Thursday, April 5, 2012

My Favorite Bunny




Clementine's arrival has effected us all. No one more so than Sam. Though he loves, adores and dotes on his baby sister, it has been a challenge for me to find time to give him the attention he so desperately craves and deserves. It seemed as though our every waking hour was already consummed by work or parenting before Clementine arrived. The only way to make time for her was to take time from someplace...or someone else.

As I am sure is normal, we have been pulled aside by Sam's teacher, Tia Chris, more in the past week than in the past year combined. Episodes of acting-out too ludicrous to mention here have become the "butt" ('nuff said) of inside jokes rather than cause for severe castigations. A wooden spoon to the tizu is not what he needs right now. And when he comes into our room for the fifth time in so many minutes after lights out in the evening, rather than make threats I know I will never follow through on, I try to give him the only thing he really wants, my undivided attention. Even if that means putting off precious, elusive sleep for a few more minutes.

So, we say prayers and talk about the best part of his day by the light of an illuminated fish tank. We talk about 'Outside Brazil', Sam's imaginary outdoor theme park, a child's fantasy that is mirrored by the reality, not only in our backyard, but all around us here. Pete calls from the adjacent crib, "Daddy, covers!" Eventually, everyone falls asleep sooner or later. Foosa, sooner. Some, Sam, later. One, Clementine, maybe not at all.

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