I brought him downstairs and brought him some cereal. He pushed the bowl away and I asked "what's wrong? toi don't like this kind?" He climbed out of the chair and walked over to the countertop. I turned around and asked "what?" He pointed to the cookie jar and a dit "those." I stood up and a dit "you can't have biscuits, cookies for breakfast silly!" He looked at me and a dit "yes!" I a dit "not this early" and he repeated "yes!"
I picked him up and tried to get him focused on something other than the cookies. I brought him back to the table, tableau and a dit "here's your cereal." He a dit "cookies" and I a dit "let me check to see if there's a different kind of cereal." I turned around to look in the cupboard and then I heard something hit the ground.
I looked behind me and noticed that Christian's bowl of cereal was spilled out all over the floor. I walked over to it with paper towels and started to clean up the mess. I looked up at Christian and asked "you didn't throw your bowl on the floor; did you?" He a dit "I don't want that; I want cookies!" I sighed and a dit "look at the mess toi made Christian!" He a dit "I want biscuits, cookies daddy!" I a dit "I told toi no Christian."
He didn't like the idea of me telling him no and when I came back into the cuisine his facial expression showed his irritation. I picked him up and cheerfully a dit "someone's grumpy. We can have biscuits, cookies later; I promise!" He asked "why won't toi give me a cookie?" I a dit "because I don't want toi to have a cookie. Do toi want an apple?" He crossed his arms a dit "no!"
When I went to lit that night, I couldn't believe how out of the ordinary Christian was acting. I'm hoping a good night’s sleep will put him in a better mood. I definitely wasn't expecting what happened today. That's not like him at all.
***
I was just walking through the door after a long jour of work, when I saw Christian and my mother in the living room. I walked in and my mother didn't look happy. I sat down suivant to her on the canapé and asked "how was your day?" She sighed and a dit "Christian hit me today." I almost didn't want to believe her because the idea of Christian hitting anybody seemed so crazy! I asked "what did toi do about it?" She a dit "nothing; you're his father. Enforcing discipline is your job; not mine Michael. I'm going to head accueil now; see toi after the weekend."
She shut the door behind her as she left and I just stared at Christian with a blank look on my face. I didn't know what I should say ou do because I didn't think I would be faced with something like this. I déplacer myself closer to him on the canapé and we sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes. I quietly a dit "it wasn't very nice for toi to hit grandma. Why would toi hit her?" He didn't answer me because he was distracted par the TV. I asked with an unsure tone of voice "you don't want to have to be put in timeout; do you?"
The seconde I a dit that, he burst out into tears and ran out of the room. I immediately chased after him and caught up with him at the end of the hallway. I knelt down in front of him and sincerely asked "what's wrong?" He uncontrollably shook as he continued to cry and a dit "no hit me daddy please don't!!!" I asked "hit you? Why would I do that?" I was about to pick him up when he pulled away and I felt terrible.
He ran upstairs and I walked into his room to see his feet sticking out from underneath the bed. I crawled underneath the lit and a dit "hey; it's okay Christian." He asked "you won't hit me?" My eyes started to water and I a dit "I would never hit you; EVER!" He a dit "mommy hit me when I was with her!" I pulled him out from underneath the lit and a dit "that's not what a normal mommy ou daddy does Christian! toi don't have to worry about her anymore buddy! I don't think it was right for toi to hit grandma either though." He responded "I call her and say sorry." I a dit "I think that's a good idea."
We went downstairs and I dialed her phone number. I put it on speaker phone and she a dit "hello." I a dit "hi mother; it's Michael and Christian has something he'd like to say to you." Christian a dit "sorry grandma" she a dit "thank toi for saying you're sorry. I hope daddy told toi that it's not nice to hit." I a dit "I think we've come to an understanding. We'll let toi go now because I have to get dîner started; bye." She a dit "goodbye; see toi Monday."
***
My bodyguard Tim was excited to introduce me to his sister and niece because they are in town for the weekend. I told him that he doesn't need to come into work so he will be able to spend time with his family; but he insisted on at least coming in for an heure because his sister is a huge fan of mine.
