living on the edge

Cue the dirge. It is with a heavy heart that I share some very sad news with you today: the nap is over. Gone. It departed suddenly, without any warning at all, and in its wake left our family very out of sorts, none of us more so than Gabriel, who has become an unhinged, babbling lunatic.

A sleepy Gabriel is a real sweetheart, a silly, clumsy snuggler that has charmed the pants off guests who have hung out with him past his bedtime. A chronically underslept Gabriel is another creature entirely, prone to head bonks, baby talk, tantrums, and sudden mood swings. His body and mind are simply disorganized. Here is an exchange from the car yesterday:



Mermer?

I am thinking he means me, so I say: Yes?

A pitza pocka peegal.

I look at him quizzically in the rear view mirror. He bursts into uproarious laughter, then begins again:

Mermer?

I say nothing.

Mama, you're supposed to say YES!

Sigh. ...Yes?

A pitza pocka peegal!!!

That punchline must be hilarious (if I spoke this particular language maybe I'd understand) because he succumbs to a hiccuping laughing fit more outrageous than the first in the backseat. And repeats the Mermer prompt over and over, which I ignore, which eventually leads to furious demands and a general sense of injured anguish that fills the interior of the car til the air is stifling. Why won't I play the game??

Because it is so, so tedious. Because you are out of your mind, and I refuse to join you there.

I worked in his class this morning and was relieved to observe him using complete sentences (in English) and generally being a cooperative kid. When we spent time running around in the meadow at the end of the school day, however, Gabriel's wrestling got a little out of control. Witness the boy tackling a friend with borderline dangerous gusto:

Well. When reminded, Xander used his words and asked Gabriel to not play so rough. That worked well, until an altercation flared a few minutes later that ended with my son punching another kid in the face. Oh my.

Another early bedtime tonight! Good gracious me, these transitions are trying. 

Here's hoping the sailing is smoother where you are today.