A Breakthrough

There is also this: for a very long time, Joe and Clara have raced from the garage, around to the front of the house, and up the front steps so that they might fling the door open and possibly, whichever one has the misfortune to be second, down those same steps.  Devoted Readers may recall that Julie lost her mind the other week ago when she caught a tumbling down Clara with one arm while Joe forged ahead oblivious to her saying his name so loud, she was sure the entire Twin Cities metro area heard her, save her son.

But!  We have had a breakthrough.  For several days now, after Joe has raced form the garage and reached the front stoop, he has STOPPED.  This makes Clara stop.  Then Julie goes up the steps, opens the door, and holds it open for Joe and Clara before following them in, and closing the door behind her.  It's so civilized!  And safe!  And amazing.  It's like Joe is reasoning.  He's catching what we're throwing.  Pickin' up we're puttin' down!

Now if we can just get Clara to understand that she cannot climb into the car and her car seat on her own when the car is parked on the street or a parking lot.  Every day we three, or four, walk out of KinderCare, hand in hand, and it's just such a picture.  And then we reach the car, and Clara is told she may not toddle herself on over to the rear driver's side door on the four-land street and hoist herself into the car and into her car seat, and she goes ballistic, and one of us picks our screaming and thrashing daughter up and wrestles her into her car seat.  The garage at home, the street, the parking garage. . .These are but fine, fine distinctions in Clara's world and you know what she says about distinctions?  Distinctions schmtinctions.