My Experiences as a Father... September 5 to October 4, 2000 (17th month)

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Monday, October 2, 2000
Maeve has seen me use my Palm computer, and tries to grab it whenever she can.  I try to give it to her turned off, but she knows the difference between it being turned on and off.  She wants to see more than a blank screen.
 

Saturday, September 30, 2000
Jill and Maeve were in the living room and Jill said, "Is it time for lunch?  Let's go see."  Maeve walked over to the VCR and pointed to the clock.  I don't know where she got the idea that the VCR has a clock, or that you use a clock to tell time, but she knew.
 

Friday, September 29, 2000
Maeve once saw Mom put Lysol in the kitchen trash can when she changed the bag.  When we pull out the bag, Maeve runs to get the Lysol.  She will hold it up to the top of the trash can and make a noise like the Lysol coming out.
 

Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Maeve has gotten good at gasping.  She has a song that describes all sorts of mishaps, and the singer says, "Uh oh".  We also have a book about a baby getting out of his crib and going outside with some guardian angels keeping him safe.  Between reading the book and listening to the song, Maeve has learned to put her hands over her mouth and gasp.
 

Sunday, September 24, 2000
Jill has taught Maeve how to imitate "Dad driving home to see the baby".  Maeve waves her fists around, like she is holding on to a steering wheel and swerving all over the road.  Jill is working on getting Maeve to honk.
 

Wednesday, September 20, 2000
Patt Steiner saw the pictures of the Secret Stealth Sniper Baby that I have on my wall at work.  She said, "That's one tough little dude!"  "That's my DAUGHTER", I proudly replied.
 

Saturday, September 16, 2000
News from the road, by Jill:
"We drove the truck today.  I am going to get pictures of Maeve driving the dump truck. She is really becoming Southern.  Driving trucks and going around barefooted.

"She also learned to garden this morning. She took soil out of a large plant pot, after pruning all the dead leaves, and filled a small pot with dirt.  She's a quick learner, no one was actually encouraging her."
 

Thursday, September 14, 2000
I was getting gas when a girl approached me.  She had been standing around a European car with the hood up, along with another girl and two guys.  She asked if I knew how to put oil in her car.  "Certainly she was only trying to lure me over so she and her gang could assault me," I thought.  Is it possible that four people who are of legal driving age do not know where to put oil into a car?  Still, I went to look.  I pointed out the spout sticking out of the top of the camshaft cover with the big cap on it.  I wanted to say, "Do you think that big spout could be it?  What else do you think you would pour over the camshafts?"

The really scary thing is that the four of them couldn't figure it out.  One of the guys had a Life Guard shirt on.  I hope I never have to get rescued by someone who can't even figure out where to put oil in a car.

I have been trying to figure out how to make sure my daughter never has any such ignorant boys calling on her.  I haven't figured out how to be subtle and make sure they know how to bleed their own brakes.  I'm sure Maeve will be able to make up for any such inadequacies in her friends, but it still concerns me.  This gas station incident has opened my eyes to a much closer threat.  Perhaps some of her friends' parents will lack this knowledge.  How can I trust my daughter to the care of someone who doesn't know how to add their own oil?  Worse yet, how can I trust them to not take her to some awful place like Jiffy Lube, and fill her head with warped ideas like, "You don't need to know how to add oil. These people take care of it for you."?
 

Sunday, September 10, 2000
While visiting Helen, Maeve took a dog for a walk.  Jill assured me that the dog was small enough to not drag Maeve down the street.
 

Saturday, September 9, 2000
Maeve went with Jill and Helen to the Talbot's outlet.  Maeve learned how to shop there.  She was pushing the clothes back and forth on the racks like she was looking for something good.  She would even sigh, as though she was having problems finding anything she liked.
 

Wednesday, September 6, 2000
Maeve went with Jill and Grandpa Perrin to a petting zoo.  Jill said Maeve had no fear at all, and was feeding all of the animals.  Later that day they visited Granny Kay.  Maeve got some cat food and was chasing the cat around, trying to feed it.  I guess cats aren't very good "Petting Zoo" animals.
 


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