Last week Alex didn't feel well in the morning and stayed home from school, and by late afternoon he was feeling fine and had played out his toys and read all his books; what does a 9 year old boy do when boredom sets in? In Alex’s case, he asked Jenny if they could bake. They made a vanilla cake with vanilla icing, his favorite, although he didn't eat a piece. He just enjoys creating something in the kitchen, much like his father. Society may consider our propensity to dabble in the culinary arts a less than manly activity, even though I am certain it will help him with ladies in years to come.
Early this week, Alex gave his report on General George S Patton Jr., which involved research into the tank battles, the Olympics and other things that you might expect a testosterone fueled boy to find engaging. He wore his grandfather’s bronze star, camouflage clothing and dog tags. It was all very masculine, and it was a huge success, but that may have been because he attacked his speech as a general and leveraged his resources: he brought in the class Aunt Jo’s cookies that he baked the proudly bakes the night before.
RAPatton (5.14.2009)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Literary Heroes of Today and, perhaps, Tomorrow
Saturday, I took the boys to the Ohioana Book Festival to see two of their favorite authors, R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps books, and Jeff Smith, author of "Bone." To be in their presence at all was too good to pass up, let alone in such a small venue. Each kid asked many questions, and were able to chat with their literary heroes one on one.
During R.L.'s session he joked about how he has only 6 plots, and as he continued it occurred to me there is a pattern to the books and comics that I push the boys to read. They seem to be one of two types: the first class of tales are the stories about the kids who are different and don't fit in. They start off wanting to be ordinary, but in their hero's journey they learn to embrace being extraordinary, like the X-Men or Harry Potter. This is something that we have worked with extensively with the boys on, that their quirks are strengths to be used. The other is are the tales about an ordinary kid that does amazing things when tested by unusual circumstances, like in the Goosebumps tales.
In my mind, both are true of both authors; they are two ordinary kids from Columbus who went on and did extraordinary things, and at they same time, they were people who were different, and were able to use those differences to accomplish those great things. My hope is that be seeing and listening to them, that Michael and Alex understand that two more kids from Columbus can do anything they want, if they embrace who they are, and are ready to take advantage of the opportunities throw at them.
RAPatton (5.11.2009)
During R.L.'s session he joked about how he has only 6 plots, and as he continued it occurred to me there is a pattern to the books and comics that I push the boys to read. They seem to be one of two types: the first class of tales are the stories about the kids who are different and don't fit in. They start off wanting to be ordinary, but in their hero's journey they learn to embrace being extraordinary, like the X-Men or Harry Potter. This is something that we have worked with extensively with the boys on, that their quirks are strengths to be used. The other is are the tales about an ordinary kid that does amazing things when tested by unusual circumstances, like in the Goosebumps tales.
In my mind, both are true of both authors; they are two ordinary kids from Columbus who went on and did extraordinary things, and at they same time, they were people who were different, and were able to use those differences to accomplish those great things. My hope is that be seeing and listening to them, that Michael and Alex understand that two more kids from Columbus can do anything they want, if they embrace who they are, and are ready to take advantage of the opportunities throw at them.
RAPatton (5.11.2009)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bad Films and Better Understanding
Summer movie season arrived Friday with the "Wolverine" film. It was mediocre, as you would expect from a film with such a name, but even if it was christened "Buckeye," I don't think it would have been art. The notable thing about our viewing is that the boys were able to attend it with us. Yes, they are now old enough to be subjugated to bad films for adult audiences at the theater.
I am very happy about this because not only does it cost less without a babysitter, but it allows us to experience it together, and I am believer in the importance of shared experiences in building a relationship. In the past we've taken them to most every kids film available, but this greatly expands the amount of cinema we can share, discuss and use as a touchstone for understanding, and it spares me from seeing anything like that masterpiece "Doogle" ever again. Beyond that it also increases their ability to connect with people through a great immersion in our culture and it sharpens their analytical skills as demonstrated by Alex's summary review of our entertainment: "There are things I would have changed."
RAPatton (5.4.2009)
I am very happy about this because not only does it cost less without a babysitter, but it allows us to experience it together, and I am believer in the importance of shared experiences in building a relationship. In the past we've taken them to most every kids film available, but this greatly expands the amount of cinema we can share, discuss and use as a touchstone for understanding, and it spares me from seeing anything like that masterpiece "Doogle" ever again. Beyond that it also increases their ability to connect with people through a great immersion in our culture and it sharpens their analytical skills as demonstrated by Alex's summary review of our entertainment: "There are things I would have changed."
RAPatton (5.4.2009)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Pictures or it Didn't Happen
On holidays, it has been customary for the boys to wake me so that I can document the before, during and after of such things; after all without pictures, did it even really happen? This really hasn't been an issue though, because, for the most part, I am typically rise long before they are, so I didn't remind them Saturday night before I closed my eyes and escaped to the realm of my dreams.
