Fun Monday - Kids...These days.

Is it Monday already???

Yes, yes it is! Which means this must also be FUN MONDAY! This week, it's being hosted by one of my most fun blogger friends, Karisma. When she volunteered, I knew we'd be in for some reading that would make us smile. Her challenge:

We all know our kids and pets are often a great source of amusement to us at the best of times. I want to hear a funny, silly or just downright cute story about your pets or your children. Have they ever done anything to totally embarrass you in public? Have they done something you thought was outrageous at the time, only to laugh at it later? Have they outwitted you in some devious way, only the way a kid can? Come on, out with it! Lets hear the juicy gossip!

Long-time readers here (and even short ones can't avoid it) know that I have a son. He just turned 10 this past week. He is the light of my life, my reason for being - but.... he's just not that funny. In fact, I think we're entering into a rather difficult phase now. Used to be that kids waited until they were 13 or so before they got to this place, but you know, I've heard that children mature faster these days. Not just physically. They seem to be hitting all those emotional milestones much earlier too.

So at a time when he still needs supervision for a walk around the block and builds Lego stuff, he's also starting with the talking back, arguing for any reason and resisting anything that might be construed as fun. He just wants to play on the computer and go shopping so he can spend whatever money comes his way.

Little patches of my sunny, happy boy shine through though... Every morning he comes bounding down the stairs and enthusiastically says "Good MORNING!" to whomever he sees first (usually me). This is followed by a quick hug and a quest for breakfast. We talk about stuff on the way to school, and when he gets out, I get another hug and a "Have a great day!" He's glad to be picked up after school, happy for a snack - but when we get home, things start going downhill, beginning with homework. Then arguing about, or moaning about having to go play baseball (thank goodness the season is almost over - I'm never doing THAT again). Or groaning at the thought of a bike ride or walking the dogs. He has a wonderful time once he's out there doing it, but blasting him out of the house is getting harder and harder on us. At some point, it results in tears on somebody's part.

So you see, Karisma, unwittingly you have set before me a much more difficult task than I had anticipated when I signed up. Because things just aren't all that funny right now and when I search my mind for funny stuff, I come up with "God dammit, Grandma" and little else.

Fortunately, the "Grandma" story is classic - so I'll leave you with that.

To read about OTHER people's funny kids, go visit Karisma!