Sneaky Pants

School starts tomorrow and the kiddo is in trouble. UGH.
He stayed 2 nights with the mom-in-law this past weekend and when she took him to daycare on Monday morning he decided to sneak his DS out of the case and take it with him. This is enough to get him into a bit of trouble on it's own since he didn't ask and also knows that he's not to take the DS anywhere without asking... but then when she picks him up from daycare he has it hidden in his pocket and gets all the way home, almost all the way to his room (where I'm curious to know what he was going to do with it cause it doesn't go in his room and still wasn't in it's case) before the MIL sees it sticking out of his pocket. That's when the lies start flooding out of his mouth...

Making Friends Over Video Games

How in the world did video games take over the children of our world!? What happened to "playing"?? Kids don't even get to know each other anymore, they just sit together and stair blankly into the void of the screen where all the cars are zooming or the swords are slaying.

I took my kiddo to work with me today. We pack him a bag full of coloring books, crayons, workbooks for school, books to read and a small box of random toys. He has a great day and over all kept himself quite entertained. About 2 hours before heading out we realize that there is another child here (7 years old) with his mom today also. So that kid comes back to my office with the kiddo and they "hang out". This kid brings 1 thing with him...an IPad. Nothing else mattered...no need to know each others names or favorite colors. For the rest of the time that this kid was here they were totally zoned into the millions of games that this kid had on his IPad.

I just don't get it. Nor do I like it. Where is there room to build a friendship with someone when there is no interaction with the other person. I don't actually have time to finish this thought, but I think you get my point. Am I just too old fashioned in this thought or should kids actually have to "play" sometimes!?

My 2nd Grader

How time does fly. My kiddo has been going to "school" for most of his life and until now I was never very nervous about it. It's always been a good experience for him and he's done well so far. This year feels totally different to me..maybe because this year really will be different. 2nd grade..this isn't easy learning anymore, this is real important - set you up for the rest of your schooling life - kind of stuff. This is where I have to step up and do everything I can to make sure that he doesn't fall behind and that he only moves forward in all of his challenges. I've slacked big time this summer and not put enough time aside to be working on things that will be tough for him starting off. His speech is still a major issue and I think that he's moved backwards with that a bit over the summer..we should have been working more on his 2nd grade reading words, on knowing his nickel, dime and quarter, on his handwriting that is hideous... But these are all "coulda, woulda, shoulda" s and that's not going to help him any now. So I need to be sure to really give him all that I've got through this school year and make sure that he gets any and all help he needs to succeed.
I am very excited to see where this school year takes him. Excited to see the boy he'll be as he learns more and more. Excited to see growth and developments that he'll make between now and the time he's moving into 3rd grade...
Good luck to my little man, and good luck to me : )