Spoiling that Kid!

[Zoebird]

So, today was a great day for DH and I. I know it's very silly, but there it is.

We arranged the one room in our office to be the storage/office/extra changing room. And, we wanted it to be a special place for DS. We just didn't have anything that was here and special for him -- something our parenting coach suggested (the toys that are here are only for here, which makes coming here special).

My parents and Aunt had given us some money around christmas time for him, which I'd thought to spend in the garden, but just hadn't figured out what I wanted for him in that regard (that we could afford -- sand boxes cost a fortune), and so I just held it by.

Today, we went to our local shop and got a locally-made wooden easel. It is magnetic, has a chalk board side, a white-board side, and a clip for paper for painting or coloring. We also got chalk (crayola, so imported) and natural bees wax colors (made here in NZ). We also bought him a 600 piece duplo/lego set. I forgot to pick up the magnetic numbers/letters -- so we'll go back and do that later today.

He also got a play mat (with roads and such for cars) from his grandparents (my ILs).

We spent $156 and we'll spend another $23 on the numbers/letters -- which is the amount my parents and aunt had given to us for him. I don't know what my ILs spent on the rug, but It will work nicely in our office. :)

We got the room cleaned, set up for DS -- he'll be able to unwrap the rug from his grandparents -- he likes to open the packages.

We're also going to get several books for him to keep here -- that way he can "read" if he wants to as well.

While he doesn't spend a lot of time at the office (usually about 4 hours a week, tops), we want to make sure that when he is here, he isn't just watching a lot of cartoons. During school holidays, DH and I would simply bring him into the office while we were here, and set him up on the computer to do Star Fall (online reading program) and watch a few cartoons (He likes the italian cartoon Squadro Antencendio, which we find particularly hilarious because he doesn't know italian, but he is starting to get the hang of it).

So, by having his own toys here, we can have fewer cartoons -- which is what we are looking for. We feel that DS is getting too much 'screen time' with about 5-6 hours a week all included: Glee, Grand Designs, Master Chef Master Class (3 hrs), and the rest cartoons or Star Fall. When the seasons end on the shows, that naturally cuts him back to 2-3 hours.

We want to cut back his time to an hour a week of his own (star fall, cartoons), and then he can watch a couple of hours with us if there is anything that we find interesting.

In addition to having his toys in the office, I've organized a barter -- ukulele lessons for yoga. One of our student's is a guitar/ukulele instructor, and so he'll exchange a 30 minute lesson for DS and I for yoga for he and his partner.

So, he'll have 4 hours a week in the office -- two on Mondays and two on Fridays. I've set up the ukulele lesson for Monday afternoon when he's with me, and on Fridays, DH takes DS to the library and park for at least an hour of the 2 hr time-slot, so he shouldn't want/need cartoons for the hour or so that he is in the office.

I feel like i've spoiled him -- which I really enjoy. I can't wait until he comes here after kindy and sees all of his new stuff!

[Tradd]

Zoebird, how neat!

[iris lily]

What a great surprise is in store for him!

[Zoebird]

He's so psyched that he just walked over and started playing right away, and hasn't even eaten lunch.

[sweetana3]

It is good since it integrates some work and home for son. He can see what parents do and acquire more social skills in a natural way with the contacts he has at the office. Kids are so much better off when they have interaction with a variety of people in a variety of settings.

[artist]

I fond memories of spending time at my dad's office when I was a child. I had my own desk and the drawers were filled with things for me to do. Paper, crayola crayons, colored pencils, books, coloring books, puzzles etc... His secretary would take me with her to lunch sometimes too, which was a real treat.

[Stella]

Fun! I love doing stuff like that. It's so fun to see their faces!

[Zoebird]

It is so cool.

Of course, he wanted to bring everything home with him, and had a bit of a fuss, and then this morning, he wanted to go to the office instead of going to kindy (of course, once he's at kindy, he's happy).

We have set up a nice rhythm for the office.

On Mondays and Tuesdays DS goes to kindy in the am. Every other Wednesday, he spends the day with his girlfriend (child care for us). Every week on Thursday afternoons, his friend comes to our office for the barter (yoga for child care), and DH takes them to the park or the library for an hour.