What seemed like moments later, I heard Alex gleefully exclaim "Nintendo DSi!" This came as a major surprise, not just because protocol was broken, but that on Muirfield place, future coffee junkie Alex "I'm Tired" Patton was the first awake, before Michael "I greet everyday with a smile" Patton. I jumped out of bed, and found that Alex was already back in his room waking his brother with his jubilant news. Even though I couldn't see his joy, I still experienced it, and I assure you it most certainly happened; you will have to take my word for it.
RAP (4.16.2009)
What seemed like moments later, I heard Alex gleefully exclaim "Nintendo DSi!" This came as a major surprise, not just because protocol was broken, but that on Muirfield place, future coffee junkie Alex "I'm Tired" Patton was the first awake, before Michael "I greet everyday with a smile" Patton. I jumped out of bed, and found that Alex was already back in his room waking his brother with his jubilant news. Even though I couldn't see his joy, I still experienced it, and I assure you it most certainly happened; you will have to take my word for it.
RAP (4.16.2009)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Change is in the Air
The boys are getting older and things are changing slowly. Michael's best friend is Suzanne, which is interesting because being a female introduces wrinkles that are just starting to ripple in their consciousness. Most days with good weather, she will stop by while walking one of her dogs and asks if Michael wants to join her. Often Alex wants to go too, but we sometimes we hold him back; Alex can dominate a discussion, and this is an area where Michael needs some latitude.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream opened up last week in Old Dublin, so Friday night I took the boys and Suzanne down their for a treat. It was a nice time. After we returned her safely home, we returned to Muirfield Place and watched Twilight Zone the Movie. The following day I come home and discover that Michael was showing Suzanne the Twilight Zone, my son was watching a scary movie with a girl, who may only be a friend but still a girl. He is getting older and change is in the air.
RAP (4.9.2009)
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream opened up last week in Old Dublin, so Friday night I took the boys and Suzanne down their for a treat. It was a nice time. After we returned her safely home, we returned to Muirfield Place and watched Twilight Zone the Movie. The following day I come home and discover that Michael was showing Suzanne the Twilight Zone, my son was watching a scary movie with a girl, who may only be a friend but still a girl. He is getting older and change is in the air.
RAP (4.9.2009)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Cult of Alex
Alex needn't be versed in classical history to understand the power of bread and circuses as a tool to gain favor. In March, he discovered that his school library had a cooking section, and not only found cook books, but polled his classmates as to which were the best (gathering buy in), and promised to make these recipes for them. This was a Thursday, on Monday he delivered them beef tataki with lettuce wraps and orange tea served in an authentic tea pot from Japan. Of course he did not do this all on his own, he enlisted the aide of his mother, delegated, if you will, part of the preparation and the service of the banquet.
After all, while they were eating their bread he need to be giving them their circus; her discussed the items, their intricacies and touched upon points of Japanese culture as the cult of Alex grew. Our young Caesar's empire is growing within the 3rd grade, but he does not have a Cleopatra. Instead, he has two female friends, that are not girlfriends, who compete for his attention and like to be around him all the time. Hail Caesar!
RAP (4.8.2009)
After all, while they were eating their bread he need to be giving them their circus; her discussed the items, their intricacies and touched upon points of Japanese culture as the cult of Alex grew. Our young Caesar's empire is growing within the 3rd grade, but he does not have a Cleopatra. Instead, he has two female friends, that are not girlfriends, who compete for his attention and like to be around him all the time. Hail Caesar!
RAP (4.8.2009)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Scene of the Crime (6 days shy of 20 years later)
It has been a few years since the boys have been to DC, and in those years they have studied a little bit of history. and a tad about our government; so we decided to take a break from the tropics and head to the nation's capital for spring break. Although we were there for a brief time, they boys took in a great deal; they went to the Lincoln, Vietnam and WWII memorials. They marched to the Natural History Museum, National Gallery, Air and Space Museum and Spy Museum. The saw pandas, panhandlers and political speakers of the mentally addled variety as they rode the metro from here to there. We even found time to catch a movie and enjoy gluten free pizza. It was enough to make the heartiest souls feel weary, and certainly made my body feel its age.
There was one final destination we made time for, one that focused on the boys personal heritage as opposed to the nations, one that reminded us of our youth more than our age; 6 days shy of 20 years we took the boys to the Georgetown Guest House, the place where we first met on April 3rd 1989.
RAP (3.31.2009)
There was one final destination we made time for, one that focused on the boys personal heritage as opposed to the nations, one that reminded us of our youth more than our age; 6 days shy of 20 years we took the boys to the Georgetown Guest House, the place where we first met on April 3rd 1989.
RAP (3.31.2009)
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