Monday, July 12, 2010
On to the next obsession: car washes!
So, Max is no longer saying "ur-ul" (purple) every other minute; he is now saying "ARRRR WAHH!" every other minute. As in, car wash. Though purple is still his favorite color. I have to say, that obsession was a lot cheaper. At least we've made friends with the local car wash guy. Every weekend, we pay to go through it once, and then we get to go through again for free. Max helps dry the car afterward with the guys who work there, though I don't tip him.
I think in my next life I would like to own a car wash, because they seem to make a tidy little sum there.
Max's speech therapist Jeri (who's known him since he was two) had the brilliant idea of cutting up construction paper to look like a car wash, and that's what Max most loves to do lately—pretend he is pushing a car through the paper car wash. I like the occupational therapy benefit of how he has to grasp the paper and move it back and forth, good use of those hand and arm muscles.
Max is also happy to sit around watching YouTube videos of cars going through washes. This weekend, we visited the Apple store; I played them for him on a giant computer screen and he was ecstatic. Then we went to a BBQ on Sunday and there was a big lawn sprinkler. Max kept running through it, pretending he was in a car wash.
This obsession could turn out nicely for us. I gave Max a sponge and Sabrina manned the hose, and the kids washed the minivan a couple of times this weekend. (I do not think that is a child labor problem because we let them have ice-cream and juice breaks while they were doing it, so working conditions are pretty good and all.)
It would be kind of awesome if Max's next obsession involved learning how to make homemade bread and/or doing laundry.
And what is your child obsessed with lately?
There's a great car wash that Hot Wheels or Matchbox Cars sells -- real water, etc. My boys loved it when they were younger.
ReplyDeleteMy Sophie always loved beads -- running her hands through them -- we used to call her Bead Girl.
Running through the sprinkler and tracking filthy feet through the house!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth is right about that Matchbox Car Wash set--it's pretty good, fairly cheap and doesn't have tiny parts (a worry for some). You just take it out of the package and start playing with it.
Isaiah can't get enough of the song "Jungle Boogie". It absolutely tickles him! And me, too. :)
ReplyDeleteMy little guy isnt 'obsessed' with anything yet. I just had to say how freakin adorable Max is. Love the video! Go Max!
ReplyDeleteI see TWO very busy hands, good stuff Max!
ReplyDeleteKatie is totally obsessed with oranges and grapefruit. "I love oranges" is what I hear most of the day. :)
ReplyDeleteSince my husband manages a gas station with a car wash we get a free one every week to test it out make sure it's running properly. Honestly we have to avoid going with Skyler because he freaks out. To him (being blind and all) it's just a bunch of scary loud noises.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Max enjoys it so much! If you guys ever visit our city I'll have to hook you up with some free car washes. ;)
Skyler's current obsession is doors. My kid is strange I know. He loves knocking on doors, ringing door bells and opening and closing doors of all shapes and sizes. Oh and yelling out "I like that!" about everything.
My 3 year old (who has down syndrome) doesn't watch tv or movies and has no idea what Toy Story is. But, she latched on to a Woody doll at my parent's house last week. When it was time to go she held it tightly with both arms. Her message was clear - this is MINE! She carries Woody around all the time now, loves on him and gives him kisses. It's the funniest thing. :)
ReplyDeleteThis new obsession could come in handy around here! My car hasn't been washed for at least a year, when the nearest car wash was running a $5 special!
ReplyDeleteFoster's not TOO obsessed lately. Unless you count machines. And trains (still). And dinosaurs. And reading. And food (specifically the eating of it).
Moe's latest obsession is water: splasing in the kiddie pool, the bath, running the hose, the water table, even the dog's water bowl. Not the best obsession in a drought prone state, but an easy one to fulfill during the summer.
ReplyDeleteToy cars and doors. Ashley loves slamming doors and has to sleep with toy cars in his hands.
ReplyDeleteHailey is always obsessive about books! She loves to be read to, which is great because I love reading to her. Max is doing a great job with his hands. A therapist just recommended to us to have Hailey open clothespins and put them around a basket to help with her pinching, i thought it was a great idea so I thought that I would share! Find max some plastic purple ones in a craft store and maybe he will help out with the laundry!
ReplyDeleteTake our car this weekend!
ReplyDeleteBuses. My little guys obsession. City buses, Grandpa's bus (it's actually an RV), his all time favorite - the school bus.
ReplyDeleteokay had to answer your question but what I really wanted to comment on was Max's smile... holy, freakin cute!!
Ellen, I'm just getting caught up on your blog, and I loved this story. I used to be obsessed with the car wash too! :)
ReplyDeleteTell Max I said hello! :)
I used to have a car wash play kit when I was young with water but I am sure i gave it away
ReplyDeleteMax is SO cute! He does a great job with his car wash - what a great idea! My daughter isn't obsessed with anything yet, but my husband keeps saying he wishes she would learn to do the laundry.
ReplyDelete