Punishment for hitting

We've tried different ways to punish Enoch when he hits Michael. But he doesn't seem to get it that it's really bad to hit. That makes me really sad and frustrated. Yesterday I had an idea to give Enoch a 10 min long time-out while Michael started watching TV. Enoch was so sad. Today Enoch was crying the whole 10 mins long. To make sure he gets why he couldn't watch tv with michael, I asked him why. He told me it was because he hit michael. So I told him to not hit michael again. Hopefully he will remember the consequences when he hits and remember not to do that again. 

自己祈祷

今天傍晚我给杰凯杰龙洗澡刷牙念书之后就去喂杰峰喝奶，爸爸还没有回来，杰凯就跟我说：“妈妈，我和杰龙自己祈祷。”然后他们就真的自己祈祷去了，杰凯祈祷说“谢谢妈妈给我们做饭吃”，真是一个好孩子。哈哈 

Floating all by myself

Today Enoch floated on his back all by himself for the first time! It was amazing. We've been working up to this all summer, slowly building his confidence in himself and his trust in me that I won't let anything happen to him. He's been close for a while now, and today was the day.

We had the entire public pool all to ourselves, so it was crystal calm. All 4 lifeguards were watching us. As I was helping Enoch float on his back, I told him to put his belly up and that I would let go and let him do it by himself for just a second, that I would not let anything happen to him. He seemed to understand, and when I let go he immediately flinched and started to sink. I held him, but he looked at me and smiled, saying, "Again, daddy!" We did it again, and he lasted a bit longer. We did it again, and he responded to my coaching to keep his belly up and head back perfectly. I told him to do it for 5 seconds, then 10 seconds, and he did great! I also tried having him float on his back by himself and kick, but that was a bit too much...

It was an amazing moment. We have been working for weeks towards this moment and it was wonderful to share it together, and especially miraculous that we had the pool all to ourselves. I loved looking down at my little boy, floating perfectly in the water all by himself. Sharon just joked with me that all the lifeguards are going to think I'm a perfect dad. 

I love you, Enoch! You make me so proud. You were so proud of yourself, too. Such a lovely moment.

threaten daddy

Enoch loves to play with his food, and we have to be strict with him to not do that. Otherwise, he'll be at the dinner table all night.

Today I was playing with my cup at dinner time. Enoch said, "不要玩儿杯子，爸爸，要不然你被惩罚，去你的屋里"

I told him that I was sorry, that I wouldn't do it anymore. He thought it was the funniest thing! Such a clever little guy, turning the tables on me!

swimming and girls

I've been taking Enoch swimming by himself once or twice a week now all summer (Michael, too, but not as much). I think the one on one time is great for me and him. I love the chance to devote all my energy to him and showing him how special I think he is. I think it makes a big difference in how happy he is. Lately Enoch has been a bit depressed, and I think it's because we don't have as much time to spend with him with the new baby and my busy rotation schedule, plus our stress probably rubs off on him. Today he seemed especially quite and withdrawn. After swimming with me, however, he was an entirely different and lovely boy.

He has gotten so much better at swimming. He was so timid and afraid of doing anything new, but now he will jump into the water, float on his back, kick on his back, push off the wall towards me, jump from me to the wall. He was too afraid to do any of those things 3 months ago.

There is a Chinese family that often swims when we do. I've never spoken to them, but today I told Enoch to monkey on the wall over to the girl and say 你好。 He did, although he was shy and said it too quiet too far away. Nonetheless, eventually we started talking with the mom and her 5 year old niece. Enoch was too shy to say much, but eventually he started saying, "look at me!" and he would hold on to the wall and go all the way under water. He had never done that before! I always would try to get him to do it, but he never would.

Such a showoff!

I was proud of him. Mom was delighted to hear Enoch talk about this when we got home. As we were leaving, Enoch seemed to build up the courage to go and mumble out some words to the girl, "我叫杰凯，你叫什么？"

I think he was very excited to meet people that speak Chinese. It's like he realized that we're not the only people in this country who speak Chinese, and maybe Mom and Dad aren't so silly for making me speak Chinese after all.

Michael's turn to potty train

Today I bought Michael's potty rewards. I asked Enoch if he remembers when he was little like Michael, he got m and ms and chocolate when he went potty. He said yes. I then told him if he wanted to have m and ms and chocolate, he needs to motivate Michael to go potty. I think he really got it because he told Michael to go pee in the potty to get m and ms. 

I want to open the door by myself!

Enoch has been buckling himself into car seat since he was about 2.5 years old which is really advanced for his age. Recently he wanted to open the auto car door by himself. I told him that if he can unbuckle himself from the car seat then he can open the auto door by himself. So today he refused to get out of his car seat and wanted to unbuckle himself. I unbuckled him twice but he buckled himself back up. And even after we all went inside the house, he still set in the hot car for about 10 mins trying to unbuckle himself. Of course he is too young to do that, eventually I asked him if he wanted to go inside the house. He said yes, but not willingly. He was super sweaty when he finally got out of the car. He still cried for a good while for not being able to open the door by himself. I'm just glad that he went inside before he got too hot and die. Sometimes Enoch is really determined or stubborn, which can be a good thing. I just hope that when he grows up, he will still be so determined to do things he really likes and not easily give up.