That might work. He used to love being read to, and would bring his favorite book of the moment to have read. Lately though, he insists on having the tv on, the Cartoon Network, or he wants to put in A Bug's Life or the Toy Story movies, Spiderman, X-Men, just to have the familiar movie going all the time in the background. But he's not content with one, he wants to change them every five minutes or so.

I've sussed that the having-it-on-all the time is comfort and stability to him. There's familiar noise so he doesn't have to think, or get too close to anybody and deal, or focus on stuff that scares or intimidates him. And the change it every five minutes thing is probably having control over something and proving it as often as he needs to. And you know, short term, I'm okay with this (although the noise level rapidly gets on my own nerves. I can handle it for his peace of mind while he's here).

But I'm sure at least some component of it is just being a bratty rising-five, and I'd rather not enable that. But he was obviously so uncomfortable when I denied him tv-rights, and didn't want to come back to visit. I'd like this to be a haven for him, some place that hasn't changed, although everything else in his life as. Being absent of cartoons hasn't seemed haven-like to him, so background noise it is. At least until he's older and hopefully better able to deal with the absence.

But I will try the book stuff. I have a huge crate of books of the boys' and of mine from my childhood that I had intended to give to both the boys. Unfortunately, I can't get at it by myself, and none of the menfolk have responded to my pleas to help me retrieve it. I may hire people....