Vladik and I went to see Transformers 3 (in 3D) last night in Mansfield. It was close to 10 before we got in....
Joe wanted to come with us... which wasn't going to happen. After seeing the first two, I KNEW it wasn't appropriate for a 7 year old to watch. I know that other families don't have the same rules that we do about what kids should and should not be watching..... but I was still surprised to see 4 and 5 year old kids coming out of the theater with their parents.
Throughout the movie, I had a hard time making my brain switch gears, remembering that Vladik ISN'T 7... he's 13.
I don't know if he'd ever seen a movie in 3D before, and even though he couldn't understand all that was being said, I think he enjoyed it.
We made our weekly trip to WalMart yesterday. <sigh>
My kids behaved even worst than the last time.
But I discovered something. Vladik instigates more than I had previously thought.
He does something to pick on Joe (and he's stealthy about it), Joe retaliates, Kyle gets in on it, and by the time I turn around, things are getting out of hand.
Obviously, the next time we go to WalMart, or any store that isn't going to be a quick in and out; I'm going to have to sit down with Vladik (and Joe) and explain to Vladik (and remind Joe) what kind of behavior is appropriate, and what it not.
They feed off each other. When one acts up, so goes the others. Suppose it works the other way around? If one of them is good, the other 2 will be as well??? One can always hope!
They feed off each other. When one acts up, so goes the others. Suppose it works the other way around? If one of them is good, the other 2 will be as well??? One can always hope!
We stopped at CVS yesterday. I had quite a few extra bucks that expired that day so I needed to spend them. The boys all got sunglasses. At first we could only find the adult sunglasses- which worked for Vladik, but not for Joe... and at $20 a pair... well, I didn't have THAT MANY extra bucks (even with buy 1, get 1 at 50% off). So after a little more looking around we found the kids rack, and a Vladik quickly found a pair of Transformers sunglasses. (I think he may have slept in them last night). Joe was a little more particular about his choice, but after an eternity (and trying on everything but the Barbie pair), he finally settled on a pair of lime green X-games sunglasses. Not to be left out, Kyle found some as well, but they're a little awkward since they have to fit over his regular glasses.
Our 5 weeks of hosting Vladik is about half-way over.
Does it feel like he's been here for 2 1/2 weeks?
Yes and no.
It's like when someone asks "Can you believe your youngest is (fill in the blank) years old?" or "Does it feel like you've been out of school.... or married.... or whatever for (fill in the blank) years?"
There are days when it feels like Vladik has always been here, and there are days when it feels like he just arrived.
That is a very good point you bring up, the one about sometimes it seems he's been there for a long time and sometimes like it hasn't been long at all. I hope you are at least enjoying your experience. It's a good thing you're doing for him. Has he been very open with you on his life back in Ukrain or his parents or anything significant that would indicate how hard he has it back at "home"? After spending some time with the chaperones, I feel better that these kids are getting at least some motherly affection as Liliia and Irena were both so sweet and always touching the kids and holding their hands, patting them on the shoulder. They were even compassionate towards my nieces and nephews.
ReplyDeleteI AM enjoying it, I really am... some days it's just more work than others.... just like with my own kids :-) He hasn't said anything about "home" or his family, other than what he's told me about his brothers.
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