On Monday afternoons, DS and I will have a new rhythm. DH goes to the gym at 2:30, returns (we meet him at te papa museum) at 4:30. So, that gives me two hours of time with DS. We start with 30 minutes of playing together, and then DS has free play until 3:30, when we have our ukulele lesson. We then tidy and go to Te Papa and check on Stinky and Feijoa -- the two animated/computerized giant squid that DS made. We then head home as a family, have dinner, and put DS to bed.

We just started reading The Hobbit to him. He *loves* it. We got through Chapter 1 last night. So he gets 1 chapter plus 1 picture book before passing out cold.

On Tuesdays, DS returns from kindy and I finish teaching at the same time -- so we'll have lunch together as a family. After lunch, DH will have two hours of his own, and DS and I will follow the Monday rhythm *unless* I have a client or appointment (like today, I go to the dentist at 4). Then, DH and DS will take a trot down for half-price sushi (after 4), and then head over to the park for a good play before coming back to the office for sushi dinner. Then we all head home together.

Wednesdays are either home with DH (adventure day -- hiking mostly) or with his friend, and wednesday afternoons will likely be simply heading home, and then swinging back to pick me up after class. Though, that's still a bit fuzzy.

Thursdays are my morning home with him, which will involve playing blocks, doing the gardening, and doing the hour-long clean/tidy of the house. DH takes the bus in on this day, and then meets us at the park where we have free 2 hr parking.

Friday we go in together, and DS and I will play together and practice ukulele before my yoga class at 10:15. DS then has free play until 11 when I finish class, and then we go out for an hour to the park for lunch (picnic) -- if it's raining, we eat indoors first, and then go to the park. DH and DS stay at the park while I head back to teach my 12:15 and 1:15 classes, and then they swing by the library on their way back to the studio where they pick me up and we all walk back to the car. We are usually home by 4:00, so this is the afternoon that we usually go to the beach, and we are organizing having a "family meal" with several families in our neighborhood once a month.

Many of us are from other places (or other parts of NZ) so having a monthly family pot luck is great. And, it create a sort of "Cousin" network/feeling with the other children. Our house is tiny, but we love having so many people over. :)

[Mrs-M]

What a fun and exciting time for you and your son. He's so lucky to have a mom like you, ZB.

[Zoebird]

Thanks! :)

He has spent most of hte week at the office or asking to go to the office to play lego. LOL He is so creative. He's made all kinds of vehicles already -- all of his own designs. He says he just needs more pieces so that he can keep two or three vehicles at once.

DH is going to have his parents bring over a box of his legos from childhood as well -- which have distinct 'puzzles.' I like the idea of DH sharing his childhood experience with DS -- handing those toys over to him. DH's only anxiety is that, as a collector, the boxes will get destroyed, the pieces "scattered to the wind!" (meaning mixed with other legos), and that the instructions will get lost. He's so anxious, that DH. It's a kid. And it's toys. I don't get collectors. LOL

Anyway, ukulele lessons won't start for a bit -- but it is organized to start in a couple of weeks. And, it looks like Thursday mornings may house Kid's Yoga at 10:15 -- so DS will probably go to that.

[Mrs-M]

I'm a firm believer in the idea that kids (nowadays), do not receive the required amount of hands-on play (mechanical play/learning), compared to their 60/70's counterparts, so it's refreshing to know kids (like your son) are involved with such play and activity.

When we were kids, Legos, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, and Erector Sets, that prepared future Engineers for a world of building/construction. The sets consisted of small metal beams with holes in them for nuts, bolts, screws, etc, and other mechanical parts such as pulleys, gears, and small electric motors. My baby brother had such a set and thinking back on it now, toys back then were fascinating.

[Zoebird]

you should see what he constructs! Not just with blocks and legos, but with trash (egg cartons before they go compost -- we let him tear them up!), rocks, sticks, bits of string, rags of fabric, and then his mix of toys. He has created many fantastical objects of all kinds -- everything from Viking and normal armor and weaponry to vehicles of all sorts. It's really unbelievable.

Toy minimalism is so awesome, because kids find a way -- the find a way to make toys and create out of nothing or whtaever they find and it is *awesome!*.

[Mrs-M]

That's what I love best about young and growing children, they have the sharpest and brightest of imaginations, anything goes when it comes to play and creativity, and they never give up on trying to achieve their goals or ambitions as to whatever they're taking on in the way of dreams/aspirations. I never tire of watching young children at play. Their focus is intense, and their work so diligent.