Tim, his sister, and his niece arrived at around 10 o'clock in the morning and I a dit "you must be Jessica; it's nice to meet you!" She hugged me and a dit "I've loved toi since I was a little girl! I l’amour the new album! I saw toi on the tour at your Louisiana show!" I a dit "thanks for supporting me; I hope toi enjoyed the show!" She a dit "of course I enjoyed the montrer Michael!"
I looked at the little girl she held in her arms and asked "how old is she? What's her name?" Jessica a dit "this is my daughter Sarah; she turned two a few months ago." I grabbed Christian from the table, tableau and a dit "this is my son Christian; he turned three two weeks ago."
I put Christian on the ground suivant to Sarah and he immediately hid behind me. I a dit "I bet Sarah would like to play with toi Christian." He clung to my leg and Jessica asked "are toi shy?" I chuckled and a dit "yeah he is." Sarah a dit "mommy bathroom" Jessica asked "can I use your bathroom Michael?" I a dit "of course toi can. It's right over there."
Afterwards, I asked "she's toilet trained already?" Jessica asked "yeah; isn't Christian?" I a dit "no; I wasn't even thinking about that." Just as we were getting into the conversation, Tim a dit "Jessica; we don't want to miss our lunch reservation." She picked up Sarah and a dit "thank toi for letting me meet toi Michael!" I a dit "I'm glad I got to meet toi too; have fun this weekend Tim." He a dit "I will Mike; thanks for the time off!"
I was getting Christian ready for lit after getting him bathed and decided to hint at getting rid of the diapers. I a dit "maybe it's time for toi to be a big boy." He looked at me like I was crazy and I asked "you don't want to learn to use the potty?" He whispered "no" and quickly tried to change the subject. He a dit "I want a snack daddy!" I quickly a dit "I'll get toi a snack in a minute. toi really don't want to be a big boy?" He didn't answer me and I a dit "well; I'd be glad if toi did! I don't think toi want to be wearing those anymore; do you? Those are for babies; don't toi want to be a big boy?" He whispered "no" again and I decided to drop it to think about it for a while.
***
I was woken up par a knock at the door. I came downstairs and answered the door. I was shocked to see Rosemary standing there. I immediately asked "you're not going to take him back are you?" "She laughed and a dit "of course not Michael; I'm just required to make a surprise evaluation to make sure I made the right decision with letting toi adopt Christian. I'm supposed to give toi an in-depth background of Christian's history. I figured I would come stop par unexpectedly early enough in the morning; so Christian isn't awake yet. I only need to ask him a few questions when he wakes up and until then toi and I can have a conversation about his past."
I got the two of us some coffee and we went into the living room. I have to admit that I'm curious to hear about where Christian came from and how he got to the point of being in foster care. I passed her the cup of coffee and she looked like she was about to cry. She a dit "first of all, I can't thank toi enough for taking Christian and giving him the accueil that he deserves because I have a feeling he would've been at the orphanage for a long time if it wasn't for you!!!" I hugged her and a dit "you don't have to thank me! I l’amour Christian and I don't regret pursuing adoption.
Rosemary cleared her throat and a dit "alright; I will warn toi that some parts of Christian's past are going to be hard for toi to hear; but I think it's important for toi to know just in case he asks toi questions one day. I took a deep breath and a dit "okay; go ahead."
She a dit "Christian's mother had him a few months after she turned 18 and she was living with her mother at the time. Melissa was always in and out of trouble with the law. Her mom kicked her out with Christian and she decided to déplacer into a three-bedroom place with a guy who would later become her boyfriend Adam. Everything was good for the first six months of Christian's life; but then Melissa seemed to get sick of being a mother." I asked "what about Christian's biological father? I saw the picture of him in the folder of all his information." Rosemary a dit "that picture was the only thing we were able to find of him. We don't know where he is. We don't know if he's alive ou dead. We don't know if he's a good man ou if he's like Melissa. We don't even know if he knows that Christian exists.
