Friday – we went to a smores hike at Backcountry Base Camp (Highlands Ranch) without the smores due to fire risk. Elliot cried on the way there, thinking there would only be babies since that what it was like last time we went to Basecamp (for storytime). But there were no babies, as I told him, because it was a hike. We had a good time and he played with a 6-year old boy named Frederick Harris who just moved here 4 days ago from Memphis, Tennessee. Hopefully, we will have playdates with him in the future.
Saturday – we skipped Shabbat services so that I could clean, and we went grocery shopping before Jonny Lis and his father, Greg, arrived for the afternoon. We played minecraft and other games like Golden Axe, then played in the pool. Elliot got frustrated with Jonny towards the end. Jonny wanted to play video games all day but, surprisingly, Elliot said he wanted a break from video games. I was very proud of him for this unexpected behavior. At the end of the play date, we watched an episode of Adventure Time in the basement. Elliot was getting antsy; he wanted Jonny to go. He didn’t want a play date anymore. It had been 4 hours and it was enough.
He said, “I’m going to use the sauna soon. You can’t be here when I use the sauna.” I told him that’s not polite to say. It was the 2nd time I had to say that. He’d wanted Jonny to leave for quite some time. After Jonny left, we talked about it. I explained how to say these things appropriately. We role played. I pretended to be Jonny and Elliot told me his feelings in a polite manner.
Saturday night we watched E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial for the first time. ELLIOT LOVED IT! We both cried when E.T. died and also at the end when Elliot and E.T. said goodbye.
“E.T. is a great movie because it gives us big feelings. Those are the best movies. And good books do the same. They give me big, strong feelings. That’s why I love to read,” I said to Elliot.
When I later asked Elliot his favorite part, he said it was when E.T. died. He chose the most tragic part of the film as his favorite because he recognized the power of how it made him feel.
Sunday – we went to Olivia Ott’s 6th birthday party. Elliot was the only boy there. Then we went shopping and to the Renaissance Fair (2nd time this summer). Unfortunately, it was pouring rain so we decided not to enter. We met the Elsters there, who also had Piper. They were just leaving, and it was their first time ever going. They’d spent the whole day there. We met them for ice cream in Castle Rock (photo above).
Sunday Night – The highlight of the weekend, besides watching E.T. together, was walking to King Soopers again on the bike path, like we did in the Spring, I think. Elliot used his scooter. I walked and ran with the new weight vest. We were fast getting there. We sat in a swing for a while outside King Soopers. Elliot used his scooter inside of King Soopers; that was special. He wanted to go to Abo’s Pizza (now High Society Pizza), but I said no because he would only eat 1 slice and really just wanted to go there to play video games on my phone. I told him to play video games on the swing for a bit. Two photos of us on the swing are above.
Finally, we walked home and it took a couple of hours, unlike the very quick walk getting there. Elliot got hurt by catapulting forwards on his scooter and onto his face. His legs were scraped. He cried; some pain but more fear I think. I held him tight and told him I’m here. I felt terrible for him. But he got over it quickly and then had to pee in the bushes. We continued to go home exceedingly slowly, I think because it is a gradual uphill slope and Elliot told me he was hurt. That frustrated me so I decided to do very slow walking meditation. I want to be infinitely patient with him. I did not show my impatience. I know someday I will walk slowly, and he will be impatient with me.
We saw and saved many beetles on the sidewalk.
The Straw
On Sunday morning, Elliot was eating breakfast and he kept spilling his water. He did it 2 or 3 times. I said I would give him a sippy cup if he did it again. He did not like that, being treated like a baby. So I said, “Ok, what else can we do so you don’t spill?”
Remarkably, Elliot had a great idea. He went to the kitchen and retrieved his purple plastic pterodactyl straw. He didn’t spill water again. I am impressed with his creativity. I am impressed with the way he controls his emotions. I am impressed with his kindness. He is such a good kid.
