Double Trouble

One is trouble at home. One is trouble at school. I guess they have decided to divide and conquer in their spheres of influence.

Arthur: Trouble at home. Wow this boy knows how to test his parents. He's a smart kid who sets his mind to something and refuses to let go. That can manifest itself in positive ways (loves challenges and learning, steadfast and loyal and loving) and negative ways (still throws tantrums over any small thing if it is against his desire). The boy can't take no for an answer. And we never give in. I'm not saying we're perfect--I'm just saying that we have been consistently just as stubborn as him in refusing to give in to his protests. Yet he still hasn't learned to let go. I guess we just continue to hope that he matures into a person with the positive aspects of this characteristic. And he really is a delight when he's free of negative attention and doing something that he enjoys. He sort of has a double personality (as if we need more double language in this post).

Adaline: Trouble at school. I'm informally in perpetual parent-teacher conferences. Arthur is the model student. Adaline, not so much. She is officially the trouble-maker. They have introduced new discipline procedures for Adaline's unruliness (really just a behavior modification reward system). She orders her friends around--uses "teacher" words instead of kid words. She talks back to her teachers and argues with them. She has to be separated from her partner-in-crime J***. (As a side note--the kids are in a special needs school in an integrated classroom. They are supposed to be a component in preparing these special needs kids for regular kindergarten. J*** is one of these kids, and she is succeeding in misleading rather than encouraging him. I'm wondering if they might kick her out of Pre-K--Ha!) Adaline is a dream at home though. Well, maybe not a dream, but very easy. She just flits around in her own world, making up princess dramas and is generally an extremely happy child. I think the structure of school is going to go against her free spirit. Better get used to it, kid.

Everyone says that you never get a break when it comes to twins. And why should you? It's double the fun.



*These pictures are from our recent camping trip with friends. Very fun!