Good morning!
Here's a little update on one Charles Bryan Helmer.
Upon attending Charlie's 'Parent Party' at school Monday we learned a couple of things we didn't know about our firstborn. First off, let me say this impromptu 2pm party in the middle of a Monday was a little frustrating. I saw the sign advertising the party as I dropped Charlie off, and upon taking him aside and explaining that I would do my best but I couldn't promise I could leave work IN THE MIDDLE OF A MONDAY, his teacher inserted herself in the conversation and assured Charlie that she would be there for Charlie if his mommy didn't have time for him.
Nice.
At 2:02pm ON A MONDAY I find myself running through the parking lot into the building where I was more than delightfully surprised to find my super hot husband inside the door. He had asked my sister to watch the twins so he could be there for Charlie knowing it would be hard for me to make it. Best dad ever!
Things we learned about Charlie at his Parent Party:
-Charlie has a reputation amongst his classmates and their parents
The teacher read a dreadful little book about whiny baby owls and Charlie would chime in on the part where the students said their line and above everyone's voices he'd throw his hands in the air and give his most dramatic impression of Baby Owl Bill's line, "I WANT MY MOMMY!" It startled everyone the first time, and the clever author managed to squeeze the line and additional dozen times. By the end of the book Andy and I were looking at our shoes while Charlie danced in the spotlight for his act.
All the kids would laugh when he said the line and I would hear parents around the room laughing and saying, "Oh Charlie," like my kid had a reputation I wasn't aware of, and apparently he does. Who knew my little cross-eyed goofball was the class clown?
-Charlie has been exposed to 'too much Bible'
According to his teacher, Charlie stood on his chair last week and told the whole class that Jesus loves them and mom gives money to men on the street corner. I told Charlie I was proud of him, but explained why we don't have to tell other people when we give homeless people money or food. Though I don't talk about anything inappropriately over his head, I haven't sheltered Charlie from the reality of war or death in the Bible. In fact, I sort of pray every day that He will eventually grasp the very concept so we can talk more about what Jesus did. This has however complicated his perception of death in his academic circle. For instance, the teacher read, "The baby owls Bill, Percy, and Sarah were safe in their nest when all the sudden they woke up and they were alone." She then asked, "Where was the daddy owl?" A little girl raised her hand and softly suggested that maybe the daddy owl was at work for the day. Without raising his hand, Charlie then offered his opinion, "Nah, I'll bet he's dead." The room was quiet as the teacher tried to think of an answer. She looked up at Andy and I and I'm pretty sure we simultaneously shrugged, Andy might have smiled- seems like something he'd do. She finally muttered, "I'll bet he's not." Charlie raised his eyebrows in knowing suspicion, but held his tongue.
-Charlie is good at what he tries to do, but he doesn't try for very long
He can concentrate on an assignment for no more than one full minute. An owl made out of playdoh? More like a playdoh ball with one finger hole for an eye. He tries for 60 seconds, gives up, and then congratulates himself on the start of what would've been a sure masterpiece and moves on- no problem.
-Charlie would like a sister. He's made friends with an adorable blonde named Lily and he has since told me that he'd like me to have another baby, and it can be a sister this time. I asked him what he would like to name his sister, expecting to hear 'Lily' since it's all he had talked about regarding a sister. "Well mom... I suppose Chuck would be a nice name for her." A sister named Chuck. We'll get right on that.
We walked past Miss Sheila's room (his classroom and teacher from last year) on the way out and she was sitting five feet inside the door facing away from the door talking to a parent. As we walked by, Charlie yelled, "Hey Miss Sheelia!" Without turning around Miss Sheila put her hand up and replied, "Hi Charlie."
Five year olds are just plain funny, and I love watching Charlie grow every day, though I wish he would slow down just a bit. His best friends are his brothers, and he's a great help with them. He likes to wrestle with his daddy, he likes to snuggle with his mommy Saturday mornings after I run and read about Jesus with me on the recliner. He told me a couple weeks ago how much he likes Jesus, but he LOVES Christ. We're getting there. He likes to go to the gym with his daddy, or do anything with him really. His favorite part about his daddy is that he doesn't have any hair, and he publicly shares this with anyone that will listen. At Walmart last week the twins in two carts, Charlie, and I waited by the exit for Andy to pay for some biscuits he had forgotten to put in the cart. We kept watching for Andy as the twins were hungry and I had run out of patience with them trying to lick the disgusting cart handle. As men would walk by, and Charlie would loudly confirm that they in fact were not his father. A 70 year old man walked by, "You're not my dad." A Somalian man walked by, "You're not my dad." A middle aged bald man walked by, "You have no hair, but you're still not my dad." He then looked up at me, "Ya see that one mom? No hair, and still not dad." I saw Charlie.
Charlie lives to see his grandparents and aunts and uncles, and while we're busy with the twins and life, he's a happy, loved, observant, loud little boy- and I'm so thankful to Jesus that he's mine.
