Cereal Boy

Seminar paper writing isn't going very well, so I thought I'd write something I know I can do decently well.

Turner loves cereal. I suppose all kids do, but Turner doesn't really get to eat kid cereal (a.k.a. sugar zombie cereal). He is content with the classics from my childhood Corn Flakes, Special K, Oatmeal, Cheerios, Rice Krispies. Andy and Laura say that Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms were saved for vacation. We aren't that strict...mostly because Andy likes to down a box of Cocoa Pebbles in a few days. I buy sugary cereal for him and hide way in the back so Turner doesn't see it. If he doesn't see it, he is mesmerized by the huge Corn Flakes box instead. In all honesty, it really is a HUGE box and I'm a bit mesmerized by it too.

We haven't been to the grocery since Laura got here (and probably won't go until Cheryl comes...sorry Ci Ci). The Corn Flakes ran out on Thanksgiving Day; Turner had two or three bowls I think. We had already most of the good leftovers. I think the dressing was gone Wednesday night after Andy and I both had midnight snacks. Turner requests Corn Flakes on Friday and I have none to offer him. I tell him I have something that is like Corn Flakes. He says that is fine. I give it to him. He puts his sugar on there. He stirs. He enjoys.

Saturday Turner asks me for some "Like Corn Flakes" in the exact way I would ask for Brie Cheese. The Like is a type or category and Corn Flakes equivalent to cereal. I think I hear him incorrectly. "You want some what?" He opens the cabinet door and points. "I want some like corn flakes." I laugh. I grab the box of Special K. He picks out his spoon while I pour the cereal into a bowl. He waits patiently for me to retrieve the milk and to scoot the sugar container to the side of the counter. It is a well-orchestrated event--the assembling of cereal--that Turner and I share probably too often. I place the bowl on the table. We have a quick discussion about why it is not in his Einstein's bowl. He climbs to his seat. Settles La La bear next him. Places Thomas securely at the corner of his table space. He exhales. I put the bowl in front of him. I reassure him that there is sugar on the cereal. He takes a bite. He looks at me. "I love Like Corn Flakes."

Andy returns from golf on Sunday. Turner wakes up from his nap requesting in a very deep, sleepy, uncharacteristic voice a bowl of like corn flakes. Andy looks at me. I laugh. He sits in silence and eats for fifteen minutes two bowls of Like Corn Flakes while I cook dinner and Andy washes dishes left over from who knows when. Once Turner finishes, he scoots from his seat and walks to me. "I help you with dinner now." It is the familiar voice. I put him on the counter and he starts chatting away about everything as is normal for this little guy.

I must note that it is as though Turner needs an adjustment period after waking (which he gets honestly from multiple women in this family) and associates breakfast cereal with this downtime. I must also note that while Laura was here I made mention to the fact that Turner is as chatty as Cheryl indicates PK was as a child. I can't wait for you, PK, to spend some time with him over Christmas and see just how much energy it takes to keep up with that much conversation. :)