I brought him downstairs and brought him some cereal. He pushed the bowl away and I asked "what's wrong? آپ 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 کہا "those." I stood up and کہا "you can't have کوکیز for breakfast silly!" He looked at me and کہا "yes!" I کہا "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 میز, جدول and کہا "here's your cereal." He کہا "cookies" and I کہا "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 کہا "I don't want that; I want cookies!" I sighed and کہا "look at the mess آپ made Christian!" He کہا "I want کوکیز daddy!" I کہا "I told آپ no Christian."
He didn't like the idea of me telling him no and when I came back into the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ his facial expression showed his irritation. I picked him up and cheerfully کہا "someone's grumpy. We can have کوکیز later; I promise!" He asked "why won't آپ give me a cookie?" I کہا "because I don't want آپ to have a cookie. Do آپ want an apple?" He crossed his arms کہا "no!"
When I went to بستر 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 دن 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 اگلے to her on the سوفی, لٹانا and asked "how was your day?" She sighed and کہا "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 آپ do about it?" She کہا "nothing; you're his father. Enforcing discipline is your job; not mine Michael. I'm going to head ہوم now; see آپ 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 یا do because I didn't think I would be faced with something like this. I اقدام myself closer to him on the سوفی, لٹانا and we sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes. I quietly کہا "it wasn't very nice for آپ to hit grandma. Why would آپ hit her?" He didn't answer me because he was distracted سے طرف کی the TV. I asked with an unsure tone of voice "you don't want to have to be put in timeout; do you?"
The سیکنڈ I کہا 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 کہا "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 بستر and کہا "hey; it's okay Christian." He asked "you won't hit me?" My eyes started to water and I کہا "I would never hit you; EVER!" He کہا "mommy hit me when I was with her!" I pulled him out from underneath the بستر and کہا "that's not what a normal mommy یا daddy does Christian! آپ don't have to worry about her anymore buddy! I don't think it was right for آپ to hit grandma either though." He responded "I call her and say sorry." I کہا "I think that's a good idea."
We went downstairs and I dialed her phone number. I put it on speaker phone and she کہا "hello." I کہا "hi mother; it's Michael and Christian has something he'd like to say to you." Christian کہا "sorry grandma" she کہا "thank آپ for saying you're sorry. I hope daddy told آپ that it's not nice to hit." I کہا "I think we've come to an understanding. We'll let آپ go now because I have to get رات کے کھانے, شام کا کھانا started; bye." She کہا "goodbye; see آپ 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 گھنٹہ because his sister is a huge پرستار of mine.
Tim, his sister, and his niece arrived at around 10 o'clock in the morning and I کہا "you must be Jessica; it's nice to meet you!" She hugged me and کہا "I've loved آپ since I was a little girl! I love the new album! I saw آپ on the tour at your Louisiana show!" I کہا "thanks for supporting me; I hope آپ enjoyed the show!" She کہا "of course I enjoyed the دکھائیں Michael!"
I looked at the little girl she held in her arms and asked "how old is she? What's her name?" Jessica کہا "this is my daughter Sarah; she turned two a few months ago." I grabbed Christian from the میز, جدول and کہا "this is my son Christian; he turned three two weeks ago."
I put Christian on the ground اگلے to Sarah and he immediately hid behind me. I کہا "I bet Sarah would like to play with آپ Christian." He clung to my leg and Jessica asked "are آپ shy?" I chuckled and کہا "yeah he is." Sarah کہا "mommy bathroom" Jessica asked "can I use your bathroom Michael?" I کہا "of course آپ can. It's right over there."
Afterwards, I asked "she's toilet trained already?" Jessica asked "yeah; isn't Christian?" I کہا "no; I wasn't even thinking about that." Just as we were getting into the conversation, Tim کہا "Jessica; we don't want to miss our lunch reservation." She picked up Sarah and کہا "thank آپ for letting me meet آپ Michael!" I کہا "I'm glad I got to meet آپ too; have fun this weekend Tim." He کہا "I will Mike; thanks for the time off!"
