Tuesday, I got a phone call from the new daycare center saying, “Uh, yeah…his bus is here? But he wasn’t on it.” The bus driver sort of forgot him. But she didn’t realize she’d done it. So she drove on over to the daycare, and only when the teacher was climbing around in the back of the bus looking for him did she realize that she had totally not picked him up.
I know. Boggles my mind, too.
Wednesday, I got a call while I was standing on the platform waiting for the ACE train – he was pitching an epic tantrum about something. And as I hung up the phone, I realized that I was totally expecting the call. It’s become routine. Every single day, something. And I sort of went, Hmmmmmm… and then I counted up the days and I realized that what we had here was a Childcare Fail.
It’s nobody’s fault, really. It’s just a bad fit; their environment and his condition don’t go together at all. Unfortunately, his method of dealing with his unhappiness involves things that make him a danger to himself and others; and their methods of dealing with such behaviors don’t work for him, because his little brain doesn’t work like a typical first grader’s would.
Words are not your friend when he’s heading into a meltdown. Actions are. Pictures are. Touch is. A star on a behavior chart, about to head down a notch. A button being removed from the button box (fifteen buttons earns you a trip to the reward basket at home). Having someone take him into a quiet corner and rub his arms, scratch his back, stroke his cheek, help him reboot the system, be the lightning rod that focuses all that crazy energy into a harmless discharge – or, just leave him alone and let him calm himself down.
Today, I ran interference and just picked him up straight from the curb after school, snatched him right on out of his bus. And soon his bus will start coming to the Den instead of the center because guess what?
Captain Adventure and that daycare center?
Yeah. Parting ways.
And tomorrow, I get to start looking for something else for him. I have no idea what at this point. All up in the air, and starting over from scratch.
…I can’t wait…no really, don’t let the utter lack of joy and enthusiasm on my face fool you, I’m ecstatic…
But at the same time, he was soooo happy to see me this afternoon as the bus pulled up. He turned around to his driver with the biggest grin since teeth were invented and shouted, “OH YEAH! DAT MAH MOMMY! OH YEAH! DAT WHAT I TALKIN’ BOUT!”
And then he started chattering as he hopped down from the bus, putting his little hand into mine for a split second before the need to hop-hop-SKIP, hop-hop-SKIP took over his whole body. “Dat right, dat what I talkin’ bout! I am not going to {pffft!} center! Dat mah mommy! Yeah! Dat mah mommy! An’Iiiiiiiii’m going wif her! YEAH! DAT WHAT I TALKIN’ BOUT!!!”
It’s nice to be popular, yo.
So, yet again…the only constant around here is change. The husband and I are going to be tag-teaming the work-from-home thing for the duration (to the eternal joy of our managers, I’m sure) (although mine might actually be pleased…I get more done and work longer hours from home than I do when I’m in the office, and am considerably less constrained, time-wise) (yeah, the five hours of daily commute kind of tends to put a squeeze on your day – go figure), the Denizens are confused, the cat still thinks there aren’t enough laps around here, and I found another disgusting mass of moths downstairs in a basket of rotgut “practice my spinning” wool I’d forgotten I even had. (I’m sensing a pattern there.)
A million spent moth casings. A couple live moths fluttering weakly around. I don’t want to know how many live larva. All of them now out in the trash can in a plastic bag.
Although I have to confess, I did wonder: Can you spin moth-eaten wool? Because on the one hand, ew, but on the other hand, let’s say the world order has fallen apart and the social order has collapsed and there is no more mall and everybody has to make their own everything: I wonder if you can make serviceable yarn out of moth-eaten wool. Would the spinning process make up for the weakened fibers? Or would you be basically making pre-frayed yarn that way?
I do not intend to find out. I’m just going to sit here and idly wonder about it for a while. Because, ew.
{pause to ponder}
And then I’m going to show you a finished Petal Jacket:
After which, I am going to show you a close-up of those buttons because how cute are they, and every single one is different:
And then, I will show you a Boo Bug wearing it. (Boo Bugs are much cuter than wool moths.)
She likes it. Score!
So, you know, I’ve got that going for me. Everything Else may be falling apart all around me this week…but at least I finished the sweater. Yay me!!
6 comments:
Best wishes for a good fit for childcare! The sweater is beautiful! I found the pattern on ebay and have it coming. I would love to have some information about what yarns you are using, etc.
Lovely sweater! I really like those buttons:-)
I hope you get something sorted out for childcare, your Captain Adventure sounds like a handfull, but a very charming handfull! I've said it before: he is lucky to have you as his parents!
"He turned around to his driver with the biggest grin since teeth were invented and shouted, “OH YEAH! DAT MAH MOMMY! OH YEAH! DAT WHAT I TALKIN’ BOUT!”
I adore him!
The sweater is gorgeous (and so is the little Boo Bug wearing it)
It's a shame when childcare doesn't work out, but it definitely sounds like you guys are making the right decision. Kids are not one-size-fits-all - especially awesome kids like CA! :-)
Re: spinning moth-eaten wool. I'm not sure that that would work. Keep in mind I've only spun TWICE so that I'm notsomuch an expert. But It would seem to me that since moths eat rather sporadically, you would have a lot of problems spinning a continuous line - there would be a bunch of random half-staples in the fiber. Since they wouldn't overlap as neatly then, it seems like the ply would break a lot as you spin it - or else end up really slubby as you tried to compensate for the breaks.
But then again, I've only worked with wool that's been fully prepped and carded and everything. And I've only spun TWICE. So...grain of salt and all that.
Good luck with finding the new childcare, but he sounds *so happy * to be going home with you.
I think that theoretically you can spin moth eaten wool. Presuming it's been appropriately decontaminated.
I LOVE the petal sweater! I see somebody found the pattern... I'll have to check ebay. And Boo Bug looks ecstatic!
Ginnie
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