Dada....the Enforcer!

Lately, our wee lad has taken a liking to the Canadian half of the family.   This is to be expected, I've heard, as kids get older - anywhere from 15mos to 3+ years are prime 'separation issue' years.  And seeing as how we've just returned from 2 weeks in Canada, I can see how his little mind might have been brainwashed into a pro-Canada state.  Life here has sorta turned into a kinder, gentler, less-assassin-oriented version of "The Manchurian Candidate":

For Kai, it goes like this - once Louise exits a 5-foot radius around Kai AND Kai notices, shrieks of "Mama!!" and intense writhing (if he's in my arms) commences until Louise re-enters the 5-foot "Mama-Safe Zone".   To be fair, similar things happen when I leave, but my radius is like 100-feet and only a few feeble "Dada?"s are heard, before giggling and cooing recommence (only slight exaggeration, I swear!). 

This really comes to light in the evenings after dinner.  We'll typically let our speedster rip out a few laps after dinner to let him burn off some steam and get his final intervals in before forced-rest (sleep).  Lately, however, the following has been occurring:

- Kai does about a dozen laps after connecting the buckles in his booster seat.  

- I say "Kai, one minute till all done running and time for bed!"

- Kai lets out a guttural-wail, looks at me in scorn, increases his speed two-fold, and cries out "Mama!"

- after about a minute or two, I say "Kai, all done running.  Time to go upstairs!"

- Kai repeats his guttural wail (doesn't look at me at all), completes current lap, cries out "Mama!" again, and leaps into Louise's arms, seeking salvation.

- Louise looks at me and says "Awww, let him run around a little more. He's having so much fun!"

- above sequence repeats itself till Kai is finally taken up in tears and violent protests an hour after we planned to take him up -or- he collapses at the nearest toy with wheels and starts driving them around till we pick his near-limp body up.

..sigh... Not exactly sure how or when I went from being "Mr. Fun" to "Mr. Enforcer", but such is the life of the Dad...