Innocence

Tonight when Alex and I were laying in his bed during our nightly routine, Alex asked me "mom, do you ever scream"? I looked at him really puzzled, what do you mean-do I yell? He then proceeded to tell me how sometimes the girls in his class go into the pirate ship, and scream so loud that it hurts his and his friend Dakota's ears. I asked why they were screaming, and Alex said in a "duh mom" tone, because we were chasing them! I just smiled thinking about how innocent his days are. . .

On that note, Alex has been doing great in school. His teacher enforces a chip discipline plan, where they are given so many chips-and if they lose all of them, they lose recess. Obviously the goal: to not lose any chips! Alex has kept his chips all but a few days. I'm so proud of how well he's transitioned, it's a lot to take in-long days, less sleep, along w/ all the environmental and social stuff that goes along w/ school. I'm also happy to report that so far we haven't had any bully issues either.

What's new w/ Laura? Laura is adjusting to the 3 year old room as well, I'm happy to report that there are no more tearful goodbye's, she's passed that torch onto Ainslee. Ah, you gotta love "phases". Laura amazes me every day w/ the things she can do on her own, she's very independent which I attribute to her being the middle child. She's thrown into having to do a lot of things for her self, or to entertain herself-and she excels at this. She knows when to ask for help (most of the time), and her big brother is pretty good at taking care of his sisters. She's lost a little of her sass, she's becoming more patient, comprehending, and her communication skills are getting better by the day-so we don't have quite as many melt downs. I still get the occassional "Pine then (also known as Fine then), I not gonna be your priend", but these moments are much shorter lived than they used to be-and she responds to discipline and rewards. . . She's turning into a big girl. A goal I'm setting for her is to learn how to zip her jacket this winter.

Ainslee, well lets say this little girl has a temper on her. She throws a fit w/ the best of them-equipped w/ a slow motion move to her knees, dives flat out on the floor and just lays there. Every once in a while she throws in a really good pouty lip. I think she's figured out that she's the youngest, the baby, and that mom tends to spoil her-cause if I raise my voice to her, she really gives me the ol' guilt trip. Ains is even more independent than Laura, she does not like others to crowd her space, she shares-yet she knows when she doesn't have to and fights for what she has. While she has a temper, she's pretty even keeled for the most part and is a pretty happy-go lucky kind of girl.

That would be this weeks update!

Define Teamwork:

Um, you know how I referred to how well our family works together as a team-last night would have been the perfect example. Let me precursor this by saying that due to Alex starting school, new bugs and germs have found their way into our household. Last week already Alex had his first bout w/ the flu, which he so graciously passed along to Laura.

Define teamwork: Alex and I are sitting at the dining room table working on a puzzle, when Laura approaches us clearly looking ill and very feverish (she was on the couch w/ her dad), she props her head in my lap and proceeds to vomit. The motherly instinct in me cups my hands, and tries to contain the vomit within my hands and lap (meanwhile self-coaching myself not to gag-Jason is the vomit cleaner-upper in our family) as I'm yelling for Jason to get a bucket. Alex, the clean freak watches on in horror; meanwhile Ainslee comes walking around the corner curious to all the commotion-heading straight for the vomit. Quickly, I tell Alex to grab her (which I typically don't let him carry her around-but I was desperate!) and take her into the living room and entertain her. Shortly thereafter, Jason shows up w/ the bucket. . . It was if we had practiced that ensemble our whole lives. . . . I'm still laughing about it today.

Losing My Baby: Part II

Ha ha, thought it was a fitting title for my oldest "baby" as he starts Kindergarten. He had a warm-up run w/ bussing during summer school, which I think helped make that part of the day a piece of cake. He waited for the bus driver to give him the wave, crossed the road, and on the bus he went, into the first seat-and went right to the window to wave. I watched the bus pull away, and a tear rolled down my face as I walked back up to the house. I never thought I'd feel like that-that I was "stronger" than that. But it is so hard to fathom that your first baby in on that bus, and gone for the entire day-learning, playing, and growing. Somehow it was different working fulltime, or leaving the girls in daycare for the day-but to know he's gone because he has to be, just makes that realization set in.

What is the hardest for me to grasp, is that he's out in this wide, wide world, without his strongest supporter protecting him: me. School leaves way for all these great opportunities; however, it also leads way to mean kids, bullies, older kids setting poor examples, less supervision than say the hawk who has watched over him for 5 years and can literally tell you what he's doing, w/ out even seeing him. It is impossible to convey to a 5 year old, let alone a teenager-that all the bullshit they will endure during K-12 grade really doesn't matter when they walk out those high school doors w/ their dipoloma.

Alex has already experienced first hand some issues w/ one particular mean kid, I know a lot of this behavior is typical 5-6 year old boy behaviors; but I also know that some of it is not. I know Alex is not being singled out in this instance, but he has had continuing issues w/ this little boy since last year. My heart dropped a little when I saw this little boy at orientation night and saw that he was indeed in the same class as Alex. It was at that moment I realized I couldn't protect him from everything anymore, the child in me wanted to go to the principal and tell them to give my child another class, teacher, etc. but I can't possibly put him in a bubble as soon as Kindergarten:).

Instead, I gave his teacher, as well as the daycare director a heads up to the previous issues we have had w/ this particular boy. Last year when instances would occur w/ this child, I would try to just accept that this little boy had some attention/behavior issues and try to make Alex understand this. This year I'm not as sympathetic. In the few days before school started Alex was not excited about school, finally when I asked him if anything was bothering him-he specifically mentioned that he didn't want to be in said boy's class because he's mean and naughty. Alex does realize this little boy is "different", which I hate to put a label on someone else's child; however, I don't think that Alex should have to take the brunt for this boys issues-it is only fair that every child be given the opportunity to learn w/ out outside forces contributing negatively to each respective student. I feel for this child, but Alex is my sole concern-that is the selfish part of parenthood, that need of only wanting your children to experience the best life possible.

I can't bubble him up, but I can set him up for the best school experience as possible: a chance. That is why I brought the issues to the adult's attention who are part of his academic life, I also tell Alex on a regular basis to just be Alex, and let the adults around him take care of the other kids who are having problems. If the teacher's aren't handling the issues, bring them to my attention. I'm not dumb, I know Alex has his own naughty moments, and I also know that he's a bit of a tattler (he has two younger sisters, what do you expect). Communication w/ those who are key in Alex's school experience will have to be my bubble, as I know these types of issues will only get worse w/ age.

On the lighter side of things, my tears have dried and I've had to move on w/ my reality. School has a way of putting life back into order: Laura wakes up in time to see Alex on the bus, she eats, and gets ready; Ainslee wakes, eats and gets ready; and gasp-I even have time to clean the house a bit and get dinner started! Off to daycare and work we go, after work-pick girls up, pick Alex up from afterschool, and home for the night. Crazy, yet peaceful. . . the story of our lives!