Time for another hair-washing session! It's been a few weeks since the last shampoo, mostly because Tyoma has been keeping out of his poo. If you had a video recording, you'd swear I was pouring battery acid on him instead of water.
Strangely, he does like to pour water over his own head, but not in the context of shampooing. I'm hoping I can get him to the point where he can rinse himself so I do't have to deal with the screaming-squirmy shakes.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Coffee!
Tennisfiend and I drove to our favorite coffee place, JR Beaners, only to find that the "closed for the season" notice has morphed into a "closed for restructuring," i.e., "closed forever because we were too good to be true." The sentimental "Thanks for being our customers, see you soon..." note posted to the front door had a subtle finality to it, as if somebody's wife wrote it to buoy fallen family spirits. We went to Panera instead, a franchise with predictably decent coffee and sweets, discussing the success of dunkin donuts on east coast.
For a close to a buck you can get a good cup of coffee. Starbucks is expensive and serves the ashy-tasting type of coffee that trickles out of cheap hotel room coffeemakers. No wonder so many Starbucks are closing. Tyoma enjoyed his day at Olga's, but when I picked him up I noticed that Olga looked harried. She confessed that three kids all vying for her attention at once was trying. I felt very sorry for her and suggested that I bring Tyoma over when her older daughter is in preschool. We'll figure it out. Mom is coming and we will be enjoying a few weeks of vacation.
For a close to a buck you can get a good cup of coffee. Starbucks is expensive and serves the ashy-tasting type of coffee that trickles out of cheap hotel room coffeemakers. No wonder so many Starbucks are closing. Tyoma enjoyed his day at Olga's, but when I picked him up I noticed that Olga looked harried. She confessed that three kids all vying for her attention at once was trying. I felt very sorry for her and suggested that I bring Tyoma over when her older daughter is in preschool. We'll figure it out. Mom is coming and we will be enjoying a few weeks of vacation.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Face To Go With The Voice
I met with Olga today, liking her immediately. She looks to be in her mid-thirties, fresh faced and slavic featured, with long sandy hair pulled up in a bun. I hate to sterotype, but she did fit my idea of a Russian stong woman--sturdy, earthy and very sweet. Tyoma liked her immediately and got on well with her two daughters. Olga and her partner have one birth daughter apiece with the same father. The girls were sweet, but I confess that the four year old was quite a handful. If she can deal with Lizzie, Tyoma will be a peice of cake. We set up a schedule for a few times a week, two hours a day. We have our fingers crossed!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Haircut
Since Grandma will be here next week I took Tyoma for his first haircut since Halloween (almost 5 months!!!). Over the summer I had him buzzed pretty regularly, but with his hat aversion, I kept his hair long over the winter months. We went to Snip-its, since the past few haircuts at JC Penney have been a trifle unfortunate.
Alas! I remembered why we went to JCP.
Reminiscent of Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Snip-its décor featured ultra-vivid colors and swirly, fanciful furniture. The kid-friendly videos they blasted out of their army of tiny suspended television sets even sounded like a hundred singing Ooompa-Loompas. No candy though. I reckon the place is perfect for the status-conscious six year old. Not so much for squirmy 2 1/2 year olds.
I wish you could have seen the look of horror on the stylist's face when I requested the televisions off and a private salon chair so Tyoma could sit on my lap as she cut his hair. Her expression was not quite as dramatically terrified as a person hurtling down the highest peak of a notorious rollercoaster, but it was certainly more appalled than a someone watching Hostel for the first time. Was I really that demanding and bossy? Or maybe other toddlers screamed to wake the dead, and she knew by my wild eyes that this was some serious business?
Anyway, I explained that Tyoma is gifted, but sensitive and that he will quickly get over the haircut process if he is distracted. Poor girl almost dropped her scissors when he stated to squirm, but I reassured her that I would tip generously. I reckon this was all she really needed to hear, because things went swimmingly after that. Spelling colors and numbers, Tyoma even relaxed enough to laugh and smile at her. She gave him a fabulous cut and I hope she will work with us in the future. Yay!
Alas! I remembered why we went to JCP.
Reminiscent of Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Snip-its décor featured ultra-vivid colors and swirly, fanciful furniture. The kid-friendly videos they blasted out of their army of tiny suspended television sets even sounded like a hundred singing Ooompa-Loompas. No candy though. I reckon the place is perfect for the status-conscious six year old. Not so much for squirmy 2 1/2 year olds.
I wish you could have seen the look of horror on the stylist's face when I requested the televisions off and a private salon chair so Tyoma could sit on my lap as she cut his hair. Her expression was not quite as dramatically terrified as a person hurtling down the highest peak of a notorious rollercoaster, but it was certainly more appalled than a someone watching Hostel for the first time. Was I really that demanding and bossy? Or maybe other toddlers screamed to wake the dead, and she knew by my wild eyes that this was some serious business?
Anyway, I explained that Tyoma is gifted, but sensitive and that he will quickly get over the haircut process if he is distracted. Poor girl almost dropped her scissors when he stated to squirm, but I reassured her that I would tip generously. I reckon this was all she really needed to hear, because things went swimmingly after that. Spelling colors and numbers, Tyoma even relaxed enough to laugh and smile at her. She gave him a fabulous cut and I hope she will work with us in the future. Yay!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Two More Days...
