Ice Run
Bianca and I have been struggling trying to find a way to get Isaac to drink water. He loves juice and milk, but water does absolutely nothing for him. We have tried in special cups, at special times, when he is really thirsty, but to no avail. Nothing has worked.
Then, last night Dad decided to combine two things all kids love--silly rituals and loud noises. I told Isaac to grab his cup of water and we would take big drinks. I grabbed my cup, stood up and did a sumo wrestler style ground stomp, first with my right foot and second with my left. It was hard enough to make the grate in the toaster oven to shake. Then with a big, hearty laugh I threw my head back and guzzled some water. When I finished I let out a great big "AHH!" For a moment, Isaac stared at me. Then he burst out laughing and followed the ritual exactly. He did is best little double stomp and then threw his head back and drank water. He finished with a big "AHH!"
We did this for about ten minutes, until I was dizzy and he was out of water. The water had ice inside and he loved the ice so I showed him how to get the ice out of the freezer. He liked that too. The ice was in a big clump, so I put it in a dish towel and smashed it on the counter. Of course he liked that too. But then we drank some more and we were out of ice, not just in our drinks, but in the house. He looked in the fridge and let out an adorable "oh man." Sad, forlorn and dejected he put his drink down. I suggested we go get ice. He asked: "Idik come too?" Then I saw the time. It was 7:00, when we start the bed time ritual. Mom shook her head "no" and I told him I wasn't going. He didn't throw a fit, but he was even sadder still. Then Bianca looked at me and said: "You boys go get ice." Isaac raised his head and looked at me. "Okay," I responded. Then I asked Isaac "You want to come too?" "YES!" he shouted.
The convenient store is about 500 feet away, maybe a 1000, so it is not a big drive, but Isaac was thrilled. It was so dark out, so late, that going outside was a huge difference. He has been out this late when coming home from trips or Rhode Island, but he has never LEFT home this late. Bianca said to us, "Bring some ice home, no chicks." I then told Isaac: "We need two things, ice and chicks." Isaac and Dad got our coats on and jumped in Limo to ride to the store.
Once at the store Isaac looked around seeing the world for the first time after he is normally inside for the day. He saw the street lights and the car lights and people milling about in the convenience store. For me, it would have been a bit of an unpleasant errand, but for Isaac it was an adventure. When I grabbed the ice he said "Chicks now" but it sounded like "chips". When we got to the cash register he asked the man behind the counter "Do you have any chicks?" Ten minutes total and we were back at home. Isaac went down exactly at his normal time, but not before he had a grand trip.
It was so much fun, great reminder why little people are so important. I was amazed at how excited he was, but then I thought about it from his point of view. This was peeling the curtain back on the adult world, the world of things that happen after you go to bed and it was a spectacular event. I have never had so much fun getting ice before.
Then, last night Dad decided to combine two things all kids love--silly rituals and loud noises. I told Isaac to grab his cup of water and we would take big drinks. I grabbed my cup, stood up and did a sumo wrestler style ground stomp, first with my right foot and second with my left. It was hard enough to make the grate in the toaster oven to shake. Then with a big, hearty laugh I threw my head back and guzzled some water. When I finished I let out a great big "AHH!" For a moment, Isaac stared at me. Then he burst out laughing and followed the ritual exactly. He did is best little double stomp and then threw his head back and drank water. He finished with a big "AHH!"
We did this for about ten minutes, until I was dizzy and he was out of water. The water had ice inside and he loved the ice so I showed him how to get the ice out of the freezer. He liked that too. The ice was in a big clump, so I put it in a dish towel and smashed it on the counter. Of course he liked that too. But then we drank some more and we were out of ice, not just in our drinks, but in the house. He looked in the fridge and let out an adorable "oh man." Sad, forlorn and dejected he put his drink down. I suggested we go get ice. He asked: "Idik come too?" Then I saw the time. It was 7:00, when we start the bed time ritual. Mom shook her head "no" and I told him I wasn't going. He didn't throw a fit, but he was even sadder still. Then Bianca looked at me and said: "You boys go get ice." Isaac raised his head and looked at me. "Okay," I responded. Then I asked Isaac "You want to come too?" "YES!" he shouted.
The convenient store is about 500 feet away, maybe a 1000, so it is not a big drive, but Isaac was thrilled. It was so dark out, so late, that going outside was a huge difference. He has been out this late when coming home from trips or Rhode Island, but he has never LEFT home this late. Bianca said to us, "Bring some ice home, no chicks." I then told Isaac: "We need two things, ice and chicks." Isaac and Dad got our coats on and jumped in Limo to ride to the store.
Once at the store Isaac looked around seeing the world for the first time after he is normally inside for the day. He saw the street lights and the car lights and people milling about in the convenience store. For me, it would have been a bit of an unpleasant errand, but for Isaac it was an adventure. When I grabbed the ice he said "Chicks now" but it sounded like "chips". When we got to the cash register he asked the man behind the counter "Do you have any chicks?" Ten minutes total and we were back at home. Isaac went down exactly at his normal time, but not before he had a grand trip.
It was so much fun, great reminder why little people are so important. I was amazed at how excited he was, but then I thought about it from his point of view. This was peeling the curtain back on the adult world, the world of things that happen after you go to bed and it was a spectacular event. I have never had so much fun getting ice before.