could calm her down and distract her.

I don't know about you, but I haven't seen any parental advice in books and magazines of what to do when your child misses their favorite digital time. Once again, I. defies "normal" parenting issues and makes me scramble as to the why and then the how to deal with it. I guess I did okay with the how because she did calm down and snap back to normal but I still am shaking my head as to the why. She's not a boring, predictable kid, that is for certain.

Unexpected Kindness

On Tuesday, I. and I went over to my parents' house to spend the day with them. Originally, we were supposed to pick strawberries but since we had to wait until my deadbeat sister wasn't at their house every day, the strawberries are gone. Strawberry Fields ain't forever it seems.

It was a good visit, a low-key one but I left worried about both of my parents. My mom has had various health issues over the last few years. You wouldn't know to look at her and they just seem to keep coming and it's getting her down. Yesterday she had to have oral surgery with a process that will not be completed until next February; pretty major. They had to put her completely out and yesterday's surgery took a couple of hours. My dad is depressed about losing his job and especially hurt and betrayed by his so called friend dumping him on the street. He's losing weight and seems pretty fragile. It was hard to see.

Tuesday night after we got home and I got I. in bed, I thought of a good surprise that would at least put a smile on their faces. Wednesday after the gym, we loaded the car up with a homemade dinner for my dad, plus yellow roses and a balloon for my mom, and a card for both of them. We let ourselves into their house and set things up so that they'd see them as soon as they walked in. It worked and they were surprised and touched that we drove an hour RT to set it up especially since we were just up there the day before. It was worth it though.

For her next procedure, I'll plan a little better and when we visit the day before, I'll bring the dinner etc. with me then. Yeah, it won't be a surprise waiting for them when they get home but it was this time and it'll still be nice for them next time. There's nothing like unexpected kindness in the middle of hard times.