I was getting Christian ready for بستر after getting him bathed and decided to hint at getting rid of the diapers. I کہا "maybe it's time for آپ 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 کہا "I want a snack daddy!" I quickly کہا "I'll get آپ a snack in a minute. آپ really don't want to be a big boy?" He didn't answer me and I کہا "well; I'd be glad if آپ did! I don't think آپ want to be wearing those anymore; do you? Those are for babies; don't آپ 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 سے طرف کی 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 کہا "of course not Michael; I'm just required to make a surprise evaluation to make sure I made the right decision with letting آپ adopt Christian. I'm supposed to give آپ an in-depth background of Christian's history. I figured I would come stop سے طرف کی unexpectedly early enough in the morning; so Christian isn't awake yet. I only need to ask him a few سوالات when he wakes up and until then آپ 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 کہا "first of all, I can't thank آپ enough for taking Christian and giving him the ہوم 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 کہا "you don't have to thank me! I love Christian and I don't regret pursuing adoption.
Rosemary cleared her throat and کہا "alright; I will warn آپ that some parts of Christian's past are going to be hard for آپ to hear; but I think it's important for آپ to know just in case he asks آپ سوالات one day. I took a deep breath and کہا "okay; go ahead."
She کہا "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 اقدام 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 کہا "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 یا dead. We don't know if he's a good man یا 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 کہا "the neighbor اگلے door to Melissa's house reported hearing crying for hours coming from the house. She کہا 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 تلاش 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 کہا "that's horrible! That woman is so demented! I can't believe she would do that to her own son!" She کہا "okay; enough about this! Why don't آپ 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 کہا "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 کہا "hi Christian; do آپ remember me?" Christian کہا "hi" and I put him down on the floor. He started playing with his toy racetrack and I sat down on the floor اگلے to him with Rosemary. She asked "do آپ like it here with Michael Christian?" He کہا "yeah; he's my daddy." She asked "does daddy take good care of you?" He کہا "yeah; he does!" She asked "what's your پسندیدہ thing about having a daddy Christian?" He leaned in to give me a kiss and کہا "kisses and hugs!" Rosemary laughed and I asked "what's so funny?" She کہا "I honestly can't believe that he just gave آپ 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 آپ and randomly give آپ a kiss! His speech is getting so much better and whatever آپ doing is working. He's come so far since the last time I saw him and that's all because of you! I'm مزید than comfortable with my decision to let آپ adopt him permanently!"
Rosemary got off of the floor and کہا "I better get going now because I have to catch my flight back to London." I asked "will آپ be checking in again?" She کہا "no; I trust آپ Michael. I guess this is the last time I'll be seeing آپ یا Christian." Both of us gave her a hug and I کہا "it won't be the last time; we'll visit آپ one day!" We waved goodbye to her and started our day.
***
I had been dreading the دن 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 سوفی, لٹانا and I gestured for Karen to slide onto the سوفی, لٹانا 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 کہا "it's okay; I just want آپ 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 کہا "just cut his hair as fast as آپ can Karen.” He started squirming in my arms as I کہا "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 کہا "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 سوفی, لٹانا and watched TV.
Out of nowhere, Christian smacked me on the back of my head! I turned my head to look behind me and کہا "that wasn't nice Christian! آپ need to say you're sorry because I told آپ it's not nice to hit." He crossed his arms and کہا "no!" I کہا as I continued to look back at him "you need to say you're sorry Christian!" He کہا "no" again and I really didn't know what to do.
I thought about it for a few سیکنڈ and got off of the floor. I کہا "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 کہا "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 میز, جدول and placed him in it. I looked at him and کہا "it's not nice to hit people Christian!" He started crying and I felt awful. I started the timer on the microwave and کہا "three منٹ Christian." As I stood there at the counter a few feet away from the table, Christian cried "daddy; I'm sorry daddy! I love آپ 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 آپ know why you're in timeout Christian?" He کہا "it's not nice to hit daddy! I'm sorry daddy!" I hugged him as I picked him up and کہا "thank آپ for saying you're sorry. Do آپ still love me even though I put آپ in timeout?" He کہا "yeah" and kissed my cheek.
***
I heard Christian walked downstairs this morning and کہا "come here buddy." He walked into the living room and I had shopping bags in front of me on the floor. He sat down اگلے to me on the floor and I کہا "wait until آپ see what I got you!" I opened one of the bags and asked "what would آپ think if I told آپ that I threw out all your diapers? He کہا "no آپ 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 ماؤس underwear out of one of the bags and کہا "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 سوفی, لٹانا as I کہا "it's okay buddy! I promise آپ that it's not going to be the end of the world! Look, don't آپ want to be a big boy?" He started crying and I کہا "look at how cool these are!" He shook his head no and کہا "diaper!" I excitedly کہا "big boy" and he کہا "I'm scared daddy!" I asked "of what; these?"
