The Fascination of a Three-Way-Mirror

I finished the school shopping. Let's hear a big Hooray! The older boys went to an amusement park with summer rec. and Zach and I hit the stores. And the sales!

We did well. Got what we needed with an extra item or two. The boys came home and loved it all. Except...

(you didn't really think that would be all did you?) Dylan. He hated the shirts I bought him. He wanted to go back to the store "RIGHT NOW!" And fool that I am agreed to take him after dinner when his dad got home. (**note: he went back to the store wearing one of the shirts I bought him. I think instead of not liking the shirts, he wanted to pick one out himself.**)

Off we went. Me, who makes decisions in the blink of an eye. (okay, most of the time) Dylan who spent a WHOLE HOUR trying to decide between two shirts. This is a child you can't rush. Try it and he melts down. I did try once or twice and there were tears. LOUD tears. Then sobbing tears. You know the ones. They just break your heart. (And yes, I know he knows just how to play me. He's 5 and it still works.)

The other thing that kept me from pushing him was the entertainment. Dylan can hold a crowd. He swaggered up to the three-way-mirror with a new shirt on, "There are three of me." His voice held the wonder and delight of discovery. This is a boy who loves to look at himself in the mirror.

While modeling the shirts for himself he started conversing with his images. I'm talking conversations. At one point, between shirts, he started telling his images they'd better put a shirt on. This was all done in a serious reprimanding tone.

When I finally convinced him to go look at a couple more things (he still hadn't decided on a damn shirt) he lectured his images not to follow him. He repeatedly turned every couple of steps to remind them not to follow. I then explained they were walking the other way. He turned once more and praised them for listening.

You may be wondering if he is all there. He is. He knew they were nothing more than his image but he was having a great time pretending they weren't. (and I didn't demand anything from him because I was fascinated - another bonus in his eyes)

Imagine how his life would be if he didn't have brothers to play with...