Uncle Monday

We typically begin "Uncle Monday" with a session of chores. Ian completes these, for a period of 2-3 hours, while I usually read a book. Every time he interrupts my reading with a question or a 'gurgle,' then BAM! I add on another hour of work. Today, he began by sweeping the floor. This is the one chore during which I interact with him, because it is an opportunity for him to learn about our solar system. Ian poses as the sun. We have picked out different splotches of paint around him to represent the planets. To sweep, he positions the broom head on the orbital path of "Mercury" (a little orange spot), and follows the orbit. Then he moves onto Venus, Earth, and so on... We ignore the latest scientific gossip, and continue to count Pluto as a planet, because it allows us to get more sweeping done.

Here, it appears as though I am serenading Ian. I'm not. Instead, I'm teaching him different ways to hold a rifle. We don't have a rifle now, but we'll have one soon, assuming my Amazon.com order comes through (2-4 days, we hope). The guitar will work in the meantime. We don't always do this particular exercise, but Elaine feels as though it's the most practical.

This is a photo taken during our daily fitness hour, which happens after lunch. Today, I made it extra fun for Ian, as a reward for him changing his own diaper... TWICE! I hid a tiny camera in a larger-than-life Cheerio that I constructed (during his 15-minute power nap) out of glue, reconstituted bubble gum, oats that I swept out from under the stove, and some old chicken wire I found in the backyard. I put it on a string, and hooked it up to a small electric current. I explained to him the point: "follow the cheerio, but don't touch it, because it's not real, and you will be punished." The idea is that we can teach him discipline at the same time as he gets exercise. I dragged it around the room, and Ian followed it's path. But when he got close and touched it, he was delivered a small electric shock - just enough to pop his shirt buttons out of their holes.

It's nice to have photo shoots, so that someday we can look back together at our Uncle Mondays. I, quite frankly, don't have the hand-strength by the late afternoon to hold the camera. Ian takes care of it. He does a decent job; you may notice here that he didn't quite get as much of my ear as I would have liked. He is, however, very obedient when it comes to posing. I was honest with him: "Ian, I'm going to half-strangle you, while simultaneously spitting lemon juice from my mouth into your left ear; I want you to smile, as if you are ignorant and blissful."

Until next Monday...