They are doing a little better this week, but we’re going through a Fear of Everything phase at the moment. The current fear list includes lint, bugs, hairs, dirt, lawnmowers, dogs and the odd bus. For about a week they were intensely afraid of taking baths. Strangers have always been on the list. I try to comfort them when they freak out, but sometimes it can get a little embarrassing at parks when a stranger gets too close and they crawl into my lap crying and screaming like they’re going to be eaten. Some people are quite understanding, and these people will say something like, “Oh yes, my son went through a phase like that.” The less tactful have said stupid things like “Have you taken them to the doctor about that?”

There’s nothing wrong with them. The world is a scary place when you’re less then three feet high, and even more so if you’re a HSC. And they are both classic HSCs–they scored about 90% on the HSC test. Part of this, I’m sure, is some anxiety about daddy up and disappearing part of the week (lately Saige will discuss him at least dozen times a day when he’s gone). But obviously a lot of it is genetics. I was a pretty catious kid, and both Bruce and I scored the same first three letters on Myers-Briggs tests; we’re basically introverts (Bruce less so than I). Last time I checked, my profile fits about 1 or 2% of the population. So if the girls are anything like us, they are probably going to grow up seeing and experiencing the world differently than 98% of the population.

The other comment I hear pretty often is “Oh, if you put them in daycare, that will fix that.” Ummm, no, probably not. Putting introvert kids in daycare is not going to turn them into extroverts. I agree the socialization aspect would be good thing, and Bruce and I are thinking about a small amount of preschool or tiny tot classes this summer as much for this reason as to save our own sanities. But I am not going to force the issue. Interestingly, the HSC book says that, contrary to my instincts of doing 2 days a week, taking them every day would be better. Trouble is, I don’t think we could afford that. We’ll see.

But you know what? I’m glad they’re the way they are. I wanted sensitive, thoughtful kids. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

So no, lady, I haven’t taken my kids to the doctor because they don’t like you. I’m not sure I like you.

The girls can do better than just short phrases now. They can speak in complete sentences, using verbs and even some correctly-used pronouns–and it is just amazing. To the childless this may not seem like a very big deal (pre-kids I would be yawning about now), but to a parent that’s been waiting for the day communication could go past pointing and screaming, this is a blessed, earthshaking event. Two little tykes saying in that preschool voice, “Wanna see see-ba video*”…it makes your heart melt.

This also means they can communicate wishes–nay, demands, that I can’t always comply with. They always have lots of alternate suggestions when I say it’s bedtime, for instance.

“Go park!”
“Go store!”
“Bathtime!”
“No, book time!”

These are all said in a flustered panic as I start gathering up their stuffed animals for the night.

Potty training didn’t really go anywhere, so I’m thinking maybe I’ll hold off on that a bit until they show a little more interest. They mostly get it, but they just don’t want to do it. The more I have tried to get them interested, the more they have retreated, so I think it’s time to take the pressure off.

The extremely crafty Carolyn sent them these cool purses the other day, aren’t they sweet?

Check that funky fabric! Thank you Carolyn!

I got a flat-panel last week to help with computer repairs and such. I got sick of hauling the two-ton CRT up from the garage (indeed I threw my back out doing this recently), and equally sick of using my monitor, which meant I was constantly switching back and forth between my system and whatever one I was working on.

$150 well-spent, I thought…and I don’t even have to feed the fish.

* “See-ba” = zebra = the new Baby Einstein video.