And the Survey Says…

Liam has been most helpfully polling the others on critical issues, then presenting me with the results.

While dressing for the park: “Baby Alice doesn’t like to wear her hat. She’s tryin’ to take it off.”

While at the park this morning: “Kyle says he doesn’t need a nap today. Kyle says he never takes a nap at home.”

While waiting for lunch: “Adam says he doesn’t like vegetables. His daddy never makes him eat green stuff.”

After lunch: “Arthur says he doesn’t like sunscreen: it feels icky.”

Liam was told to stop polling the masses. It gives them a false sense of choice.

Energy Boy

Liam is here. Liam, six in September a former full-time daycare tot, now seen only in the summers, alternate weeks. Liam is a fireball. Yes, yes, I know. You parents of one or two children think you have an active child. It’s possible you do. It’s more likely you ain’t seen nothin’ till you’ve seen Liam.

He adds a whole new dimension of energy and enthusiasm to the group dynamic. At this moment, a large loader is moving a three-foot high, ten-foot long rill of gravel east – right in front of my house! – to form a more compact, seven foot high mound. This is all to the good, since the rill obstructed my driveway, and the mound is only directly in front of my porch. It may obstruct my view of the neighbours directly across the street, but, truly nice folk as they are, they’re not all that visually inspiring. But the drive is clear! My sweetie will be able to do the grocery shopping tonight. (Yes, I’m spoiled. He does the bulk of the cooking, too. This is my second marriage. You learn a thing or two along the way…)

Anyway.

Liam sits out on the porch, declaiming: “Sweet! A loader!” “Sweet! A dumptruck!” “Sweet! A giant digger!” I guess ‘sweet’ is the adjective in the kindergarten set.

He comes barrelling indoors, his face alight.

“Hey! Mary! The driver waved at me!!! The truck driver! He waved at me! And the loader driver, too!! He waved, too! The drivers! They waved at me!!!!” This is how Liam talks! In exclamation marks!! I’ve watched the show: it’s no surprise to me the drivers wave. Liam does not merely wave. Liam stands entirely upright, his body a tightly strung wire, quivering with glee. Both hands wave frantically above his head, waving from the armpits, not the wrists, nor even the elbows, and he hollers at the drivers as he bounces from foot to foot:

“Hey! I’m wavin’ at you! Hey! In that loader! Hey!!” None of this in a demanding, petulant tone, you understand, only extreme excitement and intensity, and overwhelming excitement. So, yes, they wave. The only question is why this would appear to surprise Liam.