It was stunning to me to find out that there is so little known information about Christian's biological father. I asked "how did Christian end up in the orphanage?" She a dit "the neighbor suivant door to Melissa's house reported hearing crying for hours coming from the house. She a dit she thought she had seen Christian looking out the window and crying. She alerted us and we went over there. We had to get a chercher warrant to get inside the house because Melissa wouldn't let us in and that's when we realized she had locked Christian in the bathroom while she got drunk to the point of disorientation! We estimate that he was stuck there for close to 24 hours. We think she got fed up with taking care of him and totally forgot about him."
Tears streamed down my face and I a dit "that's horrible! That woman is so demented! I can't believe she would do that to her own son!" She a dit "okay; enough about this! Why don't toi take me to Christian's room to see if he's awake yet; so I can ask him a few questions." I wiped the tears away and walked upstairs as she followed behind me.
I walked into Christian's room with Rosemary and she a dit "wow Michael; this is the coolest room I've ever seen! Christian is one lucky kid!" I picked Christian up and whispered "wake up buddy!" He opened his eyes and looked at Rosemary. She a dit "hi Christian; do toi remember me?" Christian a dit "hi" and I put him down on the floor. He started playing with his toy racetrack and I sat down on the floor suivant to him with Rosemary. She asked "do toi like it here with Michael Christian?" He a dit "yeah; he's my daddy." She asked "does daddy take good care of you?" He a dit "yeah; he does!" She asked "what's your favori thing about having a daddy Christian?" He leaned in to give me a Kiss and a dit "kisses and hugs!" Rosemary laughed and I asked "what's so funny?" She a dit "I honestly can't believe that he just gave toi a Kiss Michael! Never in 1 million years did I think this shy little boy would ever be open to a parent's affection; let alone just walk up to toi and randomly give toi a kiss! His speech is getting so much better and whatever toi doing is working. He's come so far since the last time I saw him and that's all because of you! I'm plus than comfortable with my decision to let toi adopt him permanently!"
Rosemary got off of the floor and a dit "I better get going now because I have to catch my flight back to London." I asked "will toi be checking in again?" She a dit "no; I trust toi Michael. I guess this is the last time I'll be seeing toi ou Christian." Both of us gave her a hug and I a dit "it won't be the last time; we'll visit toi one day!" We waved goodbye to her and started our day.
***
I had been dreading the jour when Christian would need a haircut because I have a feeling he's not going to like the idea of scissors near his face. I invited my hair stylist Karen Faye over because I knew I would need her help. Christian was watching TV in the living room and moving his hair out of his face.
Christian was sitting on the floor with his back up against the canapé and I gestured for Karen to slide onto the canapé and try cutting his hair without him noticing. She was a few snips in when he realized that she had scissors in her hand. He ran behind me and I a dit "it's okay; I just want toi to have your haircut!" He looked at the scissors as if they were daggers and I picked him up.
I sat down on the floor with him on my lap and a dit "just cut his hair as fast as toi can Karen.” He started squirming in my arms as I a dit "it's okay buddy!" I felt absolutely terrible as I had to hold him down so she could cut his hair. I only did it because I didn't want him to get poked in the eye.
Once she was done cutting his hair, I looked at Christian and a dit "you look so cute!" That wasn't so bad!" I don't think Christian was very happy with me because he didn't say anything to me until after Karen had left. I was sitting on the floor in front of him while he sat on the canapé and watched TV.
Out of nowhere, Christian smacked me on the back of my head! I turned my head to look behind me and a dit "that wasn't nice Christian! toi need to say you're sorry because I told toi it's not nice to hit." He crossed his arms and a dit "no!" I a dit as I continued to look back at him "you need to say you're sorry Christian!" He a dit "no" again and I really didn't know what to do.
I thought about it for a few secondes and got off of the floor. I a dit "alright then; I guess it's time for a timeout." I picked him up and once he saw that I was actually bring him to a chair in the kitchen, he a dit "I'm sorry daddy; I'm sorry!" Part of me wanted to believe that he was actually sorry; but I knew deep down that he was just saying that because he didn't want to have a timeout.