I picked up the underwear and کہا "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 مزید 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 کہا "I brought the book cover for your book Michael; so آپ can see what it will look like! Why do آپ have Mickey ماؤس underwear on your head?" I reached my hand up to the سب, سب سے اوپر of my head and realized that they were still there. I laughed and کہا "it's a long story!"
Christian came into the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ and کہا "diaper!" I کہا "I told آپ buddy; آپ don't need those anymore!" He started crying again and Frank کہا "on that note I think it's time for me to get out of here; good luck with that Michael." Just as he کہا that, I noticed that Christian was soaked. Frank chuckled and کہا "I told آپ that آپ weren't cutout for parenting Mike" as he shut the door.
I کہا "uh –oh; that's why you're supposed to tell daddy when آپ have to go! It's no big deal buddy; we'll try again اگلے time." He کہا "I don't like this daddy!" I کہا "like I said, that's why آپ have to tell me اگلے 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 میز, جدول for the Chinese food that I had ordered. I کہا "Christian; time to eat buddy." He slowly walked into the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ and asked "can I sit on your lap daddy?" I lifted him onto my lap and moved his plate of food in front of him. He looked at Latoya and I کہا "this is your aunt Latoya Christian." He waved at her and started to act shy.
He was barely touching his food and I کہا "you have to eat Christian." He کہا "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 کہا "I think he's adjusted to having a daddy Michael." I asked "I know آپ 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 کہا "I think he's just getting used to having a daddy and I have a feeling he wants to test آپ 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 آپ 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 کہا "thank آپ for eating buddy." Latoya asked "what's your schedule like this week Michael?" I کہا "I have an interview with 'Jet’ magazine tomorrow and then I'm heading to New York for a couple of days سے طرف کی myself because I have a meeting with a publishing company to talk about my autobiography." She asked "what is the magazine interviewing آپ for?" I کہا "I'm hoping that it's just a small interview because I want to introduce Christian to my شائقین 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 کہا "mother is out of town for a ماہ because she and Joseph went on vacation; so my hair stylist Karen is going to watch him for me." Latoya asked "how do آپ think Christian's going to handle being away from آپ for two days? He hasn't been away from آپ overnight since آپ adopted him." I کہا "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 دن because I usually don't see him until I get ہوم from work every دن around 5 o'clock. When it's time for him to go to بستر 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 اگلے 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 reading 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 کہا "don't leave me in here سے طرف کی myself daddy! Don't lock me in here!" I sympathetically کہا "sweetheart; I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right here and I promise آپ that I won't lock آپ in here like your mother did!" He کہا "I'm not ready for this!" I کہا "okay, okay, but آپ have to promise to tell me when آپ 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 مزید 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 سے طرف کی saying "not a big boy yet daddy." I کہا "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 کہا "hi; I'm Andrew. I'm so glad آپ 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 سوالات for the interview. He asked "how did آپ come to the decision that آپ needed to permanently adopt Christian?" I کہا "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 کہا "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 آپ daddy for the first time?" I کہا "to be completely honest, he brought me to tears when he called me daddy for the first time." He asked "why did he make آپ cry?" I کہا "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 کہا 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 آپ describe your parenting style Michael? Are آپ a strict dad?" I laughed and کہا "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 آپ mastered the 'you better not do that’ look Michael? Do آپ do the 'I'm going to give آپ until the count of three and آپ better not let me get to three’ thing?" I chuckled and کہا "no; I don't do the whole counting thing! I'll definitely have to try that look آپ were talking about one day. I've always wondered if that actually works!" He asked "if آپ had to pick the worst part about being a father, what would it be?" I کہا "that's a hard سوال 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 دن while I'm working." Andrew کہا "thank آپ so much for letting me interview آپ Michael!" I کہا "you're very welcome. I think they're going to leave now Christian; I'll make آپ something for lunch because آپ 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 کوکیز and they were on the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ counter. Last night, I was up reading parenting کتابیں in hopes that I would find some مزید 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 منٹ if he has to go; but I know that he's مزید 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 رات کے کھانے, شام کا کھانا about 20 منٹ پہلے and I was doing dishes in the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ when he walked in. He walked up to the counter that he can barely see over the سب, سب سے اوپر of and saw the package of کوکیز sitting there. He asked "can I have کوکیز daddy?"
