Gluttons For Violence
If anyone had told me, 9 years ago, that I would spend much of my time wrestling, rough housing, patching up bloody noses 15 times a week, and making my son laugh by pretending to do terrible violence to him, I would have flatly disbelieved you. In fact, I would have offered you asperin and a stiff whiskey to help ward off your feeblemindedness.
We went to Portland this weekend to see friends and Max is not always a bundle of joy in the car or in the city. However, we had one of those drives that was really great. We chatted with Max while listening to Sinead O'Connor who, it turns out, Max really likes. Well, only the songs that aren't "too slow". So we blasted "Mandinka" and talked with Max about music, and mistresses (no, not really...had to side skirt this one, actually) and I don't even know what else. He didn't yell out how bored he was. He didn't complain. It was so wonderful!
He got to spend some time with his Grandma going to the local rock shop and we ended the day by going to The Kennedy School for dinner. Max was still in good spirits and manipulated me into abusing him horribly with punches to the face which sent him laughing his head off and begging me to do it again and again. The kid is a glutton for violence. He has no clue how far off of my usual bent he has driven me. But I admit that trying to capture a convincing punch in the face with the camera was really fun.
Such gorgeous days are nearly always followed by grouchy ones with the kid. All the excitement wears him out after it winds him up but being who he is means that he doesn't get all quiet and relish some downtime, it just means he's extra uncooperative the next day. Cranky, bored, fussy.
Still, I'll take those wonderful days with the requisite grumpy ones. It reminds me how much fun my kid can be and how weird and funny he is.
We went to Portland this weekend to see friends and Max is not always a bundle of joy in the car or in the city. However, we had one of those drives that was really great. We chatted with Max while listening to Sinead O'Connor who, it turns out, Max really likes. Well, only the songs that aren't "too slow". So we blasted "Mandinka" and talked with Max about music, and mistresses (no, not really...had to side skirt this one, actually) and I don't even know what else. He didn't yell out how bored he was. He didn't complain. It was so wonderful!
He got to spend some time with his Grandma going to the local rock shop and we ended the day by going to The Kennedy School for dinner. Max was still in good spirits and manipulated me into abusing him horribly with punches to the face which sent him laughing his head off and begging me to do it again and again. The kid is a glutton for violence. He has no clue how far off of my usual bent he has driven me. But I admit that trying to capture a convincing punch in the face with the camera was really fun.
Such gorgeous days are nearly always followed by grouchy ones with the kid. All the excitement wears him out after it winds him up but being who he is means that he doesn't get all quiet and relish some downtime, it just means he's extra uncooperative the next day. Cranky, bored, fussy.
Still, I'll take those wonderful days with the requisite grumpy ones. It reminds me how much fun my kid can be and how weird and funny he is.
Comments (3)
Oh! You went to the Kennedy School? That place is my most favorite hangout with my kids. We'd always go for lunch and a matinee. As we'd walk through the old, creaky hallways I always told them how wonderful this old school was/is and that I could feel the energy of those who walked before us. We have such wonderful memories of that place and now, if I'm lucky and the kids are around we'll head over and I'll bask in the moment.
Posted by Kathy | May 25, 2009 1:51 PM
Posted on May 25, 2009 13:51
I wonder if we've ever run into each other there? I love it too. They never fuss about Max running all over the place and it's so fun to look at all the art. We try to go there whenever we come to town. It's my favorite of all the McMennamins.
Posted by angelina | May 25, 2009 2:08 PM
Posted on May 25, 2009 14:08
Boys are funny that way, I know. My son loves nothing more than for me to "beat him up" (ie; tickle him and pretend to knock him down) all day long. He'll stand up and get into a "fight pose" and yell, "mommy, beat me up!!" I'm sure it sounds great to the neighbors.
He thinks it's HILARIOUS!
Posted by Jocelyn | May 26, 2009 6:05 AM
Posted on May 26, 2009 06:05