Blog #6 My Third Born, the Star of the Show

No tears tonight friends. Tonight we are writing about Carson, and if you know anything about this boy of mine, you know that the title of this blog is the truth!

Carson; born October 19, 2009. He got here fast, and he has never slowed down. My best and easiest baby by far; this kid slept through the night at about four weeks old, he was always happy, content, and calm. He only cried when he truly needed something. He was content being independent, never needing anyone to hold his hand for anything.

Now I preach all the time to new moms how wonderful this is. Let your baby learn to lay there happy by themselves. Let them learn to be content without having someone always holding or touching them. I am not speaking of new born infants by any means! But as they get to be a few months old, you will not be able to hold them every second they are awake, and to have a baby that is perfectly happy laying and playing alone will be appreciated when normal life kicks in and you're a super busy mamma!

Carson spoiled me as a mom. I already had two boys, and he came along and was simply a breeze.

I say that he was a breeze, and he was, and he was for a reason. After he was born, I battled postpartum depression like no other. It was horrific. The days seemed to never end. I didn't want to take care of this beautiful new baby. Days of rocking and feeding all while crying at the same time went on and on. I remember the day that I knew it was time to call the doctor. I was sitting in Carson's room rocking him. I was crying; I had been for hours, and I had no idea why. Carson was happy and content with me rocking him. He was the best baby, but something was wrong. I was not a new happy mom like I should have been. I put Carson down in his crib, I walked to the driveway where my husband stood, tears running down my face, and I said, "I've got to call the doctor, I need help. Something is wrong."

The next day I saw my doctor. I was put on an antidepressant, and we waited. Slowly things began to get better. Slowly I became that happy new mom. Slowly I was beginning to kick ass at being a mom of three awesome boys. Slowly I became happy and cheery and "normal".

Now, back to this little firecracker I call Carson.

This boy has been Mr. Independent from day one. He was my little trouble maker; always getting into something. On a daily basis he emptied drawers and cabinets and anything he could get his hands on. As a toddler, if he needed something, he never asked, he just found a way to get what he needed. A cup from the cabinet? I would find him standing on the counter after first climbing on a chair. Food from the top shelf of the fridge? He had climbed the shelves like a ladder. Food in the pantry? Those shelves also worked as a ladder. Before he was two, he was unlocking doors, he had figured out his car seat, turning anything he could reach off and on, and just being a complete, smart little mess! At two years old, he already loved sports and we could tell he would be a pro at any sport he tried. This little two year old could dribble a soccer ball down a field better than some 7 year olds. He loved fishing and was casting a pole into the pool everyday all day if you would let him. I have a hilarious video of him casting his pole into our saltwater tank in the living room! It took him a few tries, and when he finally made it he was so proud of himself. Anything he wants to do, he can do it. We continue to see this as he grows. Every single thing he does comes naturally to him with hardly any effort.

This was also valid when Carson began school. School is easy for him. He hardly has to try. I don't really like to say "my kid is so smart." I don't think that is a fair statement. All children are smart. They all have the ability to learn the same information as the next, but, it does come easier to some than it does to others; I see this with my own four boys. They're all smart, but a couple of mine hardly even have to try.

This being said, Carson today is in third grade. Each year his grades soar. They are great. We have no worries there; however, behaviorally, we have another story on our hands.

One might think; ok, this is kid number three, surely she's dealt with something like this before?? Behavior issues at home? Sure, I've been doing that for years, but my first two boys never really had any behavior issues in school.

So little Carson, we have had a few issues to work out each year. He is a busy body. He cannot stay sitting still, he talks ALL of the time. He is always cracking jokes and making his friends laugh. Guys, this kid is a hoot and he is so funny; however, when he begins to interfere with the learning of other children, we have a BIG problem.

Carson's grades have always remained good. His behavior is not interfering with his own learning, but if I were the parent of a child who's learning was being disrupted by another child, I would be upset.

