Superhero

This afternoon Green Pea came to me with three pieces of Kleenex scotch-taped together lengthwise.
Green Pea: Can you put this in my back?
M.E.: Why?
Green Pea: (nonchalantly, as if it's perfectly obvious) For a cape.
M.E.: Ok. (I stop rinsing the dishes and step away from the sink, looking around the kitchen for a towel)
Green Pea: (impatiently, with a bit of exasperation) But don't touch it with wet hands!
M.E.: Don't worry, I'll dry them. (I proceeded to dry my hands and went to grab his "cape")
Green Pea: (with distrust, grabbing my hand and inspecting it for stray moisture) Let me check them.

After I secured the "cape" to the back of his shirt, he proceeded to dance around the house singing about how he's a superhero and he's off to save the world and the world is waiting for him. Then he decided he should pack a snack in case he got hungry while he was saving the world. He got his lunch bag and I heard the refrigerator open. A little while later he asked if I could cut up some strawberries for his snack. Even superheroes need their mommies.

Introvert vs. Extrovert

We had a bunch of moms and kids from church over this morning (12 moms, 21 kids). The kiddos were quite cooperative about preparing to host, but their anticipation of it was very different.

Green Pea was awake very early this morning but waited until 6:30 when he heard Wise Dad showering to get up. He came downstairs and got dressed without any reminders and then enthusiastically offered to help in any way he could (this is a kid who normally abhors work). He completed several tasks I gave him and tried to be helpful in any way he could.

Comma HATES crowds. He is normally eager to help and an efficient worker, but this morning he was not so inclined to assist me. While I was getting him dressed he asked in an exasperated voice, "Why are all these children coming to my house every day?" Toward the end of the visit, when the moms were getting their kids together and we were clearing snacks off the table, he was overheard telling one little boy (who happens to be one of his favorite friends), "You need to go home now." He started sulking and whining and just generally shutting down. He had had enough.

It's just a hunch, but I'm guessing these two are at opposite ends of the E-I scale in those personality tests.

My Kid in 6 Words or Less

Have you seen that thing where people try to write their autobiography in six words or less? Comma did that (unintentionally) after church yesterday. We were in the minivan, about to pull out of the parking lot, and waving to a few people who were walking out of church. From the back seat we heard Comma say cheerfully, "Bye-bye, too much people!"

leaving the lights on

A few weeks ago, Wise Dad's car battery died and when we tried to jump it, we attached the ground too close to the engine and it didn't work. So we thought the starter was broken and called AAA to tow it. Green Pea and Comma waited in breathless anticipation for Tow Mater to come to their house. When the towing service showed up, it was a platform-style tow truck and the boys were visibly disappointed. Green Pea even asked the driver if perhaps another tow truck - with a hook - was coming to our house as well.

The tow truck driver explained what I'd done wrong and we got Wise Dad's car started so we could take it to the shop and get a new battery. I didn't realize that this incident made an impression on Comma.

Comma turned on the light over his seat in the minivan this week and forgot to switch it back off. This led to a sharp reproof from Green Pea, who told him that leaving lights on in the car can kill the battery. Later that day we were driving home from dropping Green Pea off at school and I heard Comma say disapprovingly from the back seat, "That car left its lights on!" I didn't think much off the comment until a few minutes later I saw a platform-style tow truck with a car on it about to pass me. Comma's voice was full of reproach as he commented, "There's that car that left its lights on. And it runned the battery out!"