Last Thursday, I was a bit down, so I went out and made some happiness. I called the boys in and without warning I let out an ancient battle cry; "Lobos!" I screamed, as I hurled pillows across the room at a fantastic velocity for an old man. Moments later the counter attack began:
Michael to right of me,
Alex to left of me,
Pillows in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with cushions and pillow!
It was a melee of absurd violence as I used the pillows as projectiles and to sweep their legs while the would return file and even jump from the bed to my back as they used their superior numbers (2 versus 1). Even using my flash as a blinding weapon, they were giving me all that I could handle. The best thing about it was last night, Michael and Alex came to me when I was on the computer, and without any warning, let out a scream "Lobos!"
RAPatton (5.28.2009)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
So That They Can Become Independent Young Men
The heat arrived and the pools opened last weekend, just as the seem to come in tandem each Memorial Day weekend. As we are ones to embrace what is good in each season, we rushed to the pool to dive, splash and swim once more, just as we have done before, and as I hope we will do in years to come. There could be a tendency to say that all that has happened before, will happen again, and that things don't change, but that statement will be a bit lazy; much has changed in the foreground as the background remains in rhythm
For one thing, Michael is getting so big, he certainly doesn't fly through the sky when I throw him like he once did, and Alex is now doing flips off the diving board like his big brother. A more important step forward in their coming of age is that the boys spent time at the pool all by themselves on Sunday. It was only 90 minutes, but they managed to return home without any broken bones and all of their teeth. They are growing up, and not only don't need their parents overlooking them at all time, but require a degree of freedom so that they can become independent young men who can operate on their own with confidence.
RAPatton (5.27.2009)
For one thing, Michael is getting so big, he certainly doesn't fly through the sky when I throw him like he once did, and Alex is now doing flips off the diving board like his big brother. A more important step forward in their coming of age is that the boys spent time at the pool all by themselves on Sunday. It was only 90 minutes, but they managed to return home without any broken bones and all of their teeth. They are growing up, and not only don't need their parents overlooking them at all time, but require a degree of freedom so that they can become independent young men who can operate on their own with confidence.
RAPatton (5.27.2009)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Clowing Around
Last night I took the boys and Suzanne to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus; they enjoyed the animals, daring stunts and jesters fighting over a hat, but I could have taken them to the zoo to see animals, watched a movie see daring escapades and turned on any of the Sunday Morning programs if I wanted to see a bunch of clowns brawling over the trivial.
I brought them to the Circus so that they could share an experience together, and it was more successful than I could have hoped for. They did all sorts of things that generated smiles: Suzanne would feed Michael one of his assorted sour balls and make him guess the flavor, Alex engineered a cha-cha-cha conga line that had them bouncing up and down and even a few of the things the performers did had them talking.
However, the highlight of the evening came when I was tired and just wanted it to be over; I was up early that day, and it was already late for a school night. I looked over to my left, after hearing some giggling, to spy Michael and Suzanne were pulling an oversized hat over their noggins, completely covering their eyes and then laughing at their mischief as they pulled it off. It went on and on, as they alternated, and their hearty laughs often rose above the music of the final act. I pretended not to notice, because I didn't want my observations to interfere with the reason why we ventured to the Circus that night.
RAPatton (5.15.2009)
I brought them to the Circus so that they could share an experience together, and it was more successful than I could have hoped for. They did all sorts of things that generated smiles: Suzanne would feed Michael one of his assorted sour balls and make him guess the flavor, Alex engineered a cha-cha-cha conga line that had them bouncing up and down and even a few of the things the performers did had them talking.
However, the highlight of the evening came when I was tired and just wanted it to be over; I was up early that day, and it was already late for a school night. I looked over to my left, after hearing some giggling, to spy Michael and Suzanne were pulling an oversized hat over their noggins, completely covering their eyes and then laughing at their mischief as they pulled it off. It went on and on, as they alternated, and their hearty laughs often rose above the music of the final act. I pretended not to notice, because I didn't want my observations to interfere with the reason why we ventured to the Circus that night.
RAPatton (5.15.2009)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Our Little Baker/General
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)
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)
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)
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