Someone has been watching a little too much television

Me: Joe, you need to decide whether you want to go to soccer camp, because I need to sign you up soon in order to take advantage of the early bird special.

Joe: What's the early bird special?

Me: If we sign you up early, it costs less.

Joe: Do we have to sign up early?

Me: No, but I want to.

Joe: Why?

Me: Because I like to save money.

Joe: You can save money AND live better at Walmart.

Amazing Race: Season Maddux

Guess what is about to start again? The Amazing Race, a/k/a the best show on television.

Cort and I have loved this show since the first season. But last season, we introduced Charlie and Joe to it. To say that they are hooked would be an understatement.

In fact, they love it so much that they have taken to making up their own version themselves. Many Friday nights, when everyone gets home, we all have to play a leg of the Amazing Race.

Detour: Choose one of two tasks to complete.


Route marker


Road block - who's going to do it?


This way to the pit stop (Joe usually plays the part of Phil, by the way. He's got all the lingo down.)


The pit stop sign in made by Joe. I came in last. Fortunately, it was a non-elimination round. Whew.

When he sets his mind to something

Joe started writing--proficiently--at age 3. Letters, then whole words. Lists, lists, and more lists. (He's still a listmaker.)

Problem is, he held his pencil in his fist. Not unusual for a 3-year-old. But then he turned 4, then 5, then 6, then 7. And he still held his pencil in his fist.

His preschool teachers tried to get him to hold it correctly. Use "alligator fingers," they said.

He didn't want to.

His kindergarten teacher got him a special pencil grip to use. And when it came time for the class invention, she steered his class toward making an invention to help kids hold a pencil right.

He was interested, but he didn't change his grip.

We discussed the issue with his first grade teacher, then his second grade teacher, at parent-teacher conferences. His second grade teacher told us that, statistically, if he had not started doing it right by second grade, it would probably be very difficult to get him to change.

We knew that. The kid writes everything down, fast. And he was comfortable with his fist grip. Change was uncomfortable, and slowed him down.

And really, in the scheme of life's problems, "incorrect pencil grip" seems to be pretty far down on the list.

He holds his pencil incorrectly. So what?

Except.

Now he doesn't.

The other day when I picked him up at school he informed me that he had held his pencil correctly all day. He came home and did his homework, then addressed all of his Valentines--all the while holding it correctly. He has never looked back. He always holds it correctly now.

His teacher told me she reviewed the mechanics of pencil grip in preparation for learning cursive writing. We don't know if it was the mechanics review, the anticipation of learning cursive, or just what was in the air that day that made him change.

It has confirmed two things: (1) it is very difficult to make Joe do something that he has no interest in doing and (2) there is no stopping him when he does set his mind to do something.

A changing of seasons

We are in changing of seasons right now.

Not winter to spring, though.

In the Maddux household, it's basketball to baseball.

Since December, Charlie and Joseph have been playing basketball at the Y. I personally was dubious, but it's been fun. The Y is very laid back, so it's nice to just play and not worry about standings for while. The boys both did very well, and their whole team (the Heat) really seemed to improve over the season. It was fun to see them start learning to pass and play more as a team.

Charlie was great from the beginning, and was probably the most accomplished player on the team. Joe was a solid defensive player from the start, but his offense really improved toward the end of the season--including one stellar game with several points. (Charlie, I think, scored in every single game.)

They won some, and they lost some, and they even tied some. But they had fun the whole time. (Well, almost. Competitive Charlie got upset after one loss, and some rule-breaking by his opponent, but ultimately he handled things just fine.)


A particularly good game for the Heat. Many points for both Maddux boys at this one.

But now, basketball is over. We've got this week off, and then . . .

it's baseball season again!

Charlie and Joe will play coach pitch and be on the Red Sox again. They've got several returning friends on the team, and are excited to get started.

And Will and Helen are playing t-ball for the first time. They are on the Rattlers, Charlie and Joe's old t-ball team, and what they lack in t-ball skills they make up for in enthusiasm.

Mom and Dad are gearing up for much time spent at the fields. Cort will help coach both teams, and I'll be the Red Sox "Team Mom" (and undoubtedly will help with t-ball too--because a LOT of parents are needed to help with t-ball).

Practices start this weekend, and games start in a little over a month. Here we go . . . play ball!

Multi-tasking

Tonight, in a little over 45 minutes, I--

Supervised preschool homework
Helped with corrections to second grade homework
Addressed a homework-related meltdown
Cooked dinner
Set the table
Helped a 4-year-old take two trash cans to the curb
Listened to a second grader reader for his required 20 minutes
Cleaned wax out of four ears
Supervised two 4-year-olds taking a shower at different times
Combed tangles out of wet hair
Solved a word scramble (designed by second grader as part of his homework)
Signed required forms for elementary school
Addressed many, many grievances
Wiped one butt

This is progress?

This is what we got on Helen's monthly progress report from school:

In the past during freework time, Helen usually would do independent work or something with Will. Lately she's choosing to spend time aggravating others in some way. When they tell on her, she shows a smirk. . . .

Yep, that's pretty much what she does at home, too.