Finally Just Me And Johnnie

I think that when it is just me and Johnnie, and things are under my control there is considerably less drama. You may even call it boring and I am perfectly ok with thatI simply call it predictable. You can even say that I bend over backwards to make sure it is that way. Look at the pic I posted of him at online Kindergarten class. Everything was tested and ready to go. He had his breakfast all done by 8:30 AM and that was with us taking a shower this morning because I let him go to bed last night without taking one. I figured there was too much activity and drama from the day. I just let him play. And so came this morning and I was determined there was going to be no replay of the internet fiasco from yesterday. I even used my own laptop to make sure. And the result was a pretty smooth session with his teacher Ms Wiley and his class. He even got to use his whiteboard this morning and watching the whole thing from nearby was pretty cool to me. This thing will work. And Ms Wiley did just fine herself. Pretty simple actually and I'm confident now that when full on classes start on Monday where they have longer sessions, everything will be fine. Right now they go for about an hour and then they have assignments they have to finish. Today's assignment was to make a video learning the lines to write on...sky, grass, ground. And there was a video to watch and a picture to send. I think it was simply all about instructions. Here is where Johnnie has the advantage that his dad is an IT guy. Nothing he hadn't seen before, nothing he couldn't figure out how to do online. Personally I don't agree with Lisa about limiting Johnnie's online activities. I agree he has to learn how to do physical things. And I do agree he shouldn't be watching straight up videos for hours on end. To me, as long as he is learning stuff then that's perfectly ok. Children learn mostly by example. And that by itself is what I have to watch for. Because in the end it is Lisa and I that is Johnnie's example. THAT is where he learns from.

I pretty much dedicated this morning to Johnnie's class. Locked out any other activity, work included. There will be time for that later on. Besides, it IS Tuesday after all and we have other rituals to hold to. Except that he didn't feel like having a pizza for lunch and so no biking to Whole Foods today. I understand that mom and Johnnie biked for at least 7 miles this weekend all the way to Playa del Rey. When Johnnie puts his mind to something he actually does it. For lunch he wanted chicken from Carl's jr. and I was happy to oblige and get me an Impossible burger of my own with some onion rings. Hey that isn't too bad is it? I had him do more lessons in the afternoon. Lessons I cooked up. 2-digit addition and subtraction. Want to keep his skills sharp after all. The capitalization exercise. I'm going to make sure he stays ahead of the level of his class. Simply because he can. This is where I see now how parents make a difference. It is where I see how kids can simply be left to the learning pace of their class and peers, or learn faster. Or do both like Lisa and I are doing with Johnnie. And he learns very very fast. What other 5 year old will tell you that "for all actions there is an equal and opposite reaction"? I actually did manage to get some work done in the afternoon, and also pushed myself with steps. Not letting up on that one. And at the end of the day Johnnie declared that we should go to Panda Express and he should take his scooter so he could get dome exercise. Huh. There's an example from Lisa for you. Why would he think he needs exercise?? Still I was all too happy to oblige since he hadn't ridden his scooter in a while. Used to be he loved riding that thing. But that was in June. Soon as he learned to bike, that went by the wayside and so I was happy he was riding it again, even if just for today. He actually has more speed on that thing actually but he gets tired faster. Still  going to Panda Express and back was pretty easy by now and dad and son had a nice dinner while watching Octonauts and Sac Actun, his new favorite movie. I didn't have him do any more lessons. We actually did a little reading tonight. See? everything is about balance. And today, everything was about Johnnie. It was sort of me catching up and to make sure he feels everything is working as it should.  And for me to feel the same. We're all good today. Everything was as it should.