No Peaking!

It was Simon's birthday last week.  He turned 10.  I'd have more (any) pictures but I'm a bad mom.  Actually, I do have some.  I'll add them later.  We've decided this year to only give one gift per child.  While these are nice gifts, it's a little less exciting.  And since we only do big friend parties for 3,5,8,12,16,18 - Si's day was a little boring.  I mean, he still got breakfast in bed, cupcakes at school, a Captain America cake and to be spoiled all day.  But it wasn't too exciting.

The night before his birthday he came into the family room at 9:30, "Mom.  I can't sleep.....  Last summer when you bought all the gifts....  I peaked."  "You did?  You turkey!  Oh well.  It's just your birthday present.  At least you know what you're getting.  I can't even remember that."  He says, "Phew.  Because I was worried I was going to have to act surprised in the morning, and I didn't think I would be believable enough."

Nice.

There wasn't guilt for peaking.  Just that his acting skills may not be up to par.  Classy.

Next day.

"Mom.  Uh.  While I was peaking and saw my present,
I also saw everyone else's.  And everything we are all getting for Christmas, too.  Sam is getting a so and so, Gid is getting this or that..."  Etc.

Wow.

I tried not to flip out.  See.  With me buying all of the years gifts, for everyone and everything - this makes for trouble.  I want to be proud that he told me.  And I kind of am.  And I want to be mad.  And I kind of am.  But in either case, the crime was committed five months ago.  How do you punish that?  All I know is that on Christmas morning, his strong belief of the big man in red, will be out the window.  This year each kid is getting one gift from Peter and I, and one from Santa.  That's it.  I think he may be a little surprised to see that Santa brought the exact same thing he saw in our big brown Uhaul dish barrel boxes.

I think they call this 'natural consequences'.

He then proceeded to tell me that he had Sam come down and see as well.  Sam swears to seeing much less.  BUT, they both know that peakers don't get gifts - so I think Sam might just be trying to play it safe.

Stinkers.

In any case, both of my boys, 10 and 12, still really believe in Santa.  They wrote big letters again this year and truly want to believe.  I think their choice to peak may have cost them their joy of innocence.

Sad.

On another note:  When the kids don't have a 'big' year, they get to do something else they really want with a friend or two.  So this year, Simon chose to go to the movies with two friends.  Yes.  I know.  Movie theaters are illegal in this country.  BUT, we have a little one on camp.  It's small, but pretty nice and shows second run movies.  Today The Smurfs was showing, so he chose to invite two friends, Samuel and me.  TOTALLY stupid movie, but they had fun.  Why am I reporting on this uneventful event?  This is why....

The conversation in the car was almost more than I could handle.  I tell you!  Boys talk about the DUMBEST stuff!  I swear!  (this is only because I am a girl and grew up in a girl house - I had NO idea this is what boys wasted their time talking about)

"Dude!  Have you ever seen an F22?  They're awesome.  Yes.  Totally.  Have you seen an F16?  They rock.  Have you seen the missiles on the F22?  They have doors on the launch shaft that can open and close in less than 2 seconds.  Dude.  I know.  Have you ever seen a G22?  Yeah.  I think so.  I doubt it, cause they only use those in Britain.  Do PJ's jump from those?  Dude.  PJ's are awesome.  (I believe this means parajumper - as if!)  I saw a black hawk carrying water one time.  No way.  Yes.  It was for a fire.  Did it have the missiles on the side.  Yes.  Were there PJ's in it?  My dad flew black hawks in Dessert Storm.  AWESOME!!!  Yeah.  Was he a PJ?  Uh.  I don't know.  (No.  HE FLEW PJ's sillies)  Well have you seen a F18warthog?  They are so cool.  It's a WAR hog.  Yeah.  Cool......"

I could go on.  But why would I?  These same conversations occur with dragons, guns, kung fu moves, super heroes, video games, etc.  It's painful.  Reallllllly painful.

I hope you read the above dialog is your best Napoleon Dynamite voice, which by the way I finally let Sam watch when he was home sick a few weeks ago.  His report, "That was a totally dumb movie mom.  The only funny part is when the guy drive over the plastic bowl."  I am quite sure Sam thinks it's dumb because ND is the quintessential 12 year old.  I'm sure Sam thought ND's drawings were awesome.  And wanted to see the chickens talons.  And thought Uncle Rico could through the ball over that mountain.  And thought LaFonda was good looking.  And quite honestly, would be best friends with Pedro himself.  Funny.

My kids are growing up right before my eyes.  I cannot believe where the time goes.  I love them all SO much. I am blessed to be their mother.  They teach me and try me daily.  Even when the lessons are about F22's.