Mommie Dearest

For one reason or another, Mommie Dearest became one of my favourite movies when I was about 13-years-old.  Television networks in the U.S. replayed it at least once a month and I managed to catch it in bits--hoping to watch the wire hanger scene if nothing else.

Jackson and I had our own little Mommie Dearest moment this week.  We were playing with his Bristle Blocks that he got for Christmas.  He got 226 of these blocks last week and he loves playing with them.  As we were building side-by-side, I noticed that every piece I picked-up, he snatched out of my hands.  I figured that a lesson in sharing was due so, after the fifth attempt at holding my piece to myself and pointing out the other 225 pieces that he could have, I held my ground and didn't let go.  When Jackson didn't get his way, he screamed and smacked me in the face--right on the eye!  I was genuinely shocked so an audible gasp came out and I said quite sternly, "You do not hit."

Then Jackson put out his bottom lip, furrowed his brow, and looked away from me, down at the ground.  He kept this position for about two minutes and I didn't know what else to do, so I sat as still as I could and although I wanted to give him a hug and say that 'it was all right,' I didn't.  I was also hoping that this was the first time he had hit someone because he didn't get his way.  Jackson broke the silence by offering up one of the blocks from the pile to share with me.

We saw this smacking before when he hit the wall a few weeks ago because we wouldn't let him stick his fingers in a plug socket.  I spoke to his nursery teachers this week and they said that they've never seen him hit, let alone get angry, which I was relieved to hear.  I was also really happy to know that he tests the waters at home with us to see what he should or should not do.  Hopefully these little lessons will pay off in a good way in the end and will not make him hate us and resent us forever.

I don't know if we are always doing the right thing, but we try to always make the best decisions for Jackson to live the best life possible and for him to become the best boy he can be.

After a day of playing with his friends at nursery, Jackson loves to come home to a ripe banana

Jackson and Thomas playing together at The Fun Factor this morning

Developmental updates:  Jackson is beginning to understand the words nose, mouth, milk, banana, outside, and bed.  He points to noses, mouths, the refrigerator for milk, the bananas on the counter, the door (and sometimes sits on the first step by the front door when he's ready to go), and he starts climbing the stairs when he hears the word bed.  He also understands the difference between hugs and kisses and has done these actions to everything from the Home Alone DVD to his stuffed animals to us.  Jackson is so loving and caring and we love when he chooses to give hugs and kisses on his own and we would love to know what drives him to make the decision to do so.  This week, Jackson turned 15 months old!  With every new month since he turned one, I picture how he was a year ago and it's remarkable at how much he can do now.  I think my favourite thing about Jackson growing-up is his more prominent personality and distinctive likes and dislikes.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.