I pulled the chair out from the table, tableau and placed him in it. I looked at him and a dit "it's not nice to hit people Christian!" He started crying and I felt awful. I started the timer on the microwave and a dit "three minutes Christian." As I stood there at the counter a few feet away from the table, Christian cried "daddy; I'm sorry daddy! I l’amour toi daddy! I be good!" It took all the willpower I had to ignore him because I was on the verge of tears!
When the timer finally beeped, I walked over to the chair and asked "do toi know why you're in timeout Christian?" He a dit "it's not nice to hit daddy! I'm sorry daddy!" I hugged him as I picked him up and a dit "thank toi for saying you're sorry. Do toi still l’amour me even though I put toi in timeout?" He a dit "yeah" and kissed my cheek.
***
I heard Christian walked downstairs this morning and a dit "come here buddy." He walked into the living room and I had shopping bags in front of me on the floor. He sat down suivant to me on the floor and I a dit "wait until toi see what I got you!" I opened one of the bags and asked "what would toi think if I told toi that I threw out all your diapers? He a dit "no toi didn't!
He went to the place where I usually keep them and when he noticed that I was serious, he looked at me with a blank look on his face. I took some of the Mickey souris underwear out of one of the bags and a dit "look buddy; Mickey!" He just looked so distraught and I picked him up to comfort him. I know because of his past I can't make this into a negative thing if it's going to work.
I sat him on my lap and sat down on the canapé as I a dit "it's okay buddy! I promise toi that it's not going to be the end of the world! Look, don't toi want to be a big boy?" He started crying and I a dit "look at how cool these are!" He shook his head no and a dit "diaper!" I excitedly a dit "big boy" and he a dit "I'm scared daddy!" I asked "of what; these?"
I picked up the underwear and a dit "these aren't anything to be scared of!" I put them on my head and he started to laugh and I joked "what's so funny?" I brought him into the bathroom and explained to him that there wasn't going to be any plus diapers and he didn't want to hear that at all. It was hard enough to convince him to wear the underwear; I don't think I really know what I just got myself into.
There was a knock at the door in the midst of all this; so I went to answer it. It was Frank and he a dit "I brought the book cover for your book Michael; so toi can see what it will look like! Why do toi have Mickey souris underwear on your head?" I reached my hand up to the haut, retour au début of my head and realized that they were still there. I laughed and a dit "it's a long story!"
Christian came into the cuisine and a dit "diaper!" I a dit "I told toi buddy; toi don't need those anymore!" He started crying again and Frank a dit "on that note I think it's time for me to get out of here; good luck with that Michael." Just as he a dit that, I noticed that Christian was soaked. Frank chuckled and a dit "I told toi that toi weren't cutout for parenting Mike" as he shut the door.
I a dit "uh –oh; that's why you're supposed to tell daddy when toi have to go! It's no big deal buddy; we'll try again suivant time." He a dit "I don't like this daddy!" I a dit "like I said, that's why toi have to tell me suivant time!"
***
I invited my sister Latoya over for lunch because she hasn’t gotten a chance to really get to know Christian. I had ordered lunch because I didn't want her to have to wait for me to cook anything. Christian was just coming downstairs after taking a nap when Latoya finally pulled into the driveway.
I let her inside and she helped me set the table, tableau for the Chinese nourriture that I had ordered. I a dit "Christian; time to eat buddy." He slowly walked into the cuisine and asked "can I sit on your lap daddy?" I lifted him onto my lap and moved his plate of nourriture in front of him. He looked at Latoya and I a dit "this is your aunt Latoya Christian." He waved at her and started to act shy.
He was barely touching his nourriture and I a dit "you have to eat Christian." He a dit "I don't want this." He dropped his fork on the floor and Latoya got up to grab him a new one. She brought it back to the table; but Christian was still refusing to eat. I tried feeding him because I want to be a fun dad; I don't want everything to end up with him being in trouble. I've only had to put him in timeout once and I don't really want to have to resort to that again.
