Day 19

In every movement, you hit a wall.

Ours came this morning.

"I want to watch SPIDERMAN," the three-year-old whined.

My nerves were feeling a little frayed after a busy weekend that called for a day of housework. It was sprinkling outside, a hot spray that mixed with those early tremors of summer heat.

I sucked in my breath. Of course it would be easier just to let him watch the video. Then I might get something accomplished. But it's felt so good to be free of TV interference for a large portion of our day. And it was only 9 AM.

Instead, I put in music and said, "Hey, let's do the dishes!"

I pulled two chairs to the sink and began instructing my little ones in how to pack the dishwasher and rinse the dishes.

When that was done, I said, "Let's wash the dog!"

Together, we lathered up the only-slightly-upset chihuahua who shares our home.

Then the three-year-old put on his Spiderman costume and pretended to be seriously wounded. He was so convincing that I got worried for a minute. Had he had a stroke? I said his name out loud, "This is mommy. No more pretend. Are you okay?"

"Mommy, I am Spiderman," he said.

"What does Spiderman need to get better?" I said. "Flies, perhaps?" Then I pretended to catch flies and mush them up. "Lick the flies off of my hand, Spiderman," I said. To which he giggled uncontrollably. Then we got an insect book out and pretended it was a menu at a restaurant that the fully-restored Spiderman frequents. I played waitress.

Instead of steamed Peripatus, I brought a jellybean. It was far more interesting than any film I've ever seen.

I admit I caved at lunchtime. While we ate peanut butter sandwiches, we watched Rocky and Bollwinkle. Not perfection, but progress.