Hot For Teacher!

I've mentioned (here) that Turner started school back in January. He loves it.  He has from day one. He goes without hesitation, he asks each morning if it is a "Barbara's house" day.  He comes home happy, tired, and singing the songs.  I am not sure if it is because of school, because of his age, or both, but since January he has matured considerably, often times reminding me he is no longer a baby.

I haven't mentioned it much here but Turner is a big talker.  He talks in full sentences, and has just so much to say.  He is very specific in his choice of words and can be, at times, demanding.  He commands your attention by both the look in his eye and, when necessary, by grabbing your chin and pulling it towards him.  He is not much of a parrot, one who repeats what you say, in fact he prefers not to be told what to say nor when to say it.  Instead, he speaks his mind, his thoughts.  He sings a variety of songs all day long, asks for what he wants, and when necessary, he makes sure his voice is heard.

With this being said, however, it should be known he also has a tendency to get shy.  Around women.  A pretty girl is a reason for him to close his mouth, and throw on the charm.  Batted eyelashes, flashed dimples, puppy dog eyes, and a contagious smile all replace his extensive vocabulary when a lady is near.  We used to think it was just one girl, (who he definitely still crushes,) but we are finding that Turner becomes quite coy in front of most ladies.  Most pretty ladies. Aunt Amy is a lady.  Kate's mom is a lady.  Aunt Carri is a lady. And, it seems, Miss Barbara is a lady.  Because, he may love school.  And, he may love to talk but he has yet to talk to Miss Barbara.  He charms her, like he does other girls, but he won't talk.

Yesterday, we had his school conference. This is what we learned about our boy:
He is charming.  He has a fantastic smile.  He is friendly, and personable, and loves art and cooking.  He has well-developed gross and fine motor skills and is a cooperative and well-behaved little boy. He can build with blocks at least 5 high, and much to my surprise, he doesn't dump.  Containers.  This is not the case at home, but at least he caters to Miss Barbara's self-proclaimed OCD.   She didn't assess it, but Turner has a bit of that as well.

Climbing high without assistance

He is the one to watch on the playground because he can climb any structure (as seen in this picture,) he can climb the stairs without assistance, one step at a time.  He can do puzzles, hold the pencil the right way, and, in learning something new about Turner, he seems to have a strong sense of compassion for the other kids in his class.  This does make me proud.   Does Turner know his colors?  His shapes?  His letters?  That was unable to be assessed because when Miss Barbara asked he grinned and laughed quietly, and made her do so as well, but there was no way he was answering those questions.

I asked his teacher if we should be concerned (though my gut knew we should not be!)  I asked if she thought he had selective mutism, which I would not even think was a real thing if I did not know a child with that diagnosis.  She answered, as I expected, "of course not!"  She has heard him talk, just not to her.  He talks to his peers, he talks (a little) to the other teachers, he talks within the school building.  He just does not talk to Miss Barbara.

Todd and I decided to talk to Turner about this.   We reminded him how much she loved him, how much he loved school.  We asked him why he does not talk to Miss Barbara and, smiling, he said "'cause!"  We told him we really wanted him to talk to her that it would make her, and us, so happy.  Then we dropped it for a bit.

A while later, and seemingly out of nowhere, Turner said (loudly, I may add) "mama, I talk to Miss Barbara!"
Surprised I responded, "You will, Turner?"
Grinning and happy he said, "yes!"
I asked, "Turner, what will you say to her?"
Grinning more, he paused and then said, "Hi, you are pretty!!"

I don't think Van Halen had toddlers in mind when they wrote Hot For Teacher!  

Bowl of Mush!

Chase and Ryder are hardly girl crazy, but they like girls. They find them "pretty" and know they should hold a door for a girl and, whether or not they follow such rules, that farting in front of a girl is a no-no. They seem to know that girls like flowers and compliments and a day never passes that they don't telll me I am the most beautiful woman in the world.  Chase especially has a way of knowing the right thing to say.

When they were babies Chase favored the ladies. Me, either of the Mom-Moms, any of my girlfriends. He knew even in his preemie state that if he flashed his dimples and batted his eyelashes he could get away with almost anything. Cool Ryder favored the dudes. He was a man's little man right from the start.   I was the only exception to that rule. He would hang out, chill with daddy, in Uncle Dave's lap, Uncle Rob's, Uncle Chad's. He would always ask for the daddy's of his friends. That was Ryder, already learning to play hard to get.

Now that they are pre-schoolers not much has changed. Ryder hangs with the boys but says his girlfriend is Jessica. Adorable Jessica is bright and sarcastic and silly and thinks superheroes are the coolest thing on the planet. She is, actually, perfect for Ryder.
Chase, on the other hand, has many girlfriends. His list includes ALL of the prettiest girls in class and he does not think he should have to pick just one.  Maybe he is right?!

Turner, is a different story altogether. He, like Ryder, knows how to hang with the boys and he also learned a thing or two about flirting from Chase. Most of the friends in his little world are boys. He can rough and tumble with the big and lil guys alike.  But, dimpled and long lashed as well, he knows how to flirt, when he wants to.  Bianca, or Manca as he says, our cleaning lady, is one of Turner's favorite ladies.  He grins when she enters the house and proceeds to follow her around and help her scrub or vacuum.  The other day he asked her to put his shoes on for him.  He loves Manca.   But, nobody, no one makes Turner all cooky like his little red headed love, Kate.

Kate, playing dress up!

Kate is the daughter of our friends, Ali and Jared.  She is small and mighty with her bright red hair and brighter blue eyes.  She has a dominant, and hilarious, personality.  She is well spoken and has a large presence in a room.  She has Turner completely gaga.  A two year old boy totally smitten for a two year old girl.  It's adorable, actually.

At home the mere mention of Kate's name is cause for grin.   Turner's smile already has a tendency to light up a room, but mention Kate's name and the dreariest of days can become sunny.  He will ask for her when I say gym or storytime, two events we see her at most often.  He will ask to see her picture.  His eyes light up, his smile lights up, he is head over heels.

But, then, put him in a room with her and he turns into a bowl of mush.  At best.   When he sees her, he will still grin, open mouthed, from ear to ear, but he will hide his head, his whole body behind me, inside of me, hoping she will not see him blushed and flushed.  A boy so vocal, so silly, so personable, so LOUD, completely folds himself inside of himself when in the presence of his girl, all the while with a smile on his face and love in his eyes.
Perhaps it's a game, part of his hard to get strategy?  Or, it's just a boy, too young to understand the butterflies in his stomach.  Just a boy, crushing a girl!

I am pretty sure Kate likes him, too.  She will need to be the aggressive one in this relationship, which knowing Kate, seems perfectly appropriate!