The Wheels on the Bus Go...Bump, Bump, Bump

This entry features my oldest son, Declan, and a couple of the amusing situations I've encountered with him in the last few days. For starters, the poor little guy suffers from allergies and, although it seems odd to me that that could be a winter malady, he has been coughing up a storm lately. The other night Mike and I had rented "Eagle Eye" (very intriguing and suspenseful, by the way!) and had just settled down to start watching it, when we heard the boys upstairs talking. Usually they go to bed without much fanfare, so with all the hubbub I figured they were commiserating over something interesting. Before long (I actually predicted this) they both trooped down the stairs to our room. They stood there silently for a minute, obviously working out the right way to delve into whatever story or excuse they had concocted. Declan starts out, "I've been coughing and my throat hurts." Well, this is likely to be true. So we look at Keller. He adds, "I've been coughing too, and my throat hurts." This is...unlikely to be true. I chide, "Keller, I didn't hear you coughing." And Declan pipes up, "Yah, I didn't hear him coughing either!" Mike and I just looked at each other and busted out laughing. Mike's first words, "Way to stand behind your brother bud..." Yah, that bumping sound you hear? Oh, that's your brother...under the bus you just flattened him with...

The week's been bumpy in other ways too. Mike is out of town for work, and whenever Daddy is gone, things are guaranteed to get a little hairy. Declan always brings out the best smart responses when he knows I'm outnumbered and vulnerable. I think he saves them up especially for me. It's a wicked arsenal. So I expect a little confrontation. I usually just hope he limits this behavior to home rather than spreading the joy around at school too. Well, I picked him up Monday, and his teacher opened with, "He had a great day..." (YES!)..."until the very end." (Boooo.) I wait patiently for the explanation, and she continues, "When I asked him to clean up his things at the end of the day, he told me didn't want to and that I was bossy. He also said he doesn't like his Mommy, because she's bossy too!" Wow. Well, I've probably been called worse, but that takes some gall kid. I just sighed and apologized and promised to have a discussion with him about respectful speech later. Which we did, with a spanking on the side. I hope he remembers it...and that he puts that assertiveness to better use someday.

In the meantime, we keep pressing onward. I guess it's fitting then that, for some reason, as I contemplate the "Wheels on the Bus" song, it keeps playing through my head to Journey's "Wheels in the Sky" rather than the traditional nursery rhyme. Very weird, but appropriate. Those wheels keep on turnin'...and turnin'...and, occasionally, bump, bump, bump.