Zephyr Zephyr Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?

This blog will, again, be mostly about Zephyr. I can't help but remember a discussion I had with Katie a year or so ago. We were laughing about something written on Dalai Mama, a favorite blog of ours. "But have you ever noticed she's always writing about Ben, not Birdy?" I asked. "Do you think he's just a more interesting person?" I sort of understand now. Of course, I find Jubilee completely fascinating, and I have a few ideas for blogs that will feature her. (Well, maybe just one.) I guess the activities of a preschooler are just somehow more blog-able. She'll get her turn. In the meantime, at least she gets to be in the pictures. And ps, do I have to even mention that Jon dressed her in that outfit?

Anyhoo, I'm not sure if it's Zephyr's age or his personality that makes him so contrary. I'm hoping it's something he'll outgrow, but we all know adults who will argue any point, regardless of how little they know on the subject, as long as it's in direct contradiction to something you just said. Sometimes this behavior in Zephyr drives me crazy, like how every time we sit down for a meal, he unfailingly announces "Ew," about the food in front of him, even if it's something he loves. Then there are the humorous examples.

We were listening to Elizabeth Mitchell's beautiful recording of "You are my Sunshine," the other morning. I have always found this song both sweet and puzzling, and my attachment to it has grown since singing it hundreds of times to my firstborn. "Yes!" Zephyr suddenly insisted to no one in particular. "Do take her sunshine away!"

My mother and grandmother were here last week. It was a great visit in so many ways. Ever doting, they were talking about how cute, and smart, the children are. "I'm unsmartable!" Zephyr challenged in defiance. Mulling that over, I had two comforting thoughts: (1) the fact that he built that word shows some intelligence and (2) he doesn't know the preexisting words for "not smart." A less comforting thought I'm having now is that it sounds a little like something Ralph from the Simpsons would say...

As much as I wish he would perform like a perfect little prince around the relatives, that's not our kid. Grandma Dorothy gave Jubilee a bite of french toast, saying, "Chew it up good!" Zephyr, always finding a way to contradict, instructed, "No, chew it up bad!"

May 31st was our 5th wedding anniversary, but I was going out with my mother and grandmother while Jon stayed home with the kids. I wore a dress that hadn't seen the light of day since our rehearsal dinner, and Jon and Zephyr told me I was beautiful. "You're beautiful, too," I told Zephyr before leaving. "No, I'm not," he informed. "This is just a really cool shirt."

I'm not sure why no one looks happy in this picture besides Jon and me. I assure you, a good time was had by all!

I'll close with one last note about my Grandma Dorothy. I credit her for my skills in attention to detail and household management. (I guess my mom would see it another way. When Grandma asked for someone to help her remember to take her pills, my mother said, "Nora will do it. She's good at nagging people.") Grandma Dorothy will be 82 next month, and I can only hope I will be in as good of shape mentally and physically at that age. While she is very verbal when it comes to voicing her disagreement about some of our choices, somehow I find her complaints tolerable. Here is an example:
GD: You should have a television. There are programs on that you'd really like.
Me: I probably would like some programs. But who would play with the kids while we were watching TV?
GD: No one would need to play with the kids if you had a TV. They'd be sitting there watching!

I guess that's logic you can't argue with. Anyway, since I tolerate my grandmother's criticism so well, my mother told me about a conversation they had on the airplane on the way home.

GD: I'm worried about all those things Jon's teaching Zephyr. They're so technical.
Mom: Yes. But if Zephyr's too young for those details, they'll just go right over his head.
GD: But that's the problem. He's smart, so he's actually learning those things.
Mom: So he's learning. What's the problem?
GD: He won't be able to relate to kids his own age! He'll be so far ahead of them.

Hmmmm....maybe contrariness runs in the family!