What Henry thinks I am thinking, all the time.

I wonder what Henry’s playing with, over there. Why won’t he show me?

Is his Lego construction any different, now that he’s done some magical new thing to it?

And now? Is it different?

And now?

Now?

Now now now now now?

It can’t be different again—or can it?

I wonder if Henry can jump on one leg? Too bad I’ll never find out.

Now I’m wondering about that other leg.

I keep looking away because I forget I have a son. Good thing he understands and reminds me!

What does the food in Henry’s mouth look like, when he’s eating? I wish there was a way for me to see that.

Is Henry doing something fun with his socks? I hope he shows me.

I would look over to see the dog doing something cute, if only Henry would tell me to.

Did the dog’s expression change slightly? I’ll wait for Henry to look first and let me know.

It is important for me to be aware of each and every squirrel in the yard. Good thing Henry’s on the job, with that.

This magazine is so boring, but I feel awkward , looking up to watch Henry’s television program. That’s his thing. I wish I could share in it.

I’ll guess I’ll go back to reading, after he showed me that last thing. I wish I could see more.

And more.

And more and more and more.

Good thing I threw that magazine on the coffee table! Now I get to watch Curious George.

Comments

[Juju]

Ooooh - I'm first??

How about - I wonder if Mama wants to play "I spy" again.

I bet she hasn't heard me sing "Twinkle Twinkle" enough. She probably wants to hear me sing that again.

I bet she'll forget that she needs to put my blankets on the bed in exactly the right order - I better remind her that so she won't forge.

[EM]

Oh, God, I feel your pain. I can't even work the inattentive "uh-huh, that's nice" commentary: my daughter disdains "Look, Mommy!" in favor of "Turn your head!" Damn age-appropriate egocentrism.

[Elizabeth]

Clever post! It's a good thing you've got Henry around to make sure you pay attention to stuff, huh? :)

When I'm on the computer and Kaitlyn wants my attention, she will climb up on my lap and grab my face in her hands and turn my head away from the screen.

[Wendy]

I'm so glad I have twins!

[Barbara]

Alice, you are too good. Almost makes me want to have a four year old. Too bad I have to wait a couple of years before the looksies begin. Do the twos seem like good old days? ("Mommy PLAY with me!")

[Alissa]

what henry needs, dear alice = a sibling. then they can bug each other and mostly leave you alone. except when they bug each other too much.

ok. strike that.

[Melanie]

Yup. Sometimes it's all I can do not to scream "Just leave me alone for FIVE MINUTES, DAMMIT!! Get a LIFE!!!". Then I feel guilty and have to go be very, very interested in whatever he's doing, because only an awful mother would think such things.

[leah]

Yes! How many times can a Lego construction go through a life-altering change in the span of less than 5 minutes? According to my Henry (he's 6), approximately 1500 times.Sigh. You're adorable. Yes, I love you. Now shut up.Thanks for always making me laugh, Alice!

[ShariMac]

Oh, my God, Alice. I know. I have four-year-old twin boys. I KNOW.

Thanks for telling like it is, as always. I'm with you, sister.

[slouching mom]

A Henry story! Thank you.

I'm afraid this doesn't change as they get older. Ben is almost ten, and when he's watching TV, he'll laugh in this fake sort of way in order to get my attention and to get me watching (as he laughs, he'll have planted his eyes firmly on me...).

Very different from his regular laugh.

It's damn funny.

[ozma]

Ah, at least he's thinking it's what YOU want.

I just remind myself at some point she will disdain my interest. Yet, I'm afraid I might actually like this more than I'm supposed to.

[Angela]

If you could somehow persuade Tom Waits to sing this post, you would make millions.

[fairly odd mother]

Angela, LOL! Interesting how the world rotates around a 4 year old! It sure makes it hard for me to be my normal self-absorbed person.

[cce]

I do concur with previous comments...you need another so that they can annoy and irritate EACHOTHER. If you're lucky, Henry will discover Webkinz or Club Penguin soon and you'll loose him to hours of computer play. Freedom to read a magazine or take a short trip to Africa or forget you've had children at all.

[Jessica]

You just described every day with my three year old. Hilarious!

[amber]

You've been hiding in my house, haven't you?

[b]

reminds me a bit of this: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2007/03/26/070326sh_shouts_rich

except yours is more true-to-life because by-GOD this is what happens with my 4 yr old ALL the time.

[Shevon]

This is a very creative post!

Sounds like Henry knows *exactly* what's going on in your head!

[Eva]

Henry knows his mommy so well.

[Jane]

My mom always said that she was a magnet and my sister and I were metal filings. I guess that wasn't a compliment after all! ;)

[Lora]

LOL...I have a 5-year old son and apparently he and Henry think the EXACTLY alike. He's exhausting me with the constant, look, look, look...watch what I'm doing, what is that, why?

[TSM]

I can remember clearly the first time my "Mmmhmmmmm" was no longer acceptable, and my 4 yr old took my face in her hands and said "Mama...WOOK at me!"

I haven't stopped since.

[Kristin]

Heh. Around our house (with the still pre-verbal Boy) , it's...

Hey, I'll bet Mama would like this Cheerio.

Nope, I want it.

Hey, I'll bet Mama would like this other Cheerio.

Nope, I want it.

Hey...

[nonsoccermom]

Too funny. And I completely feel your pain. My son is Henry's age and also an only child, and you just described my day. Sigh.

[Libby]

You do bring the funny, don't you? Ahhh..Leggos. That crashing & bashing sound rings in my ears to this day.