irony, finger paint and humble pie

So as I was writing the last post I was thinking all along about how much “better” Cooper was doing, in almost every area. I think I painted a very “rosy” picture and admittedly I was feeling pretty good about everything. Then just to keep things in check…a week long summer break happened…

I simply cannot stress how important routine is to our little man, and throwing in a whole week without school is usually a disaster. Armed with this knowledge I had planned a busy week for the two of us. A day trip to visit my family in north Alabama, a quick trip down to the beach to visit friends, a play date with a friend from school, maybe the zoo, maybe the barn and lots of time in the studio. I had been planning and prepping for a few weeks (child-proofing my studio was no easy task) and with all my plans lined up I was feeling pretty confident we were going to have a great week.

The week before the break Cooper decided (for reasons we still haven’t figured out) that his car seat would no longer be his standard MO for travel. He had pulled these Houdini-like stunts in the past, “click- click-shimmy” and the next thing I know there is a small boy standing next to me as I’m driving down the interstate! Long story short, scolding, reasoning, bribing, punishing nothing would work- and none of the angel locks or guards worked to deter him either. The thought of a 4-5 hour drive to the beach was just too much -- the 20 minute drive to school was taking closer to 45 minutes with the multiple stops to put him back in his seat. So the beach trip was cancelled… Defeated, Grant and I changed out the safety throne Britax car seats and settled for simple boosters with a seatbelt guard – it’s not ideal but safer than pulling over every 5 minutes. Crisis averted.

Monday, the first day of our “well planned week” he had a fever, no other symptoms, so our trip to visit my parents was postponed. It stormed that day so any outside activities were also off the table. Long story short, we had four “black and white” days and one really good day, the day we spent with my family. By “black and white” I mean there was no middle ground, either he was happy and engaged with me or he was violently melting down, and this up and down cycle was rapid and unpredictable. Despite all of that, we were somehow able to spend a good amount of time in the studio, although it was completely “on his terms” no “making numbers” and only using the brush for a minute or two each time. After placating me with the brush he would look at me with is tiny finger poised over a gooey puddle of paint and sweetly ask ”Poin-tah?” (Think Aussie accent, compliments of the wiggles). “Yes buddy, you can use your pointer” this is supposed to be fun after all. The result is actually quite pretty, big sweeping areas of translucent color, layered over some collage work I did earlier. We’re working on 12 different canvases so there’s lots of surface to keep him busy.

On Thursday morning my friend Tracy dropped off a book she thought I needed to read. I wasn’t home when she came by – I was out driving Cooper around looking at houses…I’m not sure what it is about driving through neighborhoods he so enjoys, but it keeps him happy and entertained, that is until he finds the house he’s looking for. “This one!” he shouts from the backseat, pointing at some random house. Then, as we pass the random house, his heart breaks followed by tears, more pointing, more shouting “that one! I want that one!” He just certain there’s someone in there who wants us to stop in and visit. Anyway, the book, “The Horse Boy” amazing, amazing story, she was right; I did need to read it. Thank you Tracy – it couldn’t have come at a better time.

So, after a fairly rocky week – which we survived with only minor scratches and a few small bruises – the weekend rolled around and dad was home (as he should be on a non-school day!) and we were finally back in our routine. He had a perfect weekend with lots of language, easily engaged, happy, snuggly and sweet and just for fun – lots of finger painting.