Global Financial and Discipline Meltdown Edition!

From October2008

The news folks, around the globe, is the utter demise of the world's financial system as we know it. Naturally, this takes center stage everywhere but in our house, where the news is actually that Reid is doing pretty well in kindergarten, has started something called drama class for K-3rd graders, and listens to his parents infrequently at best.

In truth, we've had worse goes of things with Reid in the past, but we are experiencing some growing pains around our afternoon schedule. There's a complicated series of events where Reid and Owen come home to Owen's house and play for a while and while the siblings of both boys (Sania with Owen's brother Nathaniel at daycare; Owen's sister at the Montessori school R and O attended last year) are rounded up by K on her way home from work. When a vanload of children from two families rolls up to a house full of other children from the same two families, only one thing can result: TOTAL CHAOS!

Inevitably, Reid and Owen are involved in some complex play that includes elaborate make-believe scenarios, shoelessness and the very real prospect of Reid ordering Owen around like a nervous helpmeet.

Extraction is always a challenge, as Reid sees playtime as without boundaries. Also, he's an effective whiner.

But this is only the first obstacle, as if K can get Reid away from Owen and drag him home, our nearer-neighbors -- fed earlier by their au pair -- circle our house like lions, waiting for the van with their playmate.

Each of these entanglements gives Reid an opportunity to beg, plead and harangue his mom with all the five-year-old weapons in his arsenal: "IT'S NOT FAIR!" and "YOU NEVER LET ME DO ANYTHING!" and "JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES!" and "I DON'T WANT TO EAT DINNER!" and "I'M OBVIOUSLY IRRATIONAL!" et cetera.

In truth, this is all age-appropriate behavior. Unfortunately, Sania is getting a lesson in bad behavior, so she'll be sure to hit these lowlights when she, too, turns five. If not sooner.

Click the photo above for some fun pics from th last few weeks.