Judah the Bully

Greetings.

This is Daniel, and I'm making my debut posting on Karen't blog. She generously has allowed me the opportunity to do so, so I figured I'd take her up on it. I had an experience with Judah this past week, and I had to put it up here.

As you are all aware it was Mother's Day this past week. Our church put on a Mother's Day Tea and many of us were asked to volunteer to help out. Somehow I drew the shortest straw, and ended up in the Nursery. Yes, I was the nursery attendant. Thankfully a a few of the young ladies in our youth group were kind enough to join me. For those of you who may not understand, nursery is not my bag.

Anyways, it was looking like it was going to be a slow night. It was my kids, and the Pastor's kids. I know them pretty well, so the evening was on it's way to a grand old boring bliss, just the way I like it when I'm working the nursery.

Enter Popped Collar.

Five minutes before the Tea was supposed to start two more boys entered the nursery. One I knew (by 'knew' I mean I recognized as a child that ran the halls after church on Sunday, much like my own son) and one I did not. The one I didn't know will be referred to as Popped Collar, as the collar of his polo was popped, and it just seems to be a defining feature. Both of these boys were about 4 or 5 years old. Before these two entered the scene I had been thinking of making a quick getaway, since Anthony (the pastor) had informed me he would be leaving early with his children. Since it would have been just mine left I thought I would probably take the opportunity to cut short my Nursery responsibilities as well. The two new additions informed me I was in it for the long haul. yay.

The night was going well. By well I mean it was uneventful. By uneventful I mean awesome. And then Judah started playing with some trucks.

Now there is a little ramp in the nursery. I believe it is so that wheelchairs and the like can make it in. Judah started rolling some trucks down the ramp to see how far they would go. Now these weren't exactly small trucks, and Judah doesn't have exactly big arms. There were three trucks total, and he could only heft two at a time. When he tried to pick up the third one would inevitably fall out. So he contented himself with rolling two at a time, and rotated which ones he used.

Somewhere along the game Popped Collar decided he wanted to play with the one car the Judah couldn't fit in his arms. The night suddenly became less uneventful.

It didn't take long for Judah to notice that Popped was not playing with 'his' truck. Judah doesn't have to share very much with Asher at this point, so I wouldn't say that sharing is a strong suit of his, but I wanted to know how he would deal with the situation, so I could help him realize that sharing was the right thing to do. I wasn't quite ready for his reaction.

Judah walked up to Popped. Judah was carrying two of 'his' trucks, while Popped was holding the third. Judah's head reached just above Popped's gut, but well below his shoulders. Undaunted my son looked right up into Popped's eyes and let out an indignant scream.

I don't know if you've had the 'pleasure' of witnessing a Judah scream, but this kid is a master. We used to call him 'the little raptor' because there really wasn't any other way to describe it. He has crazy volume, and it's uncommonly high pitched. Pavarotti would be jealous of this kid. When he was only 7 months old he would scream from our third floor apartment, all doors and windows closed, and you could hear him in the parking lot clear as a bell. Judah also has ridiculous breath control, and he can hold that scream of his for a good 15 seconds. Those 15 seconds feel like 15 minutes, but for Popped Collar they must have felt like an eternity.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. Popped was bigger than my son, and I was expecting a push, maybe a shove. Maybe some returned screaming. I didn't know. What I didn't expect was tears. But that is what I got.

As soon as I noticed tears I intervened, picking up Judah and informing him that he was not communicating properly. By which I mean I told him to stop screaming. His face was red by this time, and his eyes were spewing venom. The little kid was mad, and he was not finished giving Popped a piece of his mind. I had to carry him away a little ways. And he started crying.  I gently explained to my son why he wasn't allowed to scream like that, which of course just led to more tears. Have I mentioned I love working in the nursery?

We gave Judah a different car and he seemed satisfied. Popped however, had not learned his lesson. The lesson being 'don't mess with Judah'.

We put a movie on to distract Judah, and Popped took the opportunity to round up all three cars Judah had been playing with. It didn't take Judah long to recognize the ploy and and he was right back over in Popped's face giving another large, and rather high pitched, piece of his mind. It was harder for me to feel sorry for Popped this time, as it seemed like he was asking for it.

Popped turned this big teary doe eyes on me again and blubbered 'He's yelling at me'. I once again had to pick up Judah and try to explain to him that he had left the trucks, and that now Popped gets to play with them. He wasn't very happy with me, but I didn't know what else to do.

Eventually Popped forgot about the trucks. He started playing with the other 5 yr old in a different part of the nursery, and Judah, taking an earlier que from Popped spotted 'his' trucks right away. He came over to me, tugged on my shirt and then pointed to the trucks and made his 'look dad' sound. I smiled and told him that he could play with them now if he wanted to, as Popped had abandoned them.

Kids must have a 6th sense of when another child is touching 'their toy' because Judah had barely begun to play with the trucks when Popped was over claiming they were 'his' toys. Well, he bent down to grab one and you can guess what happened.

Judah's lungs informed Popped that he was not to touch any of the trucks for the remainder of the night. I quickly tried to quite my son, but this time I wasn't about to tell him that he couldn't play with the toys, and Popped did not appreciate being on the other end of the message this time. He decided to go cry in the corner. One of the girls went over and consoled him, while I tried to quiet down my son.

Eventually the trucks were forgotten, and the night was over. In hindsight I should have just hidden the trucks as soon as there was an issue, but then I couldn't exactly hide all the toys in the nursery should arguments break out over them as well. I don't know. Nursery isn't my thing.

I was rather surprised however, and how my son had no problem taking a stand for what he thought was right. It didn't matter that the other person in this situation was almost double his size. He didn't do anything violent to anything but our ears. Maybe he's not a bully. Maybe he just stands up for what he thinks is right no matter who is opposing him. Maybe he gets that from his mother....or father? Or maybe he's just a 1 1/2 year old who wanted to play with 'his' toys.

Either way, it was an entertaining, if not uneventful night in the nursery. Hopefully my last.

Aww food...

Now that we have been here for a few months we have had a chance to go out to some different restaurants. Fast food and sit down, and I have been pleasantly surprised. 

Daniel and I were becoming disenchanted with quite a few restaurants in the states that we frequented often. Sometimes it was good sometimes not so good. So in coming up here we weren't sure what to expect. Going out to eat is more expensive and the portion sizes are smaller(smaller as in they are a good size portion for one person, not a meal for two). So going out is more of a luxury, we each have to get a meal and Judah can usually eat what we eat but sometimes we get him something too. Daniel and I used to just split meals in the states. So the meals are more in general and with us each having to order our own that jumps the price up by a bit.
But on the other hand, the food has been amazing! I have not been to one place and been disappointed. I'm not sure what they do here. But the food is so good. Even the fast food is different for some things. I remember ordering a McChicken up here for the first time. And being really surprised when I found out it was 4.50 instead of close to a dollar (like I'm used to paying). I went off to Daniel about how I was never going to order one again up here(there I go being extreme..). But then I got the chicken burger and it was the best McChicken I have ever had. lol So I still get them sometimes...
Daniel took me to this place called Cora's recently, they serve breakfast and lunch. I had this amazing crepe with strawberries and custard. I think it was more of a french style. I hadn't seen them served like that before. And we also love A&W, I love when we get their coupons in the mail!! Anyway their is much more. But it would be quite boring to hear about every restaurant and what I like to get there.

I am missing cutters coffee though. Starbucks is just not the same... Thank you ladies for bringing me more sweets to flavor my coffee, its getting me through!

So when you all come to visit you can look forward to having some good food when we go out. And hopefully when we stay in as well. :)