Trials and Tribulations

It seems that either Everest is overly tired these days or he and I are having a battle of the wills. I tend to think the latter is taking place. No worries, I'll win. On Friday night we were driving home from a restaurant and Ryan remarked how wonderfully behaved Everest has been. We haven't had to put him "on the stairs" (the Lentz version of time out) in months. Well it is almost like he overheard our conversation because on Saturday he was a B-R-A-T. Total sass mouth on that kid. Wow. It started with him getting mad that I wouldn't let him have candy for breakfast. I can't remember the throwdown in all its glorious details but the candy he had in his hands ended up getting taken away from him. Taken away because he was threatening to throw it at me. After it was taken away, he hit me (hello China flashback) so on the steps he went. To which he continued to huff and puff in exaggerated tones until he apologized. Then he was about to break (inadvertently) a new toy. As I was trying to take it away from him I said, "Everest, let go." He responded, "No, you let go." Yeah, who is bigger? I said, "Everest enough." He responds, "You enough." Oh boy. I then say, "You do not talk to your mommy like that." He responds, "You do not talk to Everest like that." This could have gone on and on (and did for awhile) so on the steps he went. World record. Twice in a half an hour. Those of you who read our travel blog know that I have absolutely no patience for brattiness. It was funny because as he was sitting on the steps, punching the sofa and growling (not even kidding on the growling) I called to Ryan to come assist in the situation. Everest then yells, "Do not tell Daddy!" I am more the disciplinarian yet he is afraid of me telling Ryan. Strange how that works and proof that he knew he was acting inappropriately. The attitude came and went for the entire weekend. I'm not sure what was going on in that head of his. Hopefully we're done with it. He went to bed at 6:30 last night so he must have been really tired. I feel bad because he does try very hard to please us. He hates it when we are "not happy" with him. I hate to tell him, "Momma not happy" when he is misbehaving because he puts so much stock in pleasing us but I also think that is the way to handle the situation because he does in fact care so much. Oh the trials and tribulations...

On a funnier note. Friday when we were leaving the restaurant, Everest was jumping off of some stairs inside of the restaurant. A man came by and said, "I bet you can't jump off that," so Everest jumps and the man gives him a dollar. Everest looks at the dollar and says, "I wanna da more monies." The man goes, how much more? Everest says, "I wanna da 5 more monies." The man hands him another $1.00. Hilarious.

Yesterday Everest was riding his bike around the block. He stopped suddenly and got off his bike and got on the sidewalk. I asked him what he was doing to which he replied, "Just stretching a little bit."

A week ago Everst was going poop. He makes it into a big production to where he calls us back numerous times saying he is done when in fact he is not. Well finally he is "officially" done, gets up for me to wipe his booty and a big dollop of poop falls on the floor. I didn't even gag. Progress.

We are no longer wrapping Everest's knees. Sometimes they look good, sometimes they look bad. He gets a lot of stares on the playground but he would likely get more if he was wrapped. I don't even know how people notice it. I guess it is just second nature to me now. On Good Friday, my mom, Everest and I were at a park. I had Everest's feet and ankles wrapped up and this lady approached me and asked me how he got burned. Presumptuous (insert expletive here). I humored her and told her it was a skin condition. "Oh," she said, "It looks like he got burned. Does it hurt him?" First of all, none of your business. Second of all, "How am I to know?" I humor her a bit more. "I'm not really sure, I assume it does on occasion. We just keep him wrapped." She replies, "Oh poor kid." As I look at Everest, full of energy and rambunctiousness, I would have a hard time putting the label "poor kid" on him. He does not let his "limitations" limit him in the least. A doctor we used to look at Everest's referral information from China had this statement, "Though this little boy has a chronic problem, his mind appears sharp and his attitude (both obstinate and impatient) great. I want to tell you that the "sometimes," connected with obstinate and impatient is incorrect, and usually means ALL the time. He's a survivor." So I do not consider Everest a "poor kid," I consider him "a survivor."