A long but good day!

I’m happy to say our first day alone here without Mike was better than anticipated, as the boys are working on staying on a more steady pace rather than ups and down throughout the day. The highs and lows aren’t nearly as distinct, and Harry seems to be on a much more even keel.

After the great start to the day I posted about earlier, we had lunch, and ventured outside to play for a little bit before a quick run to the grocery store. My concern is Harry who has moments where he just becomes hyper crazy. He gets SO silly and doesn’t listen to a word we say. In his defense, he doesn’t understand most of what we say, but he clearly knows when we get stern with him, but just laughs and keeps doing what he was doing. I know this freedom from four years of strict routine are hard for him to handle, and understand completely, but Russian culture is much different from what we know in the USA. People are much more reserved, especially in public, and the one thing you don’t want to do here, is stand out like a sore thumb. So a crazy American woman with a couple of unruly kids (as good as Skip is, once Harry gets wound up, he follows suit) who aren’t listening as they romp through the snowdrifts doesn’t go over well and clearly draws attention. When the ratio of parent/child is even, its manageable, but the last thing I want to be is double teamed.

And so, I asked Harry before we went outside “Good boy?” He nodded and repeated, “Good boy!” quite emphatically. And he was. They used their multipurpose flat sleds to fly down the metal slide and then continue along on the purposely produced layer of ice that goes out about 20’ from the base of the sled. They did that about a dozen times apiece, then played a bit on the teeter-totter, and climbed the monkey bars. They didn’t argue when it was time to go to the grocery store, and except for a few seconds of insanity for Harry who threw himself into a snow pile and just stayed there laughing, the walk was good and navigating through the tiny store was better than I thought it would be. Harry pushed the mini cart (looks like a real cart, only kid sized) and we put the few items we needed inside. Each aisle he’d ask if we needed to turn, and didn’t once slam the cart into any Vodka displays. They are everywhere and I had visions of having to work off the cost of all the bottles he took out with one wrong turn. He was very cautious and loved being able to help. The only problem was when I went to use my MC to pay. We ALWAYS use it in this store without issue, but today the girl tried and the register jammed. She called someone who said what I thought sounded like “police”. Then I was picturing myself behind bars in the local jail and trying to explain to the officers the card is good! Apparently she didn’t say police. What she said was shut the register off, and re-ring everything. Not too bad since the total was less than $20 USD, but still. The people in back of me of course were complaining, but, not like I understood what they were saying, so, who cares?

The walk home was good again, until we got within 100’ of the building and Harry starting lying in the snow again. This time I told him “paka” (goodbye) and he immediately got up and took my hand. Hmmm. I may be onto something!

After returning to the apartment the boys and had a quick snack (Newly purchased bacon flavored chips for Harry & I and an ice cream for Skip) and then took turns with clicker control – alternating DVD and TV for about an hour. While I should have vegged out myself, I instead decided to tackle the kitchen floor. This apartment, though small, has no carpets at all, and since there is little in the way of grass here – just dirt- year ‘round it is impossible to keep the floors clean. Checking on them every few minutes, I tackled the nasty task, and then refilled the mop bucket with clean water to go over it again with clean water. The phone rang and we were all happy to hear Mike’s voice on the other end, from Moscow. While I was talking to him, Harry picked up the mop & started mopping. I tell you the child LOVES to clean! He was doing a good job, and loving it, so I let him. Pleased with his job, he proceeded to wash down EVERY SINGLE square inch of floor space that wasn’t covered with a piece of furniture, toy, or unmovable object. He washed, then washed again, then again. When he was done he brought me to every room and pointed out what a good job he did. He must have spent 45 minutes cleaning the floors in the kitchen, entry room, small bedroom, living room & bathroom. The only time he stopped were to talk to Mike, and, to take off his soaking wet socks, wring them out, then roll up his pants (which at that point were wet from the cuff up to his knees. Once I convinced him he was done, he wanted to paint so I took out the books and paints, and had him choose one. He and Skip then spent about 30 minutes painting animals which I then hung from the bungee cord clothes line I have up in the entry room. He thought that was funny, but keeps pointing at the pictures with pride every time we walk past them. Apparently in the mood to be domestic, he then spent at least another ½ hour washing and rewashing the few cups, bowls and spoons in the sink. I finally convinced him to take a break from the work, and so he and Skip played a bit – arguing a few times over nothing, but mostly, getting along very well. Skip is trying really hard to teach him to speak, and is constantly telling him to say stuff. When he repeats it, both he and Skip are proud, and of course I must listen as they repeat it again.

By dinner time Harry was again up and down as far as temperment. He was being REALLy silly at the table, standing, and doing what we call his stand up comedy act. It took several threats of bed for him to snap out of it, and eventually he settled down long enough to finish his rice and meat patty (not sure what they are called – Mike bought them here and as I recall he said it was a combination of ground beef, pork & chicken. He and the boys like it, but I’m not a mystery meat person..) He then wanted to wash the dishes, but this time I told him no because there were just too many knives, glassware, etc. He wasn’t happy, but didn’t fuss. Then however he started standing on the couch shutting the light on and off repeatedly. Nothing made his stop – he just kept getting sillier and sillier. I know a lot if it just testing boundaries, and some of it is just a newfound freedom he doesn’t know how to handle. Finally after threats of bed, timeout, and repeated reprimands failed to make his stop, I decided to shut the t.v. off. I have noticed that the tv is on at the BH all the time, and I think Harry finds it comforting to have it on here too so I figured it MAY have an impact. Well! He was SO insulted. He cried for about a minute and when he stopped I asked him if he wanted the tv on. He said yes. I asked if he would be good, and if he would sit NOT stand on the couch. Yes & Yes. The t.v. went back on and calmed down again – but not for long. Several bouts of his comedy act as we call it and by bath time he was just off the wall. I’m just happy he’s actually asking for baths now, and not crying when he hears the tub water running. Any hopes I had of an early evening were dashed when Harry, who tried to sneak a phone call in to his brother Levi, got spooked when came back into the room and tripped over the phone wire – yanking it (the wire) out of the wall. The result was a dead phone! Irina & Vova came over thankfully and fixed it, thus restoring both the apartment phone & our internet connection. Irina asked him if he remembered where Mike was and he told her he was on a plane flying home, and we would meet them soon. He also remember that when we arrive, Mike will pick us up at the airport, and when we get home, Levi will be there, as will the dog, but no cat. Yesterday he asked her if we had a cat and she said no, so I guess he was just re-iterating that fact. The kids got all wound up again while Irina and Vova were here, and by the time they got settled into their new bed – the living room pull-out sofa (I’m taking the bedroom since there is only a twin bed in there). Amazingly, Harry fell asleep first, then Skip soon after. A quick run to the dumpster while they slept and now I too am ready for bed.
Although it was a good day, it was definitely a FULL day. I’m hoping we can continue to get Harry on an even pace, and get into some kind of routine during the remainder of our stay. Notice I said HOPING….