Robby. Andrew calls him Chief. He's called him that since he was a baby. I don't really know how that started. Maybe because he's a take-charge kind of kid. Maybe because we have so many Roberts in our family that we needed a nickname that was completely separate from his given name. I know that Bear came from Ty-Bear and that Belle came from Annie-Belle. But Chief came from Robby's personality alone.
Yesterday was a failed attempt. Robby has completely refused naps for a very long time now. He gave them up sooner than Tyler did, probably because he wasn't going to miss out on anything that was going on. More likely because he is named after my father, for whom sleep is a dirty word. But rarely, even Robby will succumb.
Here's how I can tell he really needs a nap: It usually begins as an all out temper tantrum. After he gets out his excess energy and emotions, sometimes I can calm him down with a massage. (This kid is completely Pincock in this aspect. He LOVES a good massage. He'll also give a pretty good one for a fee, but I digress.) And then, if I'm really lucky, the massage will lead to sleep.
So back to the attempt. I finally got Chief lying down in bed and taking a few deep breaths while I rubbed his back and feet. His eyes started to droop. "This is it." I thought. "I knew he was tired!" I continued to rub, thinking it would only be another minute. But no, his eyes kept popping back open. I tried massaging his head, and my long time trick of running my finger gently down his nose. Nothing. If anything, he seemed to be getting more awake as time went by. I became discouraged. "I'm going to loose this battle!" I began to worry after several minutes.
I decided to make one last attempt, and lie down right next to him with my arm around him, trying to soothe him into sleep with my sleepy demeanor. Well, I sure became sleepy. And all of a sudden I realized that Robby wasn't so sleepy at all. He very carefully lifted my arm off of him and gently laid it on the bed. He then began to softly rub MY back. In a dreamy haze my mind slowly began to process what was happening. The massage on my back became softer and softer until I sleepily glanced up to see my little Chief tiptoeing out of the room.
I just can't believe how much I underestimated him. All this time, I really thought that if I didn't mention the horrible word (NAP!), but if I could just get him to relax...in bed...with the blinds closed...that I could get him to sleep without him ever knowing what I was doing. Come to find out, he not only knew exactly what I was doing, he knew that he could USE IT ON ME!!! I failed. But it sure was a relaxing failure.
My funny lesson today concerned Chief's bike riding skills. Today was gorgeous. None of us could stay inside. And so school became a long lesson in P.E. The boys love their bikes. I've known this. What I didn't know about was all the things they do on their bikes. I guess they are into tricks. Not only are they into tricks, but they like to create their own tricks, and Robby likes to name all their tricks. I mean, it makes perfect sense. I was just a little surprised by some of the names he has chosen.
One hand off a Buffalo (I've also been told that COW can be interchangeable with BUFFALO...both are acceptable terms and will be understood.)
This trick is done by taking one hand off of the handlebars while riding.
Two hands off a Buffalo
You accomplish this trick by taking two hands of the handlebars while riding.
Horns of the Buffalo
To do this trick, you need to make your hands into pointed horn shapes while riding.
A Tiger stole a Buffalo
I haven't yet had the opportunity to observe this trick, and so I can not explain it to you. I'm a little interested (and afraid) to know what it entails.
Zoom Tiger Zoom
You must ride really, really fast to complete the Zoom Tiger Zoom trick.
Tiny mouse jumps off a diving board
This is a complicated one. You must lift your front wheel while riding, and I've been told that I might not even be able to see the front wheel lift. I must observe very carefully, or I will miss it.
Mary on the donkey
My personal favorite. I hope it is not blasphemous. I just could not imagine under what context my little Cowboy was out riding his bike and thought to himself, when I ride with both my legs off to one side, I look like Mary did when she was riding the donkey to Bethlehem. Because he really does look like that, but I still find myself wondering exactly what his brilliant little mind is capable of. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He is a Chief, after all.
