Manners, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

"What's the magic word," I asked Wade the other day after he demanded another Gogurt.

He stared at me blankly.  He had no clue what I was talking about.  Somewhere along the way, we forgot to teach him to say please.  What the hell?  For the past four years we've been so concerned with making sure he made it into the minivan with the rest of the family after the football/hockey/baseball games and that he wasn't eating wood chips, we forgot some of the toddler/little kid/people basics.  Like manners.

I mean he's no dummy.  He potty-trained himself, he knows what a first down is and a foul ball is.  He notices things and he says things that many preschoolers don't.  The other day looking out the window at a row of brilliant yellow-leafed trees he asked "aren't those trees gorgeous mom?"

But honestly, he is a little rude.  He litters, he bosses me and some of his teachers around a little, he gets away with stuff and he has no idea what the magic word is.

So, this week we have been on a full-force, all-hands-on-deck Teach Wade Some Manners mission.  Barney style.  We sang songs about manners and saying please and thank you.  We did dances.  We taught, reminded, warned, actually used the old Super Nanny naughty mat trick and praised him when he actually used some pleases and thank yous.

And all I know for sure is I'm exhausted.  No, I know more.  I know that I might have more issues with Wade than just manners.  Driving to the store, Wade pointed out a truck and started to laugh.  

"What's so funny about that truck Wade?," we asked.  

"A wady [lady] is driving," he chuckled.  "Wadies can't drive trucks."

Can a preschooler be against equal rights? "Wadies" can do anything guys can. Why can't "wadies" drive trucks? My liberal, feminist heart hurts a little. 

But my god, he's so cute.

Here's some things I know for sure (this week):

• This whole radical self care thing is truly rad.  I am trying to do something radical at least once a week.  This week while Wade was at speech therapy, I grabbed another chance to be alone.  I rode my bike to a remote little corner along a nearby river, read my book, underlining favorite passages.  

I borrowed JT's fancy, colorful pencil.  

Kicking my feet up, breathing and thinking and dreaming and remembering who I am.  I highly recommend this whole radical self care idea.

• We are still loving our porch even though our days are numbered.  It will be too cold soon, but I am determined to stay on it as long as possible.

Yes, Wade is in a Spiderman costume, because of course.

  

• I am sad about Kris and Bruce Jenner breaking up.  Maybe it's because I'm a child of divorce, but I hate it when anyone breaks up.  I like believing in people, in marriages, in love.  I know I sound childish and people hate the Jenner/Kardashians, but I am still sad for them.  

• I love fall, duh.  Check out my vlog review of the season.  Tim said I talk like the guy that used to do those painting infomercial/shows.  Remember the nice man with the small afro?  He was soft spoken, I am not usually.  I was just speaking quietly because I was vlogging from my front porch while my neighbors were outside and I was a little embarrassed.  Check it out and tell me what you love about fall.

• The sunlight in the fall is the best, just the best. It makes everything glow.

• Malala is truly amazing.

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What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed. 

All the pictures in this post were taken with my phone.

I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah from SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones. 

Check them out.