Thursday, June 24, 2010

Summer!

Yess, yess, it is here! Oh, happy days of splash pads, ice cream trucks, swimming pools, and trips to the beach! Of course, with that come the days of heat and humidity and a perpetually sweaty forehead. But no matter.

Party life

So, bbq season was officially kicked off by my friend Car. Unfortunately, the day of her bbq, it was about +15C and sprinkling. As a consequence, most of the party happened indoors. I love Car dearly, but I had never met any of her other friends. Most of them I really liked, with one notable exception. Let's call her... Celine. Celine was very helped Car with her health in the past and remained a friend afterward. Celine is from la belle provence and has a bit of an accent, which was charming, until this conversation took place. Let me explain first that Celine has no children nor does she work with them or have any real contact with them. Penboy was at the party and was excitedly running around with the dogs, having lots of fun.
Celine and I were in the kitchen. Alone. Penboy flitted through in chase of a dog.
Celine: Your son, he is so tall!
me: Yes, well, he has tall parents.
C: Your son he has, umm, autistic?
me: Excuse me?!
C: No? He has autistic?
me: No, he does not have autism.
C: Well, what does he have? He has SOMETHING!
me (at this point my eyebrows reached my hairline): Why do you say that?
C: Because he is running around like that.
me: He's five. And he does not have a disorder of any kind.
At this point I left the kitchen to join Car's nice and well-bred friends on the terrace. I did not speak another word to Celine though she tried to talk to me. Let me explain to those of you who have no offspring. You do not suggest to a mother (that you have known for five minutes) that her child has an unknown syndrome of some kind.

The Graduate
Penboy graduated from kindergarten on Monday. He had a little hat with a tassel and got a diploma. It was all very touching and exciting. He's grown so much and can read some stuff and write letters. He's good at math and is interested in all kinds of things. Aww. So proud.