Author: Rich

Ideas

The Power Outage

This evening, the power went out right as we were reading at bedtime. Ironically, we had just finished “Katy and the Big Snow” in which one of the plot lines involves downed utility poles.

After we got the home switched over to running on battery power, Eitan immediately switched from slightly frightened to inquisitive. He just had to know what happened.

One ritual Eitan and I have developed over the last year or so has been a man to man talk about literally anything after he is supposed to be asleep. This evening was no different.

Eitan: Why no power?

Me: There’s probably a pole down somewhere in Needham.

Eitan: Tomorrow, you draw me a map.

Me: A map of the power outage? Sure, bud.

Eitan: Need two pieces of paper.

Me: How about we start with one and go from there?

Eitan: Maybe two pieces. Needham big. Maybe three pieces, actually.

Kids are the best.

Tags conversation, humor

Phrasing

Willpower

For those unfamiliar with Frog and Toad, I recommend you pick up any one of Arnold Lobel’s four compilations. Nearly all of his reptilian short stories can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

One such story, Cookies, concludes with a teachable moment about willpower. I won’t give away the story, but limiting sugary goods is a recurring theme. Following a recent reading, this was a conversation we had with Eitan…

Mama: How about we dress up as Frog and Toad? I can be Toad, Dada can be Frog, and you can be willpower.

Eitan: No, I will be Toad. You be willpower!

Tags bedtime, conversation, humor, story

Thoughts

My Little Boy

Dodo has become Eitan’s “little boy”. What does that entail, you ask?

Keep wild animals away.
Make sure Dodo doesn’t get hurt.
Hold Dodo’s hand so he doesn’t run away.
Eitan

Tags animals, conversation, family, safety

Thoughts

Ball, stop!

After a fantastic round of T-ball, Eitan and Dada played a little catch. When Dada missed the ball, Eitan created a new game. Dada was ejected from the backyard. It was now only Eitan and the ball. Once the ball got rolling, we were treated to this little back and forth:

Eitan: Ball, stop!
Mama: Can it hear you?
Eitan: No. It doesn’t have a mouth.

Life lessons for us all.

Tags baseball, conversation, humor, play

Phrasing

Make Me Funny

Eitan created this cute little turn of phrase today. The exact quote was: “Dodo makes me funny!” We’re pretty sure he means that Dodo makes him laugh.

Note from Hannah: Eitan continues to say this, whenever something makes him laugh: “make me funny!”

Tags humor, joke

Thoughts

Three Bathrooms

Following construction of one of the recent block homes Eitan likes to build (and subsequently demolish), we were given a tour. The home had one bedroom, one kitchen, and THREE bathrooms. Why three, you may wonder?

One bathroom for pee.
One bathroom for poop.
One bathroom for diarrhea.
Eitan, laughing hysterically

Needless to say, “diarrhea” has become one of Eitan’s new favorite words.

Tags body, building, construction, home, humor, toilet, waste

Thoughts

My First Joke

Today, Eitan told his first joke!

Why did the animal go inside?
To talk!
Eitan

We were sitting in our “tent” – a blanket draped over a set of chairs – when he spurt it out. Eitan proceeded to ask me to tell Dodo jokes, to which I responded with your typical “why did the chicken cross the road?” bit. When that didn’t get any laughs, Eitan tried his hand at comedy for a second time.

Why did the animal go through the wall?
I don’t know.
Eitan

This continued for a while as it seemed more and more likely that his first attempt at spoken humor had been a fluke. That is, until Dada helped him along.

Why did the animal go through the wall?
To talk to the animal coming through the roof!
Eitan & Dada

He continued to repeat that chestnut the rest of the evening.

Tags animals, comedy, humor

Phrasing