I put the dish I was washing back inside the sink and looked over at the cookies. I looked at Christian and کہا "I'm sorry buddy; آپ can't." He asked "why not?" I picked him up and کہا "because those کوکیز are only for big boys." He looked like he wanted those کوکیز so much and I felt like maybe this might work. I lightly teased him as I کہا "oh; it's too bad آپ don't want to use the potty because I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy these کوکیز all سے طرف کی myself." He stuttered with a look of shock on his face as he کہا "but, but, but that's a lot of کوکیز daddy; آپ can't eat all those سے طرف کی yourself! Maybe I could just have one!" I had to hold back my laughter as I کہا "I'm sorry; these are only for big boys Christian. آپ could go use the potty so آپ can have some." He sighed and کہا "no; that's okay daddy! آپ 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 کہا to myself "come on Mike; that almost worked!” I thought for sure the کوکیز would work. I کہا "time for plan B; it's not considered teasing him with the کوکیز if I'm doing it for a good cause." I poured some of the کوکیز in a bowl and walked into the living room.
I sat down اگلے to Christian on the سوفی, لٹانا with the bowl of کوکیز and that immediately caught his attention. He watched me start to eat one of them and I کہا "wow; these are good!" He tried to grab one of the کوکیز and I کہا "I'm sorry Christian; آپ 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 آپ can't; because all it would take is a few منٹ and these کوکیز would be yours. I think he was getting frustrated with me because he could tell that I was deliberately making those کوکیز 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 کہا "thank God آپ finally picked up Michael!" I asked concerned "why; what's wrong?" She asked "will آپ 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 آپ 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 کہا "I know buddy; but I had to do something for work! I'll be back before آپ have to go to بستر tomorrow." He continued to cry and I started to sing to him the lyrics of "smile."
A few منٹ later, Karen picked up the phone again and whispered "he's asleep Michael; thanks!" I کہا "no need to thank me. I knew he would have a meltdown when he realized I wasn't going to be ہوم سے طرف کی tonight. It's getting late; so I'll see آپ tomorrow when I get back. She کہا "bye Michael" and I hung up the phone.
***
I walked through the door of the house and Karen کہا "I just put him to bed; but he might still be awake because he wanted to wait for you." I کہا "okay; thanks for watching him for me. Have a good weekend Karen." She کہا "you're welcome Michael; I'll watch him anytime! I hope آپ 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 بستر was empty and that made me panic. I started looking everywhere upstairs and کہا "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 کہا “hey buddy; what are آپ doing in here?” He asked “daddy can I have cookies?” I کہا “I told آپ buddy, آپ can’t have those unless آپ use the potty.” He کہا “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 کہا "oh my God; آپ really did go."
I excitedly picked him up and کہا "THAT'S MY GOOD BOY! I KNEW آپ COULD DO IT!!!" He started laughing at my excitement and asked "I did good daddy?" I کہا "very good; I still can't believe آپ actually went potty! What happened? I thought آپ didn't want to be a big boy Christian!" He کہا "I wanted to make آپ proud of me and I want those کوکیز a lot!" I laughed and کہا "well, I'm definitely proud of you! Do آپ know how long I’ve wanted آپ to do that Christian? I'm so proud of you! آپ 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 کہا اگلے completely shocked me. He کہا "daddy I don't need those diapers anymore because I'm ready to be a big boy!" I کہا "thank God; I was worried I'd never be able to get آپ to give those up! I'm seriously SO proud of آپ right now buddy! I didn't expect to come ہوم to آپ wanting to be a big boy! It wasn't as scary as آپ thought it would be; was it buddy?" He کہا "no; but I missed آپ and I wanted آپ to be here daddy!" I کہا "I know buddy; I can't believe I missed it! If آپ had waited about five مزید منٹ I would've been here. I won't miss the اگلے time buddy! Let's go get آپ 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 اگلے to the bed. I کہا "I know آپ were really scared to be in the bathroom; but I'm so proud of آپ for going potty!" He gave me a kiss and he whispered "I did it daddy!” I shut off the light and کہا "yes آپ did; big boy!!!" He کہا "I love you!" I responded "I love آپ مزید Christian" as I walked out of his room and into mine.
the "Jet" magazine with Michael and Christian on the cover