How will I enjoy my last hours of freedom while Tyoma is in daycare? By sitting on my backside and watching TV. I feel soooo tired. I should be organizing the basement (again), shopping, or doing something productive, but I'm pooped! Awww, well. NCIS rocks. Enjoy it!
When I dropped off the squirmy guy, I got the look from Miss Rhona. She hasn't seen me since the meeting ( tummy bug at the center) and she knew that I left in an unhappy place. Her "are you going to be a bitch" look was met with my "No, but you effed up" look. Ahh, women and their subtle interactions!
When I dropped off the squirmy guy, I got the look from Miss Rhona. She hasn't seen me since the meeting ( tummy bug at the center) and she knew that I left in an unhappy place. Her "are you going to be a bitch" look was met with my "No, but you effed up" look. Ahh, women and their subtle interactions!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Poor Olga
I skipped Kindercare today to bring Tyoma to meet Olga and her two children. At 8:00 in the morning she called. Her mother had dangerously high blood pressure and was in the hospital, could we meet another time?
She was so genuine and refreshingly un-dramatic in an absolutely terrfying situation. My affection for her grew. Who wants to trust a drama queen with their kid? I took Tyoma out for Chick-Fil-a and looked longingly at the spring clothes at the mall. My butt is in that in-between size where the "comfy" clothes are too loose and the skinny clothes are circulation destroying.
She was so genuine and refreshingly un-dramatic in an absolutely terrfying situation. My affection for her grew. Who wants to trust a drama queen with their kid? I took Tyoma out for Chick-Fil-a and looked longingly at the spring clothes at the mall. My butt is in that in-between size where the "comfy" clothes are too loose and the skinny clothes are circulation destroying.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Phonecall
So, Sunday I worked up the nerve to call the Russian babysitter.
Originally, Tennisfiend was going to call (the message was posted in Russian, afterall), but he didn't feel comfortable talking to her. I argued that I didn't feel comfortable calling either. Then we had a laugh. No wonder Tyoma has social delays!
I was so nervous!!! I even wrote out a little script for the whole conversation. The only thing I didn't plan to ask her was the color of her parachute!!! I called. I felt anxious and excited, pacing with my well thought-out list of twenty questions. Heh. When we chatted, I heard anxiety and excitement in her voice, too.
I crossed out fifteen questions on principle. Two questions later, I set up an appointment to meet her this Wednesday. Sometimes, you get a feeling from someone, a simpatico thing. Yeah. I liked her already. One thing mildly surprised me. When she first mentioned her "partner" I didn't get that she was gay. It took three more mentions before I understood.
The mild surprise? That I didn't get it in the first place. Probably because to me, such things don't matter. Which is cool. Actually, super cool for Tyoma since he gets lots of female nurturing--two moms, two daughters and a grandma!
Originally, Tennisfiend was going to call (the message was posted in Russian, afterall), but he didn't feel comfortable talking to her. I argued that I didn't feel comfortable calling either. Then we had a laugh. No wonder Tyoma has social delays!
I was so nervous!!! I even wrote out a little script for the whole conversation. The only thing I didn't plan to ask her was the color of her parachute!!! I called. I felt anxious and excited, pacing with my well thought-out list of twenty questions. Heh. When we chatted, I heard anxiety and excitement in her voice, too.
I crossed out fifteen questions on principle. Two questions later, I set up an appointment to meet her this Wednesday. Sometimes, you get a feeling from someone, a simpatico thing. Yeah. I liked her already. One thing mildly surprised me. When she first mentioned her "partner" I didn't get that she was gay. It took three more mentions before I understood.
The mild surprise? That I didn't get it in the first place. Probably because to me, such things don't matter. Which is cool. Actually, super cool for Tyoma since he gets lots of female nurturing--two moms, two daughters and a grandma!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Farewell KinderCare
This will be our last week of KinderCare. Tyoma has been away from the center for three weeks and he is doing so well. I admit, I will miss the 12 hours of free time and I do wonder how I will cope with nonstop caretaking.
Without relatives to give a reprieve, will I perish from overwork or grind myself into depression? Naw. But I was grateful to family and KinderCare when I was ill with the flu. My feeblest efforts were not enough, and Tennisfiend had to work.
I guess that's why so many kids come to Kindercare sick. Other parents struggle, too. Tyoma seems so health and happy. This is the right decision. My only worry now is how to keep him interacting with other kids. He spazzes out at the public library. Story times don't hold his interest and he runs off. Crowded playgrounds make him cry. I will call the Russian babysitter with two young daughters and see what we can do. It's a start.
Without relatives to give a reprieve, will I perish from overwork or grind myself into depression? Naw. But I was grateful to family and KinderCare when I was ill with the flu. My feeblest efforts were not enough, and Tennisfiend had to work.
I guess that's why so many kids come to Kindercare sick. Other parents struggle, too. Tyoma seems so health and happy. This is the right decision. My only worry now is how to keep him interacting with other kids. He spazzes out at the public library. Story times don't hold his interest and he runs off. Crowded playgrounds make him cry. I will call the Russian babysitter with two young daughters and see what we can do. It's a start.
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