Bilmore's Post
 

[he excels in at least two sports per season...he's a straight-A student...he's so funny and friendly and smart and helpful and . . one of those winner kids.]

Just how "teen" is he? Sounds like MY kind of guy. Does he like older gals?

[Am I being nutso? Too resentful of what I didn't have? I can't tell. I just don't want him to grow into one of those people who take everything for granted and discount the idea that other people might not enjoy the advantages, natural or not, that he has.]

No I don't think you're nuts. And I also doubt your resentful. I just think you are seeing him at a point in his life where he's really gliding through pretty easy. It seems to me you are worried he may turn into a snob of snorts. But does he lack humility and compassion for others? You may not know right now as he's probably is wrapped up in sports and all, but....if girls are calling and everyone is being his bud, he is probably getting confident. The important thing is his self esteem comes from inside. If it does (and you're probably a great Dad who has instilled this in him) then I wouldn't worry. Someone with confidence and self esteem is likely to grow up not always fretting/obsessing about their own self and more attuned to others' feeling. I think I was a confident, popular kid too (but also sucked at Math). And I don't think it made me oblivious to the less advantaged. If anything, it did the opposite.

Some of my friends were not popular and had a hard time growing up, unlike your son. Many of them are kind of wrapped up in their selves and issues and don't do a shred of volunteer work and probably wouldn't go out of their way to help someone less advantaged.

Like I said as long as his self-esteem comes from inside and you continue to make sure he stays "grounded", he should turn out just fine. Also, it's not in your post but maybe you see your son in his salad days and so unconsiously worry that he'll have a "fall" from this and you'll feel bad seeing him hurt. Well, he'll have the girl he likes that dumps him, and other disappointments in life. It's inevitable. And it will be his inner self esteem (and you, who he can turn to) that will make all the difference.

You know, you could always encourage him to do something like volunteer at a soup kitchen. I know that sounds dumb but I've done it quite a few times (BC -- before children) and I always had a great feeling doing it. If he demurs, you could always tell him chicks dig guys who do volunteer work!

Swelled headed kiddy?
 

I read this and sort of thought of my 11 year old boy. What are you going to do? Add some Harrison Beregeron type weight? Scar him? Of course not. If he is top in soccer and basketball, he works hard for that. Top scorers must practice, so he probably doesn't take that for granted. If his grades are good he probably works hard for that. As to being dismissive of "lessers", I think most kids are dismissive of each other.
Lazy at school? almost all kids are at this age. semi-truth has his mid-term grades, all good except for orchestra. he gets a C, because his practice sheets haven't gone in. thing is with his older sister we gave in and allowed forged practice sheets. that is, he is too lazy to forge practice sheets.
as to appreciating the need to work for stuff, I think a job and chores are great. anyway, I wouldn't worry.

Swelled headed kiddy?
 

Bilmore: Hi. My name is Bilmore Baggins, and I have a terrific child.

Everyone: Hi Bilmore!


It's OK to be popular. Someone has to be. Might as well be your kid. And it's also OK to enjoy being popular. As long as he's not a bully and doesn't pick on those less fortunate, I say let him enjoy himself.

College comes soon enough. Suddenly he won't be the only guy who gets good grades and can score goals. He may simply "only" be above average during college. I say let him enjoy himself now while he's the shit.

Have all your kids been exceptional like him? If they haven't, that may end up being your biggest headache:

"But you don't make Bilmore, Jr. study for his exams!"

"That's because he gets A's whether he studies or not."

"That's unfair!"

"True. Now go upstairs and study."

Bilmore's Post
 

That's exactly what I was going to say, except I was going to suggest making it a family activity. Some folks I know made a family tradition of serving at a soup kitchen every Thanksgiving morning. It was great family time, plus it helped them feel grateful and not complacent. I think doing it more than once a year (like, at least quarterly) would be even better.

If he really is cool, this can have the added side benefit of making service into the latest cool trend at school.

If you're already doing regular family service activities, forget what I just said.

tm

Movies
 

There are a bunch of kids' movies out. Bilmore, you have to take the kids to see Holes. You will like it as much as they will, I promise.

Next weekend--The Lizzie McGuire Movie. I'm not quite as excited about that one.

colic
 

Helpful suggestions, anyone?

colic
 

What formula is he/she on? My collicky one got better on the hypoallergenic formula Nutramagen. Eventually it went away after her 3 or 4th month. Driving them around helps sometimes. Oh, I feel for you.

colic
 

I took a baby massage class which really helped with techniques for comforting, easing discomfort. It was given at the hospital where I delivered. I think that it was a ten hour class - one two hour class per week for five weeks.

