Elijah again*

I think I was ready for Elijah to go home. I did enjoy my time with him but he does not want me out of his sight for even a moment. It is hard to get anything done. He wants to imitate everything I do. There are some things I don't want him to copy just yet. Like lighting matches to burn trash. I tried to sneak away and 10 seconds later there he is. He needs that man figure in his life, he really does. But if there are any takeaways from this experience, I'd like to point out to any noncustodial Dad's, that is what it is like for a Mom who is raising a kid without a Dad in the house to help. It is difficult. They are underfoot all the time. I think Elijah's Mom probably got a much-needed break at my expense more than Barbara's :) He didn't mind Barbara being out of sight but not me. I was trying to light fireworks and it was breezy and it kept blowing my match out. Elijah (a four-year-old wanted to show me how). Anyway, I finally shielded the match like when liting a cigarette and burned my hand when the fireworks did ignite. This four-year-old thinks he knows everything. I should have let him. Not really.  I did finally tell him a couple of times, I tell you what to do, you do not tell me what to do.
You are only 4 years old. He gets on my nerves, let me tell you. Last summer I explained to him when his grandmother bought him a water squirt gun. I have the water hose, if you shoot me with that I will shoot you with this hose and I have much more firepower. I think he learned that Papa means what he says or is just plain mean. He got really wet. It doesn't matter if I am trying to paint or shovel gravel, he wants to do what I am doing. He is really a great little guy and I really miss my grandkids. I miss him being underfoot.
God bless, LVZ.