The other morning I was running through the normal morning routine, getting kids ready, making breakfast and lunch for the kids. McKayla and Tanner were both sitting on the couch watching TV. I very specifically said, "Tanner and McKayla, I need you to....." and proceeded to give them a list of things to do to be ready to leave in 5 minutes. No response. Both sat and stared blankly at the screen. So, I walked over and stood in front of the tv and asked Tanner, "Did you hear me?" With a completely baffled look, he replied, "Hear what?" So I asked McKayla, "Did you hear me?" and she proceeded to repeat word for word what I had said.
So, here's my point: McKayla and Tanner received the exact same auditory stimulus. They both have properly functioning inner ears, so we have to assume that the stimulus was converted from vibrations to nerve impulses and sent on to the brain. So why did Tanner not even know he was being spoken to? Because his brain chooses to ignore this input. McKayla not only received the input, but
heard it. Granted, she chose to ignore me until pressed, but she heard me! I'm convinced that one day neurologists are finally going to discover the "mom-girlfriend-wife filter cortex" present only in the male brain which stops all auditory stimuli from entering consciousness unless certain key words are present.
Tanner is a kid who can hear the ice cream truck from 157 miles away. We can be inside the house, windows closed, dishwasher and washer running, television on, kids running and screaming, and that kid will stop dead in his tracks and say, "Mom, it's the ice cream truck!" We then either spend 30 minutes trying to find it, or Tanner goes to his room (following a melt down because I said no). He can hear. He can hear when he isn't focused on the source of sound. Does this not prove my point that this is a choice? Ice Cream truck = yum. Mom = yuck.
Tyson disputes my theory. Of course he does. He has to. If word gets out that they really can hear us and are choosing, whether consciously or not, to ignore us, life as they know it is over. That would be a sad day for the entire Y-chromosomed population. Garbages would have to be taken out, laundry folded, kids tended to, relationships talked about. It would be too big a victory for us girls. The earth may just spin off it's axis with such a shift. The risk is too great. I guess for now, it's enough that they know that I know that they know.........
Of peace and quiet every week. Tayler started preschool today, and now I've got to figure out what to do with myself. Hmmm....shouldn't be too hard! Tayler was so excited that he had his clothes all laid out last night, ready to go. He woke up early and was dressed before I saw him. Hopefully Miss Evelyn can figure this kid out!
All the other moms were holding it together so well, all smiles and happiness. And really, I did too, until I realized that this was the last year McKayla would even dream of allowing me to take her to school on the first day and walk her to her classroom. Next year being Jr. High, I have no delusions of being a priority on the first day of school. So it hit me and I cried. Right there. In the middle of the playground. At least McKayla didn't see it - I may have had my "cool mom" privileges revoked immediately.
The Third grader:
With Friends:
Tanner could hardly wait to turn eight and be baptized. He didn't take this lightly at all. He read 3 books on baptism, and he really wanted to learn what it was all about so that he could make his own decision.
I can honestly say that he was more prepared than I could have ever dreamed of at his age. He truly made the decision himself, and I am so proud of him!
Everyone contributed to the dinner afterward, and it was perfect! Thanks to everyone for making Tanner's day unforgettable!
