I am watching the virtual presentation and Dr. Peter is talking about connection over compliance. I am all for it. I think we need to shout that message from the rooftops, to be honest. There is a lot packed into his short presentation, so many things I need to remember to practice in and out of the classroom. At the end he reminds us of his Feeling Thermometer. It’s a simple tool that helps you gauge your own feelings and that of the child you are with.

I remember this thermometer. It became a really useful tool when my middle child, H, was young. As parents we had to practice not having a green zone conversation with H when he was in the red zone. We talked about feelings, we empathized and let him know we’d talk about it when he was in the green.

Those days were…
Those days were exhausting.

As I am listening to the presentation and remembering my own years of feeling thermometer work at home, I get a text from H – now 17. We haven’t talked about the feeling thermometer for a very long time.

A few days ago he decided he wants his ears pierced, and he’s wondering if we need an appointment for the next day, and can I do that? He doesn’t know if the piercing place is the same company as the tattoo place, and he isn’t sure how to figure it out.

I’m in a presentation though, so I can’t call, I can’t figure anything out. I feel bad, but ask him if he can do it.

“All good! Thx” he texts.

A bit later he messages, “I just called them, they are in fact a different company, most likely they’re situated within; probably a strategic alliance. They have walk-ins and have availability tomorrow. So I think it will be good.”

He adds a link, not to the piercing company, but to information about what a strategic alliance is. I guess he wants to make sure I’m duly educated .

I’m glad the presentation is over, because I can’t help but laugh… this is classic H.

One thing you should know though, is that when you think you’ve got classic H figured out, you don’t. Because, next he starts texting me in Spanish.

At first, I’m hanging in, remembering enough of my high school Spanish to mostly figure it out (Shout out to Señora Birzes!)

Soon, I need to start using google translate. I can’t quite be sure of the exact meaning of his next two texts.

“Ok, no estoy seguro si tienes que estar alli conmigo.”

“Pero, podría ser mejor si haces.”

And as I’m google translating that last part

“Ok, I’m not sure if you have to be there with me. But, it might be better if you do.”

I get his next text, “Im not using google translate!!! Im actually learning!”

I’m laughing again, of course, while I admit to him that I am using Google Translate, and then continue to use it to try to remind him to walk the dog in Spanish. And that’s that!

Until today when I ask him if I can write about this.

“It’s Multilingual Friday!” I say, and he says it’s fine.

“Can I also write about how I was in a Dr. Peter presentation?” I ask him, and he squints his eyes at me like, “why?”

I only cry a little bit explaining to H how parenthood works. One day you are using feeling thermometers, exhausted from trying to support your little kid’s big feelings, and the next he is calling piercing places, getting information independently, and texting you in Spanish.

It’s hard to explain, but I’m just so proud, piercings and all.