Each year we have had to work with the teachers. The past few years it has come down to a daily behavior folder. Each day we get a record of how well he did, what certain behaviors were unacceptable, and which were good. We work with teachers on a reward system as well as discipline dependent upon his own behavior. We also use this same system at home, letting him choose his rewards so that he has a goal to work towards. We never expect perfection, but we do need to see that he is trying to be a "model citizen". This works to an extent. He has his off days just like anyone where he simply does it Carson's way. He also has amazing days where we see he was truly trying to do what he should, and what he truly wants to do.

Carson has had multiple days spent in isolated lunches. He has had numerous trips to the principle's office. And this year, he was suspended from the bus for a week. <Insert OMG emoji here>

And now my friends, a funny story. Why did Carson get suspended from the bus you ask??

These days there are the cool little pens. You cannot see what you write or draw with these pens unless you hold the little black light on the pen up to the ink. My son decided to use one of these pens to draw a penis on a girl's leg on the bus. Side note; the girl thought it was a tree. Now, I know some of you might be horrified, but let me remind you about this crazy house of mine. In it live four boys. This house revolves around farts, poop, penises, and anything gross. It is true entertainment guys. My boys don't have girls at this house, other than me, and I'm a total boy mom! I'm just as bad as they are, so to draw a penis, no matter it be a boy or a girl, to them, that's funny!

Now us as parents talked to the little girl's dad. Super nice guy; firefighter; all that. Everything was fine. We talked to the principle and worked that out as well. Carson would be suspended for one week. Then, we talked to Carson. We had to explain that things like that might be funny at home, but are inappropriate in other situations. We had to talk a lot about girls and our actions as boys around them. In the end, it was a learning experience, and yes, Carson was disciplined at home as well.

Last year, Carson was sent to the principle for calling another student a cry baby. <Again, insert the rolling the eyes emoji.> The other student said a "bad word" and Carson told the teacher. When the other student got in trouble for saying the word, she began crying, and then Carson told her, "don't be a cry baby."

Now ya'll, maybe I can be a little to blame here. I tell my boys all the time, "Don't be a cry baby" in many situations. I never say it when they are hurt or need me, but if they are crying or whining for something ridiculous, I will use this phrase. I'm not a pre-K teacher ya'll. I'm just a regular mom, doing my mom thing.

So, back to the classroom. Carson is reminded multiple times a day to get back to his seat, to stop talking, to stop interrupting, or to get back to his assignment. He is usually unaware of how many times he has to be redirected. This year his teachers are keeping tally marks. Each time they have to redirect him, he receives a tally. They can then show him how many times they have had to remind him, and this makes him a little more conscience of his behaviors.

Again, his grades have been great this year, but everyday we work with his behavior. But the teachers always remind us of just how sweet he is at the same time.

I want to add another little side note. Carson is Mr. POPULAR! I cannot begin to tell you how much all the other kids look up to him. Last year at the walk-a-thon, I went to run with the kids. (I got 4.5 miles of running in that day I might add!) I was the popular mom because I was "Carson's mom". I was feeling really special. I had a zillion kids running and talking with me because I was his mom. (Seems super silly to me, but he was so proud, and that makes a mamma proud). He is also the fastest runner at the school. He takes great pride in this. He is always up for a race. It does not matter how old you are, how tall you are, or what you are running in! This kid will race you, and he will probably beat you! Remember- this is my little athlete. This all comes natural to him, and he is very confident in his ability to do anything he sets his mind to, and I love that quality in him. He knows he can succeed at anything he wants in life.

Carson is also the definition of love and affection. He loves cuddles and is always the first to hug me and say I love you. I think the world of this independent, funny, crazy, strong-willed, and confident little boy. He has my heart.

I hope this gave you a couple good laughs, and maybe an understanding that we all go through the different trials as a mom, and sometimes after we discipline, we have to sit down in the evening and get a good laugh out of it.

Goodnight friends!

Kiss your babies!