Loco-Charley

Lest you think that I gave Charley away after that last post, here is an entry dedicated to Charley and his one true love: trains.

The local train club set up a demo at the library last week and, as you can imagine, Charley was enthusiastic.  Like twitchy, vibrating enthusiastic.  It's quite scary, really.

 "Hmmm... Yes.  I see what you're saying, wise sir".

 I'm not exaggerating to say that there isn't a human on earth who make him this gleeful.  He was over the moon happy.  I guess I should just accept that he'll be living in my basement painting tiny trees and boxcars forever.

Lost in the meditation of circling trains.

We were at a party last night, and there were about 15 kids there.  14 of them were running around playing hide and seek, and my unique 1 was sitting in a Harry Potter-closet under the stairs playing Mouse Trap by himself.  When I asked him if he needed anything he said "No mom, but thanks so much for asking".  

Then he said "could you close the door so that none of the other kids will come in here".

Oh, Charley. 

Love this kid!

Sammy, my tiny, brand-new, just-born baby is 4 YEARS OLD today.   How did that happen?

I'm telling you, all these years?... the grown ups were right. You blink and you miss it.

Love this kid to bits.  He's a brainiac tyrant with very little patience, but oh, he's funny!

Charley, the wunderkind

I think you know that my eldest child is a special creature.  There's no doubt that he is delayed in certain parts of his life: he is clumsy and awkward, he can't hold a pencil properly, he struggles to understand his peers, and he often retreats to what we call "Charleyworld".

Along with these 'deficiencies' he has numerous gifts.  He remembers every single thing that has ever happened to him, and will often refer to something that happened in, say, June 2008.  He can read back a book you've read to him perfectly, even after the first reading.  He builds complex structures with blocks and has amazing spatial perception.

I can't help wondering what he'll do with these gifts.  I'm not nearly as clever as he, and don't know how to distill his talents and direct them in the most accurate way.  I know he's only 5 and has years to figure it all out, but when you have a brain like Charley, the best thing to do is give it a focus.

I watched this old video last week and couldn't help feeling a connection with the child portrayed.   That's the scary kind of focus that Charley displays when he's interested in something.

So, of course, I asked him at dinner "Charley, do you hear music in your head?".  He replied "Yes, Mommy".

"Really" I said, leaning in, "what does it sound like?".

Now his response doesn't transcribe well, but imagine a malfunctioning alarm clock, shrilly sounding a 'deet deet deet' noise and you'll have an idea.

I'm pretty sure he's not a musical prodigy.  Ha ha ha... He is certainly pretty unique. 

I accompanied the class to the graveyard this morning so that they could place the poppy crosses that they made in class.  I had a group of 3 kids with me, including Charley.

We talked on the walk over about the soldiers and the war and graveyards and tombstones and I did my best to explain the term "respect" to 3 kindergartners.  (I think I said it meant 'being quiet and polite at the same time').  This was mostly for Charley's benefit because he's been known to be inappropriate in public.  Like, everyday.

Thinking I'd covered the subject enough (let's not get into too many details of death and war and gravestones, right?) I herded them over to the large group of 4 classes that had gathered to hear some veterans say a few words.

As they spoke the kids earnestly looked on and tried to understand why they were there, little cardboard poppies in hand.

Charley waited for a particularly quiet moment before asking me, in his usual peak volume, "when do we get to dig up the skeletons?".

Yep.  That's my kid.  My clever, infuriating, curious and totally random child.

Phew

That was a rough few days with the flu.  I haven't been so sick for a long, long time.  Thank goodness for husbands and moms who save the day.  I was a total write-off for about 24 hours.

But, recovering now!  Makes you appreciate how great it feels to be normal again.  Isn't the aches/pains/chills/fever/barfing combo the worst thing in the world?

You might imagine I don't have any photos from the last few days, 'cuz that would be gross.  So here are a few I took earlier of my new furry friend.  (No, not Chris!  He's my old furry friend).

The is Gryphon, the Newfoundland.  He lives across from Charley's school and has been smooched and pet and loved enough by me that he howls when I don't come over to visit.  He is lovely and silly and weighs 180 pounds.  I'm serious... I asked.  His owners just look out the window and roll their eyes at "the crazy woman who fondles our dog" at this point.

I tried to get Sam in a shot for size reference, but ever since Gryph (aka Fluffer-Pup) took Sam's monkey right out of his hands and bounded away with it, he's been a bit wary.  Oh, and because he's 180 POUNDS!
(That's 'little sister' in the background.  She's the boss.)

Could he be any more of a tart?  Seriously, the pose!?  The well-timed wind!?  Show-dog!  I would steal him away, but Chris might notice the new arrival (hard to hide) as might Kismet.  (She's the size of one of his ears.)

There you go.  Big, hairy goofball of the day.

The Brotherhood

The bonus of the scarlet fever plague, is that the boys have had many, many days together.  While it hasn't been entirely peaceful (ha!), they have had some quality bonding time.

I think they are very, very lucky to have each other.  They are the black and the white, the sun and the moon and the yin and the yang.  The couldn't be more different, but they also couldn't love each other more.  I'm a lucky mom.

Today they made up a 'rockstar' dance, re-explored the playground after a long winter, became deep sea explorers in the tub, and told each other 'I love you' 52 times. 

Oh... and they pee together.  At the same time.  "I'm peeing on your pee!", one declares to the other.

And, just like that, the sweet, mushy moment is over. 

Love this kid!

Yes, he drives me around the bend, but I love his quirky, hilarious little self. They lost him for 10 minutes at school the other day. He decided to stay out when the bell rang and had (I'm sure) a lovely time in the playground. He went into the school on his own accord, and presented himself at the door with a joyous "here I am!". The teachers, who hadn't quite noticed his absence, must have looked at each other and blanched. I know I did when they told me about it. It's worth stating that I love his teachers and don't know how they manage the herd of 4 year olds, even without the added excitement of being responsible for a 'Charley'. They're doing their best.


Life is an adventure when Charley is in it. A jolting, heart-stopping-turned-heart-warming roller-coaster ride.