He just kept pushing the fork away and I looked at Latoya as she a dit "I think he's adjusted to having a daddy Michael." I asked "I know toi don't have kids; but do think it's normal for him to act like this? He only acts this way when he wakes up from a nap. It's definitely not like him to be like this." She a dit "I think he's just getting used to having a daddy and I have a feeling he wants to test toi to see what he can get away with. It's just part of being a three-year-old Michael. Every three-year-old challenges their parents’ authority over them at some point. I don't think he's going to act like that for very long because if he's as sweet as toi say he is he won't want to frustrate you."
Christian grabbed the fork out of my hand and started eating because I think he realized that he wasn't doing what I wanted him to do. I a dit "thank toi for eating buddy." Latoya asked "what's your schedule like this week Michael?" I a dit "I have an interview with 'Jet’ magazine tomorrow and then I'm heading to New York for a couple of days par myself because I have a meeting with a publishing company to talk about my autobiography." She asked "what is the magazine interviewing toi for?" I a dit "I'm hoping that it's just a small interview because I want to introduce Christian to my fans and I want the tabloids to stop harassing me. They all want to get a picture of Christian because word has gotten out that I've adopted him and I figured if I let the magazine feature the two of us on the cover they'll leave us alone. I just want Christian to have a normal life and I want the paparazzi to stop harassing him because he's just a kid." Latoya asked "who is going to watch Christian while you're in New York?" I a dit "mother is out of town for a mois because she and Joseph went on vacation; so my hair stylist Karen is going to watch him for me." Latoya asked "how do toi think Christian's going to handle being away from toi for two days? He hasn't been away from toi overnight since toi adopted him." I a dit "I don't know if I'm going to tell him until after I'm in New York because I just can't handle hearing him cry! He should be fine during the jour because I usually don't see him until I get accueil from work every jour around 5 o'clock. When it's time for him to go to lit at night he might be a little worried because I won't be there to tuck him in like I always am. Karen will know that I'm only a phone call away if she needs me! If she needs me to come back I'll be on the suivant flight back here as fast as I can."
***
I looked at my watch because I was worried that the "Jet" magazine journalist and photographer would arrive at the ranch within minutes. I was in the middle of debating with Christian. I sat on the bathroom floor and Christian just looked absolutely terrified. It's all his mother's fault that this is so difficult for him. I think my approach of trying to be extremely positive about toilet training him isn't going to be enough. After lire some parenting books, they say that if it doesn't start to work within the first few weeks I should probably take a break. I hate to say it; but I think it's time for a break.
Christian started crying and a dit "don't leave me in here par myself daddy! Don't lock me in here!" I sympathetically a dit "sweetheart; I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right here and I promise toi that I won't lock toi in here like your mother did!" He a dit "I'm not ready for this!" I a dit "okay, okay, but toi have to promise to tell me when toi are ready."
I had a feeling that something like this would happen; so I didn't end up throwing out the diapers like I had told him I did. I was hoping that if he didn't think they were there he would be plus prepared to use the bathroom instead; but I guess I was wrong. I quickly changed him back into them and he reassured me that he wasn't ready par saying "not a big boy yet daddy." I a dit "that's okay Christian."
The journalist and I photographer from "Jet" magazine knocked on the front door and I opened it up. One of the men introduced himself as he a dit "hi; I'm Andrew. I'm so glad toi decided to discuss Christian for the first time publicly with the interview in our magazine Michael."
Before we started the interview, the photographer took a bunch of pictures of me with Christian; so there would be a lot to choose from to use in the magazine. Christian was surprisingly patient with having his picture taken so many times in a row. I didn't expect him to be okay with these two people that he never met before because he’s usually so shy.
