Egg Drop

Domino's school recently had its an annual "Egg Drop". The Egg Drop is a fun event where kids package up eggs in recycled materials with the goal of the egg being able to survive a launch off the roof by the teachers. It's a great time filled with a chorus of "ooh!"s "ahh!"s and "d'oh!!!"s as kids watch their eggs fly through the air and hit the ground with a resounding thud. Some packing withstands the impact beautifully, others packages explode on impact on the ground below leaving traces of Egg Drop hope and shredded paper bits behind like confetti after a huge New Years Eve bash.

Remains of Egg Drop causalities

Last year, Domino created "The Ruff Ride 360". His egg survived the plummet (probably because I did most of the packaging of the egg and made sure it could handle the impact). This year, Domino created "The Glider" - a tissue box filled with a cut up egg carton, covered in white butcher paper, with 2 yogurt cups taped to the sides like airplane wings. I left the design and creation to him and only offered suggestions as to what I thought might be big issues. It was difficult to be so "hands off" but I knew it was important for him to take ownership of his project. It was an important lesson for both of us. I assisted with a few test run tosses in the backyard and the egg came away in "egg-celent" condition (I "crack" myself up... someone stop me...).

This year, the Egg Drop rules were slightly different. All packing needed to be recyclable. That meant no tape. I wasn't aware of the "no tape" rule and when we arrived at the school we immediately had to modify The Glider and remove the yogurt cup wings and all tape holding the butcher paper on and the tissue box closed.

How'd his egg do?

The launch

The anticipation!

The inspection...

... the results - a hairline crack.

The agony of defeat!

Better luck next year!

The Flick

Long ago, the terrible parents we are, we created "the flick". Instead of spanking our kids - Tony (and I on very rare occasions) gives them a flick with his middle finger, typically in the middle of their forehead. It's usually enough to get their attention when they are at their worst, it stings a bit - is probably considered abuse by some - but they get over it quickly and it snaps out whatever demon they are currently being possessed by. It's not our proudest parenting accomplishment, but "it is what it is".

I worked at Domino's school yesterday. All the kids were sitting on the floor in front of the teacher for story time and I was at the back of the classroom assembling some homework packets. I noticed that Domino was involved in some sort of drama and was being questioned about it by his teacher. My ears perked up and I started to listen in to what was going on.

Girl #1 told Girl #2 that her hair and face are ugly. Domino was sitting in between the 2 of them and he defended Girl #2. The teacher overheard him talking smack back to Girl #1. Big discussion ensued with Girl #2 about how if something isn't true, "which this obviously isn't because you're a beautiful young lady with beautiful hair", then don't listen to Girl #1. When people are unhappy with their own lives and worlds they often try to hurt others to make themselves feel better. Makes perfect sense. Hard to grasp at age 7. Still hard to grasp even at 38.

I pulled Domino aside later and commended him for sticking up for Girl #2 and said I was very proud of him for defending her against someone so mean. He said "You know what Mom? Girl #1 needs to be flicked."

I agree.

The Proof Is In The Flip Video

Rascal: "Mom! Domino broke the DJ that I gave to him for his birthday!"

Domino: "I don't know what happened - it just broke when I was playing with it!"

A likely story.

Me: "Domino, was brother still video taping when DJ broke?"

Clearly, the light bulb goes on in his head...

Domino: "Uh... yes...."

Me: "Do you think the video will show us EXACTLY what you were doing to the car when it broke?"

Domino: "Probably..."

Me: "Do you think you can remember now what happened?"

Domino: "Um.... I might have hit it with my light saber."

Me: "You might have. Might have?"

Domino: "Um, yeah, I hit it with my light saber."

Mom: "Do you think the video will show me you only hitting it once?"

Domino: "Um.... probably not..."

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Out of the mouths of babes -- by Domino and Rascal (age 7 and 5)

1. What is something your mom always says to you? I love you (Rascal) I love you Domino (Domino)

2. What makes your mom happy? Kisses and hugs (Rascal) I say the same thing (Domino)

3. What makes mom sad? Making her angry (Rascal) Same thing for me (Domino)

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickling! (Rascal) Totally tickling (Domino)

5. What was your mom like as a child? A nice kid (Domino) No, a nice girl (Rascal)

6. How old is your mom? 37 (Domino) 37 too (Rascal) (thanks kids... wish it were true...)

7. How tall is your mom? I think she's about 60 - uh - I forget. (Domino) Um, is this a math game? I'm only in preschool. (Rascal)

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Get on the computer all day (Domino) Have coffee (Rascal)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? She does homework and dishes (Rascal) She's still on the computer (Domino) (I blame Facebook!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? I think she'll be a movie star (Domino) and I think she'll be a rock star (Rascal)

11. What is your mom really good at? Typing (Domino) Taking showers (Rascal)

12. What is your mom not very good at? Eating all her popcorn (Rascal) Playing video games (Domino)

13. What does your mom do for her job? Works on her computer (Rascal) Does work for her boss on the computer (Domino)

14. What's your mom's favorite food? Those square kind of graham cracker things (Rascal) olive oil popcorn (Domino)

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Taking care of us (Domino) Giving me pop tarts (Rascal)

16. If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be? Princess Leia from Star Wars the Clone Wars (Domino) She would be Finuala from Star Wars the Clone Wars (Rascal).

17. What do you and your mom do together? We play (Rascal) same thing for me (Domino)

18. How are you and your mom the same? Because we love each other (Rascal) same thing for me (Domino)

19. How are you and your mom different? We're boys (Rascal) Yeah, that's right (Domino)

20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because she loves me with all my heart (Rascal) She gives me kisses every day (Domino)

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Starbucks (Rascal) Yeah - Starbucks starbucks starbucks. (Domino) No wait, I change my mind, I say Taco Bell (Rascal).