I know other people who've had success with switching formula or using a vibrating bouncy seat or bassinet. Moving the baby's legs in a bicycle motion seems to work if some of the discomfort is attributable to gas. Other than the massage techniques, the only thing that worked for me was holding and walking around. Poor LittleRitz seemed so uncomfortable whenever he was not moving. I used my Baby Bjorn alot.

Proud Parenting Moment
 

This morning when I was dropping off my son at preschool, I noticed there was a new "artwork" display in the hallway outside his classroom. They did paintings "like Jackson Pollock" and used eggbeaters, and other oddities to make paintings. I asked my son which one was his, but he couldn't pick it out (there were no names on the front.)

I pointed to one and commented on how much I liked it, and wouldn't you know, it was his!! (When he said it was his, I couldn't believe I had gotten so lucky, so I unpinned the corner to look for the name, and indeed, it WAS his!)

He was so happy -- and needless to say, so was I! :)

Proud Parenting Moment (and Question)
 

That's adorable! I can't wait for those moments! (Even if it turns out Vietbabe is a sucky artist).

Everything is running oh so smoothly here in Viethome. 8 1/2 months is the BEST AGE!!! Haven't had a question in a while, but here's one that's bugging me:

Despite all indications she's teething, not a tooth in that mouth. Vietbabe used to love her solids but now...she doesn't want them. She wants "real" food she can hold and eat. I know it's dangerous but I caved and she's eating toast now (mushes it in her mouth until it's soft enough to swallow). She's a toast addict. She can also hold a banana and eat that pretty well as it's mushy, and same for Kiwi. But I don't know what else to give her. I have gotten away with giving her solids by using a piece of toast as a "spoon" but she caught on to the ruse. The babe has no teeth but is eyeing my steak longingly. Since she wants to feed herself, I tried giving her the spoon and guided her to the solids, but we both ended up a big sweet potatoe mess.


Any advice?

Solids without teeth
 

don't be put off by her lack of teeth- if she is showing an interest in finger foods, go with it. There's lots of stuff she can pulverize without teeth- cheerios, cheese, fruit (canteloupe and bananas were always the big favorite here), cooked veggies, meat and other things cut up in very small pieces. If you think about it, she can only really choke on foods that are the right size and shape (carrots, whole grapes, meat that isn't cut up in small pieces, etc). Otherwise, she may try to swallow something prematurely, gag a little, and gum it up better next time. A good attitute about food makes such a difference over the years, and I think letting her explore the things that are safe when she is interested only helps build that attitute.

The Best Age
 

OK, those of you with older kids, tell us: What is the best age? I've really been grooving on 2 1/2, notwithstanding the occasional control issues. Is the best yet to come?

Solids without teeth
 

Good food suggestions. I would add scrambled eggs (cooked pretty hard and crumbled into bite size pieces). Also, bagels are easy to hold and gnaw on with or without teeth.

Solids without teeth
 

Thanks for the positive post. And pulverize is the perfect word. That's what she does with her toast. (I'm scared she has some chemicals in her mouth that reduce the solids to liquid like those nasty dinosaurs in Jurassic Park - remember those?).

How would she pulverize pieces of meat, though? I did pick up some ground turkey which I can cook but I would think bits of meat can't be fully broken down with her dinosaur spit unlike bread, which can be.

Lawyer Princess - thanks for the scrambled egg idea. That would be a perfect texture. I think I have to check with the doc though, right? B/c aren't eggs supposed to be tried later in kids? Your bagel idea is funny. Because the doc at her 6 month exam had said to give her a large bagel and "she will hold it, smell it, and try to eat it but won't be able to and that's how she will learn that there is such a thing called food that is too large to fit in one's mouth."

So much for THAT "lesson". I gave her a huge bagel and within 30 seconds, she was able to rip it apart and was pulverizing it. (And I noticed from our Mother's Day Buffet Brunch that she can devour a biscuit -- the soft, Southern kind, very easily but I would think that's not good for her, with all the butter and salt in them?)

FWIW, she's been using a sippy cup since 6 months old. The whole thing is strange. She's taken her first few steps, yet has no teeth and is only 13 pounds at 8 1/2 months!

Solids without teeth
 

We gave our little one scrambled eggs starting at around eight months. Other than peanut butter, honey and whole grapes, we didn't put too much stock in the "don't give them X" thing, and I can't think of a single objectionable thing a baby is likely to get from a fully-cooked egg, including allergies.

The funny thing is, em wouldn't eat them plain. Rather than load them with salt and pepper, we got a recommendation from our godson's parents, who are both advanced foodies, to use Herbes de Provence. The kid went nuts for it, just like our godson had. We're hoping that this kind of spicing will make it less likely that em'll go through the Plain Off-White Food Phase.

Get yourself some eggs and some Herbes de Provence.