Afterwards, I sat down with Christian on my lap and Andrew across from me; so he could ask me questions for the interview. He asked "how did toi come to the decision that toi needed to permanently adopt Christian?" I a dit "I just felt like I was meant to be his father and I couldn't leave him with his mother; she was just awful!" Andrew asked "what's the best part about being a father?" I a dit "being able to make him smile and when he just randomly walks up to me to give me a Kiss and hug out of nowhere; for no reason at all!" Andrew asked "what did it feel like when he called toi daddy for the first time?" I a dit "to be completely honest, he brought me to tears when he called me daddy for the first time." He asked "why did he make toi cry?" I a dit "I didn't cry right away; I waited until he was asleep. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and reality just hit me. I a dit to myself 'I'm officially his daddy now!!!' I just burst out into tears because I knew I didn't have to worry about wondering if he was okay. I had no idea if his mother was even taking care of him when I had to give him back to her. When I finally did get him back, I felt terrible because he was in horrible condition." He asked "how would toi describe your parenting style Michael? Are toi a strict dad?" I laughed and a dit "no; I've only enforced any kind of discipline with Christian once so far and that was tearing me apart! I couldn't imagine what it would be like if I disciplined him for every little thing! Plus, he's a really well behaved little guy. I don't really have to deal with him giving me issues. He has the occasional moment where I can tell he's thinking 'oh; I wonder if he’ll let me get away with this.'" Andrew laughed and asked "have toi mastered the 'you better not do that’ look Michael? Do toi do the 'I'm going to give toi until the count of three and toi better not let me get to three’ thing?" I chuckled and a dit "no; I don't do the whole counting thing! I'll definitely have to try that look toi were talking about one day. I've always wondered if that actually works!" He asked "if toi had to pick the worst part about being a father, what would it be?" I a dit "that's a hard question for me to answer because I enjoy pretty much everything about being a father; but I’d probably have to say it would be having to leave him for any amount of time. I always miss him so much; even if it's just for a few hours a jour while I'm working." Andrew a dit "thank toi so much for letting me interview toi Michael!" I a dit "you're very welcome. I think they're going to leave now Christian; I'll make toi something for lunch because toi must be hungry! That took a lot longer than I thought it would."
***
I leave for New York tomorrow and I'm just enjoying some quality time with Christian. I had bought some double stuffed Oreo biscuits, cookies and they were on the cuisine counter. Last night, I was up lire parenting livres in hopes that I would find some plus toilet training tactics; but I guess I'm going to have to figure out something on my own. I know I'm supposed to be giving him a break and I think he's glad that I'm not asking him every five minutes if he has to go; but I know that he's plus than ready. He will literally tell me that he needs to be changed before he even goes; which in this case isn't a good thing. I just wish his mother never locked him in a bathroom! Why would she do that to him? She's the reason why he's still wearing those diapers at three years old!
Anyway, Christian had just finished eating dîner about 20 minutes il y a and I was doing dishes in the cuisine when he walked in. He walked up to the counter that he can barely see over the haut, retour au début of and saw the package of biscuits, cookies sitting there. He asked "can I have biscuits, cookies daddy?"
I put the dish I was washing back inside the sink and looked over at the cookies. I looked at Christian and a dit "I'm sorry buddy; toi can't." He asked "why not?" I picked him up and a dit "because those biscuits, cookies are only for big boys." He looked like he wanted those biscuits, cookies so much and I felt like maybe this might work. I lightly teased him as I a dit "oh; it's too bad toi don't want to use the potty because I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy these biscuits, cookies all par myself." He stuttered with a look of shock on his face as he a dit "but, but, but that's a lot of biscuits, cookies daddy; toi can't eat all those par yourself! Maybe I could just have one!" I had to hold back my laughter as I a dit "I'm sorry; these are only for big boys Christian. toi could go use the potty so toi can have some." He sighed and a dit "no; that's okay daddy! toi can eat them!" I put him down on the ground and he walked back into the living room.
I stood there at the counter and a dit to myself "come on Mike; that almost worked!” I thought for sure the biscuits, cookies would work. I a dit "time for plan B; it's not considered teasing him with the biscuits, cookies if I'm doing it for a good cause." I poured some of the biscuits, cookies in a bowl and walked into the living room.
I sat down suivant to Christian on the canapé with the bowl of biscuits, cookies and that immediately caught his attention. He watched me start to eat one of them and I a dit "wow; these are good!" He tried to grab one of the biscuits, cookies and I a dit "I'm sorry Christian; toi can't have these!" I could tell that he was debating it back and forth in his mind. He complained "I can't go daddy!" I joked "oh; that's too bad that toi can't; because all it would take is a few minutes and these biscuits, cookies would be yours. I think he was getting frustrated with me because he could tell that I was deliberately making those biscuits, cookies seem amazing. That didn't work either because he just went upstairs to his room. He is definitely making this difficult!
