This week has been trés longue . . .
I've had one of those weeks in which every day has felt like Monday morning. I've mentioned before that my youngest is in a no-sleep phase that has probably been compounded by the full moon, too much sugar and getting all worked up from throwing multiple tantrums a day. Granted, we do have to go to and fro a lot because of the older sister being in school, but seriously, I might as well be holding a red cape in front of a bull when I approach her with her coat. Little Sister just will not put her coat on . . . or shoes . . .or have her diaper changed. Toddler wrestling, it's the new sport for 2011.
Despite my quasi-zombie status I still find myself laughing at the antics of mes enfants :
You know how children like you to turn their spoons into airplanes, trains, and animals?? Well, after having done all of the above already, Little Sister's reply to "what now?" was simply "a boy". She's two.
In the name of keeping me a zombie, Little Sister has transformed the hours between 2-5 into a three-ring circus. Every night there is a surprise act to rip me from my slumber and send me stumbling to her room. Last night took the cake though. A piercing cry rose up for the . . . 4th time . . ."fren! fren! fren!" What??? I got up to see which stuffed animal had fallen. "Fren!" she said. Oh, I get it. Friend. She's been looking forward to going to school. "Yes, yes, you'll have friends in school, now
"Fren!" she cried. "Fren! Sleep in mommy bed!!"
Bingo! So that was it all along. She's never crossed that threshold but I'll give her 10 points for the creative excuse to get there.
Big Sister hasn't stayed far behind. Reading is the big subject in school this year. Bringing children up in a bi-lingual environment with emphasis on the mother tongue requires tenacity and discipline and adds another dimension in the acquisition of Reading. In our house, we speak English to the children and as her Reading skills have progressed, I've tried interesting Big Sister in various books she could read on her own, in French and English. No.Can.Do. She politely says "no thank-you" and skips off to build Petshop mansions.
Until tonight. We were sitting in the waiting room at our Doctor's office. I was cruising on my iPhone, Little Sister was entertaining the other patients with her infectious laughter, and Big Sister was reading . . .READING an article out loud from Paris Match, one of France's classier tabloid magazines. (Somehow if you throw in articles about politics it keeps you a step above trash mags.) I guess "See Spot in a Bikini in St. Tropez" sounds catchier to the 6 year old set.
Ah well, when even Monsieur le Président Sarkozy is feeling the wear and tear of the week (who knew Alsace was still German???) it can only get better from here, non?
A+
(ah ploos = short for à plus tard, meaning "see you later")
