Holy Crap, I Learned Something!

Watching kids learn is interesting. And frustrating. And humerous. You relaly want them to suceed, but when they fail it's usually pretty spectacular and it's hard to supress a chuckle. This week, Aidan learned how to play the "radio" on his toy car. All he has to do is push a button, but up to this point, he hasn't really understood the concept. Not the concept of "I push this, and it makes music", but the concept of "push", in general. He can grab like a champ, make no mistake-- just ask the cats. But pushing seems foriegn to him, like it's not natural to open one's hand to complete an action. But finally, through trial and eerror, he manages to push his button and change the music. That's the frustrating part... I wanted to help him, but when you try to open his hand and move his arm he pulls it back with a slightly angry "Dad, quit being a tool and let me do it" look.

Here's the funny part-- he is DEFINITLY my kid. First off, because he REALLY likes the music. He bounces up and down on his seat, screeching like a 14 year old in the front row of a Backstreet Boys concert and grinning his gummy, one-toothed grin. I frequently do the same thing listening to music on the way to work, which I'm sure makes the other road warriors nervous. Second, he cannot listen to a song all the way through before getting bored and changing it unless he REALLY likes it, and I display interest. If I don't, he reaches down and changes it again, and looks at me...it's like a miniature version of the game/torture I play with my friends. I seriously doubt anyone who's really into music that hangs out with me has ever heard a full song, all the way through....becuase I'm always saying, "Hey, like that? Yes? No? I don't care, listen to THIS, it's even better!" Mmmmm, ADD. Making life interesting for compulsives everywhere. I wonder if babies grow out of that, or if it's a charachter trait he has in particular. It's kind of hard to tell waht he does that's inherent charachter and what is a developmental stage. Hell, I think my wife would say the same thing about me at THIS age. Let's hear it for the easily distracted!

OOOOH! There are Pringles on my desk. SWEET!

What was I saying? Ummm...doesn't matter, I guess. Wanna go ride bikes?