For quite some time, Seth has had an imaginary friend. His name? Jackson.

And all was well until the day Jackson started pulling the dog’s tail, hiding stuff, and throwing food. Apparently, Jackson was also the one who peed on the walls, wastebasket, and floor of the bathroom several times. Because when we’d confront Seth about such matters, he’d tell us earnestly, “Jackson did it.”

Yeah, that Jackson was a pain in the ass. So when he finally left for good, I was all “Yipee!” Jackson got the hell out of dodge a few days after Seth befriended a boy named “Jack”. I guess invisible Jackson couldn’t compete with real boy Jack who has a pool, plenty of trains and kick-ass swingset WITH fort. Go figure.

So this summer, we’ve enjoyed some Jackson-free time. There was no blaming the dog or Jackson for the general mischief. Actually, there wasn’t much mischief at all. Oh happy days!

But then we went to Mexico. (My God, will I ever stop talking about that trip?) Seth was thrown into an entirely new environment. New smells, sights, people, language, foods. Even the trees and sand were different. Finding yourself in the midst of an unfamiliar place and culture is unsettling to many adults. Most young children probably find it quite stressful too. But Seth showed little distress. He soon got over it with the help of “Tweed” — his alter ego.

While vacationing, he was jonesin’ for some kid contact. So by the second day of the trip, he was approaching other kids with a bit of our help. He’d engage them in long monologues (good Lord, that child is his father’s son!) about his Matchbox cars, his grandparents, and his cousins. He also loved to ask them, “Can you do this”? (insert silly noise or silly jump into the pool here.)

He’d eventually ask the child his or her name. And when they’d ask him his? He’d always answer, “Tweed.”

I’ve heard of guys giving fake names to chicks in bars, but this?

We soon realized that when Seth was being “Seth” he was shy and quiet but sweet. When he was Tweed? He was loud, outgoing, crazy, silly, and rambunctious. Like a dalmation on crack with ADD.

At one point I wondered if we left “Seth” in Mexico eating fishsticks with the homeless kitties we saw on the beach. Much to our chagrin, we apparently brought back Tweed. Tweed seems here to stay. But it hasn’t been all that bad.

The “Tweed” persona has helped Seth befriend several kids at preschool — on his first day. Tweed is having a blast at school. (Actually the kids at Seth’s school think his name really is “Tweed.”) Tweed loves adventure. He’s the kid who wants to run around and play soccer. Tweed tries new foods. Tweed likes cheese quesedillas and fried rice. Tweed? Even likes him some Lebanese food. (Riz Touk at Saleem’s in the U-city Loop.)

As our new routine has been established, life has settled down to a comfortable rate of chaos. Bits of our old Seth are slowly starting to resurface — though still infused with a whole mess of “Tweed”. But the past few weeks have been an enlightening and interesting ride. To say the least.