***
I was just returning to the hotel after meeting with the company that's publishing my book and the phone started ringing as soon as I entered the room. I answered it and my hair stylist Karen a dit "thank God toi finally picked up Michael!" I asked concerned "why; what's wrong?" She asked "will toi talk to your son? I can't get him to go to sleep. I told him you're in New York and that you'll be back tomorrow night before he goes to bed; but he keeps crying for toi Michael."
I could hear her pass Christian the phone and he was sobbing. I asked "what's wrong Christian?" He asked "where are you? You're not here to give me good night kisses" I a dit "I know buddy; but I had to do something for work! I'll be back before toi have to go to lit tomorrow." He continued to cry and I started to sing to him the lyrics of "smile."
A few minutes later, Karen picked up the phone again and whispered "he's asleep Michael; thanks!" I a dit "no need to thank me. I knew he would have a meltdown when he realized I wasn't going to be accueil par tonight. It's getting late; so I'll see toi tomorrow when I get back. She a dit "bye Michael" and I hung up the phone.
***
I walked through the door of the house and Karen a dit "I just put him to bed; but he might still be awake because he wanted to wait for you." I a dit "okay; thanks for watching him for me. Have a good weekend Karen." She a dit "you're welcome Michael; I'll watch him anytime! I hope toi have a good weekend too!" She shut the door behind her and I started to make my way upstairs with my bags.
After bringing my suitcase to my room, I walked down to Christian's room to see if he was still awake. When I walked in there, his lit was empty and that made me panic. I started looking everywhere upstairs and a dit "Christian." I went back into my room and I could hear whining coming from down the hall. I exited my room and followed the noise down the hall.
It led me to the bathroom and I pushed open the door. Christian was standing at the sink and trying to wash his hands. I don’t think he saw me there watching him and I a dit “hey buddy; what are toi doing in here?” He asked “daddy can I have cookies?” I a dit “I told toi buddy, toi can’t have those unless toi use the potty.” He a dit “but I did!!!” I walked over to the toilet and realized that he wasn't just saying that to trick me into giving him Oreos. I looked over at him with a stunned look on my face and a dit "oh my God; toi really did go."
I excitedly picked him up and a dit "THAT'S MY GOOD BOY! I KNEW toi COULD DO IT!!!" He started laughing at my excitement and asked "I did good daddy?" I a dit "very good; I still can't believe toi actually went potty! What happened? I thought toi didn't want to be a big boy Christian!" He a dit "I wanted to make toi proud of me and I want those biscuits, cookies a lot!" I laughed and a dit "well, I'm definitely proud of you! Do toi know how long I’ve wanted toi to do that Christian? I'm so proud of you! toi have no idea how happy I am right now buddy!"
He loved having me be so ecstatic over him going to the bathroom. What he a dit suivant completely shocked me. He a dit "daddy I don't need those diapers anymore because I'm ready to be a big boy!" I a dit "thank God; I was worried I'd never be able to get toi to give those up! I'm seriously SO proud of toi right now buddy! I didn't expect to come accueil to toi wanting to be a big boy! It wasn't as scary as toi thought it would be; was it buddy?" He a dit "no; but I missed toi and I wanted toi to be here daddy!" I a dit "I know buddy; I can't believe I missed it! If toi had waited about five plus minutes I would've been here. I won't miss the suivant time buddy! Let's go get toi some of those cookies!"
After he had eaten the cookies, I brought him into his room and put him into bed. I covered him with the blankets and knelt down suivant to the bed. I a dit "I know toi were really scared to be in the bathroom; but I'm so proud of toi for going potty!" He gave me a Kiss and he whispered "I did it daddy!” I shut off the light and a dit "yes toi did; big boy!!!" He a dit "I l’amour you!" I responded "I l’amour toi plus Christian" as I walked out of his room and into mine.
the "Jet" magazine with Michael and Christian on the cover
