Meeting Mr Mano

A couple weeks ago, we were driving home from Brandon's parents, and Jonas was in a whiny mood. Understandably, as it was late, but that only made it a little less frustrating to deal with. If only we had a toy or something to keep him entertained. But wait! Suddenly, in a flash of inspiration from Ellen Feild, I remembered "the toy that is always with us"... Mr. Mano! It was easily the fastest turnaround he's done ever. Well... maybe not ever. but it was a fast turnaround. He was crying and whining, and the next second, he was screaming and laughing at his new friend, Mr. Mano. (for those of you who don't know, Mr. Mano would be a hand puppet. and no, i don't mean a cloth puppet. I mean that I formed my hand into the standard "snake shadow puppet" and made him talk.) The speed with which Mr. Mano became a part of his existence was maybe 10 seconds... just long enough for him to take in that a hand was talking to him and accept this reality. The rest of the ride, he addressed "mi-der mado!" and requested that Mider Mado do things for Jodis. For example "Mider Mado, where are you?" (hand held up in confusion). Mister Mano would pop out from somewhere around my seat and say "boo!" "you dared me mider mado! hehehehe!" "Mider Mado, What Yoooou doin'?" Mister mano would usually reply in a snarky and inexplicably spanish (spain spanish) accent "I am hiding! What YoooOOOou doin??" and so on.

Now, Mr. Mano was a pretty great idea, however, he did have his down sides. For one thing, Jonas wanted to "please hold mider mado?" Which he did get to do, but a week later when Jonas went on a 2 hr. car trip with the in-laws, he held mr. mano for 1/2 of those hours. Lisa is very patient. However, this, and Jonas always wanting "Mider Mado, come play with Jonnnnis!" seem to be the only downsides. We showed Joe that he had his own mister mano, to which he was boundlessly thrilled, and I won't say that Brandon's mider Mado and my mider mado have not had a couple of hand-to-hand verbal arguments... followed by much hand to hand makeup-makeouts.

My favorite thing about Mister Mano is that Joe listens to him. For example, I asked Joe to go use the potty before we left. "No! I don't need go potty!" "well, we need to try anyway before we go in the car." (whining). "that's a 1" "Noo!" (enter Mr Mano) "Hullo Jonas!" "HI MIDER MADO!!" (now Joe is giggling and bouncing with delight) MM: "You shoudl probably use the potty before we leave, huh?" (Jonas stops,,, thinks) "Yeeeess... I go use potty now!" (notice, he says "yes" not "ses" now. progress!). In conclusion, Mr Mano has helped us out a lot. Of course, it is a 2 way street...

I drive Jonas to work every Thursday morning, one morning of which, Jonas pulled his shoe off. The following conversation occurred:
Jonas: uh-oh! Oh no! My shoe is off! Mommy, mommy I need 'elp!
Me: Sorry, buddy, I can't help you while I'm driving. You'll have to make do on your own.
J: please mommy help Jodis put my shoe on (notice, the 1/2 use of 1st person. sweet!)
M: Jonas, I can't help you when I'm driving, please don't ask me again until we are stopped.
J: (silence for about 20 sec). "Mider Mado, I need 'elp, my shoe is coming off. 'elp, 'elp mider mado!"
M: (stifling laughter for his seeing this loophole) Sorry buddy, mister mano is helping me drive right now. He caon't help you either.
J: plllllease mider mado?
Mister Mano: "Hey! I have to help your mom drive! you'll have to wait!"
J: **squeals** siddy mider mado! (silly mister mano!)