He's right of course, it isn't, but most of us see the value in rounding increments of time. Not so much for Curtis. The time on the clock is the time so call it what it is. It's here and other places that we choose our battles. He will not eat a slice of pizza that has dangling cheese. He will not eat watermelon with seeds. Curtis won't eat his pb&j with even a slight bit of crust left on the bread. You won't budge, he won't eat. It's here and other places I will accept that I'm spoiling him if it means he will eat. The truth is, I have no idea what that dangling piece of cheese looks like in his head but I know it isn't good. Getting frustrated that he didn't see what I saw was a losing battle.

During Curt's kindergarten year he needed a virtual battle suit to go to school. He needed his watch, his Michael Jackson necklace, water bottle designating how much to drink, and his Curious George stuffed animal which rarely left his sight. It was my job to make sure he had all of these items and I would get a call if I missed one to retrieve it and get it to the school. I believe I was as good at this job as could be expected but these items were in motion, traveling between cars and we didn't have backups for all of them. Thankfully it was a short commute from the office to the school to get Curtis an item I missed so he could get on with his day. The only disappointment I felt was in missing one, like a goalie who let one get by. Comfortable is a relative term and for Curtis, comfortable means high maintenance for mom and dad. But we know a comfortable Curtis is a productive Curtis and so be it.

Greg, Dad