Like most families, in order  to keep things orderly and secure, we have established patterns we follow on a daily basis. My six year-old, probably more than other children, is dependent on a schedule and any deviation from it makes him uncomfortable. Okay, he’s pretty high-strung about it, and sometimes it makes me want to just curl up in a little ball! He has always felt more comfortable knowing what is going to happen in advance and then sticking to it.

Our pre-dinner routine usually consists of watching the hilarious fictitious antics of three scientists and an engineer. I cook and Azul plays on his Kindle while we listen and laugh, not believing (and for some of us occasionally not understanding) the silly things they say.

Recently, we added an alarming new tradition to our enjoyable evening. I jump in front of the TV yelling repeatedly, “Don’t watch, don’t listen, don’t watch, don’t listen,” while Azul scrunches his face and closes his eyes with his fingers in his ears.

Thanks Sinister 2.