A "State" of Confusion!

Dollar store, shmollar store!

About a year and a half ago, I bought T-Man a puzzle of the United States at the dollar store. This $1.07 purchase (that's with tax) has now cost me upwards of a hundred dollars and most of my sanity, I am sure.

He has now become obsessed with the United States. (He is slowly moving into the World Map with much prodding). I think we need an intervention -- Someone please stop him/me!

They say when your child shows an interest in something you should foster that interest. Fostering or obsession? You decide:

1. We have recently checked out "The Scrambled States of America Book" from the library.
2. He owns "The 50 States" book, a place mat of the U.S., and soon to be the proud owner of state cookie cutters (shh, don't tell him - that's his birthday surprise)
3. He owns one of these:

4. He owns three different United States puzzles, one puzzle of the world, a box of flash card that teach the countries of the world and their capitals, and a car license plate game. (One of the puzzles had to be "repurchased" after the dog decided she needed relief and did so on the puzzle -- anyone need a white Maltese?)5. Last week he made this from Play-dough:
It was done entirely out of play-dough and he traced around each puzzle piece to make each state. It was easily a two-day project.

(Please note the shirt and refer back to this photo after reading item #13)

6. Yesterday he spent the entire church meeting cutting out the 50 states that he and I printed off of the computer (each on it's own individual sheet). What he didn't finish at church he finished at home that night.

7. Since 9:30 this morning (it's now 2:00), he has painted all the states he cut yesterday (along with the kitchen floor, his undies, his t-shirt, and every exposed piece of flesh. He won't even stop for lunch.8. Eric taught him the abbreviations for each state -- he now abbreviates long words he doesn't want to write.

9. Cars are beginning to look like states to him. "Mommy, Tennessee looks like a limousine!"

10. I cannot calculate the number of hours spent on the driveway drawing the states, writing names, capitals (each must have a star by it) and the abbreviations. I am getting a good start on my farmers tan -- (did you know that Broiler chickens, chickens 5 to 12 weeks old, are Delaware's most important farm product? You do now!!)

Some even have landmarks and tourist attractions listed. He INSISTS on writing 'Hollywood' by CA every time and 'Pottery' by New Mexico. Some days "the capital has to have parenthesis around them, Mommy". Sometimes the maps on the driveway have to have this:


11. Every month he receives two different state maps and a booklet to go with each in the mail. The maps used to adorn the walls of my living room, but have since been moved to his room. We hear him at night talking about rivers, etc. from the maps. Many-a-tear has been shed by he and mommy when maps don't line up right or don't fit correctly, or have to bend around a wall.

12. We went to visit a Montessori school to see if it would be a good fit for T-Man. I left the room for 5 minutes to see the other classrooms and when I came back he was on the floor working a world map puzzle with the teacher!

13. A recent trip to Walmart cost me $5.00 when he spotted a blue shirt of the U.S. Did I mention he already owns a similar one in grey? Oh, and one that says "Illinois Rocks"

14. He LOVES to watch Fox News weather -- state maps galore!!

15. Let's not even talk about the debate over Puerto Rico. He insists the capital is pronounced 'San June' in English and 'San Juan' in Spanish and he doesn't speak Spanish. 'San June' it is little man!

We have been through this obsession before: Presidents of the Church, The 13 Articles of Faith, The 12 Apostles, Puzzles in general, Little Einsteins, musical instruments, and the list goes on. Most have not lasted this long. I guess when there are 50 states, 7 continents, and countries aplenty it's not surprising it has lasted so long.

"Juneau" the capital of Alaska??

We made a feeble attempt to get him to talk about planets last night. Here's how it went down (warning: rated PG-13)
Mom & Dad: "Do you know the names of the planets?"
T-Man: "Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus"
M & D: "That's right"
T-Man: "Mommy, do you know why Uranus is so big?"
Mommy: (Through sobbing tears and laughter): "Krispie Kremes and chocolate, T-Man; Krispie Kremes and chocolate".

It's a "state" of confusion at our house I tell you, a "state" of confusion!