Becoming Beast Boy

I haven't posted in a while. It's not because there's nothing to say or write about. It's because I'm still trying to adjust to the kids being back in school and their after-school schedules and the homework and everything else. Yes, it's sad, I know. They've been in school for a month, I should have this figured out by now. But I feel like I don't have free time for anything. And that is the complete and honest truth. Laugh if you must. I am getting better...I actually think that I have things under control now that I have bought a {HUGE} new desk calendar and have several note pads around the house to remind me of, well, everything. Fingers crossed. I never thought 2nd and 4th grade homework and soccer practice, swim team practice, (well, and therapy and swim and preschool for Curtis) would make me so messed up in the head!

The point is...the blog...and most other things...have taken a back-seat due to my frazzled nature. After the craziness of the day has worn off and the kids are in bed, all I can do is shower, eat, read one of the two books I'm currently reading (love them both!), and pass out. That's another problem, you see--I go to bed too late. Midnight, usually. Then up at 6:30am. So I'm tired and frazzled and usually pretty out of it most days. Or every day.

But let's talk about our boy...

Curtis has been fabulous. So much fun stuff has been going on with him, I really didn't know what to post about. I'm pressed for time tonight, and this is a busy week for us (in addition to all the usual stuff, we have parent-teacher conferences at my big kids' school--which means half-days all week--and Curtis has his Everybody Plays photo shoot on Wednesday!) I decided that I just had to talk about his new identity. I couldn't go another day without letting everyone in on it. 

Curtis is no longer Curtis. He is now Beast Boy. 

Beast Boy

Doesn't it look just like him? 

Beast Boy is a character from "Teen Titans Go!", which is Curtis' new favorite cartoon. If you've never seen it, you should. It's pretty funny. It's a continuation of the "Teen Titans" series, which first aired 10 years ago (this show is cuter if you ask me, but I'm not a superhero super fan so what do I know?)

And Curtis' dad (my husband) is no longer "Daddy", he's now Cyborg.

Cyborg

It's hysterical! The entire family actually has a spot on the show--there are 3 boys (Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Robin) and 2 girls (Raven and Star Fire), so it works out perfectly. But the only two that have had their names really stick are Beast Boy and Cyborg. Curtis, at times, will insist that we call him Beast Boy. During those times, he won't respond to "Curtis".

Example: 

 Me: Curtis, do you want some milk?

Curtis: Say, "Beast Boy, do you want some milk?"

Me: ???

Curtis: Mommy! Say, "Beast Boy, do you want some milk?"

Me: Beast Boy, do you want some milk?

Beast Boy: Sure!

And when he sees Daddy, he calls out, "CYBORG!", even if we are in a public place--he will yell it as loud as he can. Definitely has earned us some strange looks.

I'm not going to lie--there are times during the day when I roll my eyes. I do get a little annoyed having to correct myself 100 times during the day. I, at times, forget that my child is Beast Boy and not Curtis. Sometimes he corrects me and sometimes he doesn't. When he does, he's not always that polite about it (see above). He's also majorly obsessed with the TV show and will try to watch the same one over and over and over again--so I have to cut that off (obviously!) But, really, it's the cutest thing. I have to go with the flow here and laugh about it because it is just too funny. Big bro and big sis are getting a huge kick out of it, too. 

Sis made me take a video of him today while he was dancing at the beginning of his favorite episode (Burger vs. Burrito). See if you can hear him talking about how he's Beast Boy and Daddy is Cyborg. Turn the volume up so you can hear his little voice over my loud one!

I wish I had more videos of him as he did his Beast Boy and Cyborg activities during the day. I don't use the video camera feature on my phone enough! I'm glad sis convinced me to shoot this today. 

I bet you can all guess what he wants to be for Halloween. And of course there are NO Beast Boy costumes out there. Homemade costume? Say it ain't so!! Probably one for Cyborg, too. AHHHH!!!!!

Have any of you had a child so obsessed with a character in a TV show or from a book or from...anywhere? My other kids have loved shows and movies before, but I don't know if either of them were ever quite like this. It's new to me. 

It's time for the little beast to go to bed, so off I go.

I really, really want to show you all his new swimming trick. I need video of that, though, so bear with me. I have to plan ahead and bring my video camera so I can get a decent video. Hopefully this week! He's been working hard and making a lot of progress--working on taking a breath--but in a "special" way. Stay tuned!

Everybody Plays!

"We’re all different. And we think that’s beautiful. Embracing the beauty of our differences can help promote acceptance and inclusion for all kids across the world. The Everybody Plays Campaign celebrates the unique faces, smiles and styles of babies and kids everywhere." ~Infantino  

I mean, what a concept, right? 

I remember hearing about this when they first started the "Everybody Plays" campaign and thinking to myself, "Why does this even have to be a 'campaign'? Why have they (meaning advertisers everywhere) not been doing this forever?" Babies, toddlers, and kids of all abilities play with toys. Let's celebrate that! 

So, they haven't been doing it forever, but the awesome folks at Infantino and Step 2 started their Everybody Plays campaign in 2011--which is awesome. Basically, they get a group of kids--some with special needs, some without--and let them loose with their new line of toys. Well-known photographer and blogger, Kelle Hampton (who just happens to also be the mom of a beautiful little girl with Down Syndrome) then photographs the kiddos. You can read her blog post about the last campaign she photographed HERE (it was actually photographed at a house right in our little city!) Anyhow, they then use the images for advertising purposes--packaging, social media, trade show booths, etc.

So here's the thing--each year, they have done a casting call for the photo shoot for the campaign. And the company is based here, in San Diego. I don't know why I haven't paid any attention to the casting calls before, but this year, I did. I submitted a photo of Curtis, along with 300 words (or less, ha!) describing how I teach self-acceptance and the acceptance of others within my family and/or in our community. That was it. I can't even remember what I wrote. Something about Curtis and about how we found out about his brain disorder and CP and how I've tried to teach my kids about him and other kids like him. About how I've tried to be more aware of kids (and adults) in the community with disabilities and how I'm trying to get my children to understand that everyone is different--to learn that sometimes the difference is something you can see, sometimes it's not. Gosh, I think that's what I wrote! If not, it was something similar. It was short and sweet. It had to be!

Long story short--they chose Curtis to be part of the shoot. Honestly, I couldn't believe it. I knew there would be a lot of submissions...and there were. Over 800 of them, I found out. Curtis was, I believe, one of about 50 kids that they chose to participate. I'm hoping it will be a fun experience. If anything, he will get a few hours of play time with some kids and a few new toys. I'm feeling pretty excited, and honored, that Curtis gets to be one of the 'poster children', if you will, for a campaign that I think is so cool.  

What do you think? Could he be the next big thing? :)

I kid, I kid. But he is a beauty, if I do say so myself...totally not biased or anything...