The perfection of being 6...
If you have ever known a 6 year old (or remember when you were 6)... you may just relate to this story in one way or another..
Last Wednesday when I picked up my 2 boys from school, my 6 year old climbed into the car with a very sad look on his face. When asked what was wrong and if he had a tough day in Kindergarten... he replied with the best of all answers... "I had a great day, it's just that I won't see my class or my two bestest teachers until Monday because we have to have school vacation" He then got tears in his eyes. (And of course so did I...)
You see, maybe this is a normal reaction, maybe not - but in our home with the intensely odd schedules that my husband and I have worked over the past 10 years - my little 6 year old going to Kindergarten well it signified the beginning of a new book in our family's life...not just a new chapter. See, my husband works nights, and for the past 9 years he has averaged about 3-5 hours of sleep a night so that he can be there for the kids - lets' be honest... over the past few years we know we are not the only ones who have $ challenges to pay for daycare - though he would let me know he was tired, never once was my hubby negative or did he complain about it - in fact he has some of the most amazing times to talk about... not only did he see the first steps and hear the first words, he also experienced the many diaper decoration sessions at naptime, the markers on the wall art projects, and countless times of experiments on the dogs)He was a real trooper and I will add those things to the list of the already many reasons I will continue to grow and love him more and more each day.
So, when our 6 year old started full-time Kindergarten in September, it was not only an adjustment for him, but for daddy as well. See these two had spent the past 3 years together - every day – just the two of them.
Much anxiety was plaguing them both... would the other one be okay, would they be happy, would they adjust, and so on. The first couple of weeks were rough. No lie... there is no easy way for me to describe how one day I went from having 2 adorable children to three human beings that I was constantly wondering the following:
Will my Kindergartener like school, will he make friends, will he have fun, will he feel included, will he eat lunch with someone or by himself,
Will his big brother check up on him and speaking of his big brother -Has my 9 year old figured out that girls don't have girl germs... (Totally another writing I am not prepared nor have the experience with – I will let that day stay “away” for a while yet… whew…)
And finally - will the darling father of my children adjust and give in and accept that sleep is good, necessary, and now can actually be had by him?
So back to last Wednesday. In a nutshell. After the first few weeks of school being rough, my 6 year old adjusted. It was so exciting to go and pick him up at school and hear about his day, what letter they worked on, who he ate lunch with, what new arts and craft he brought home… but on this particular day to see him with tears sitting in the back seat looking so sad and “forlorn” – when asked if he would be okay… he replied with only one response
(I was sure he was going to ask for candy, ice-cream, pizza, a movie, something that would make him feel better… right?)
No instead my adorable son with whom I carried only not even 32 weeks inside, whom I watched get stronger in a NICU box for nearly a month, who the doctors said may not be able to hear due to preemie complications… the same son who looks to his older brother as if he walks on water, and thinks that if you say a bad word you are a bad person who must apologize to anyone around. Yes this same son who behind closed doors will be fierce about loving his Lightning Mcqueen – but for his birthday wanted to make sure all the kids got their own car… so was I surprised by his response… no… but it did make me want to stop the car and give him a great big squeeze.
His response, well it was this: “I think what will make me feel better is if I write them a note and tell them how special they are and how much I am glad they are my teachers and my classmates.”
I ask him, without letting him hear the lump in my throat,
“What would you like the note to say?”
He replies with “Momma, I don’t want you to write it – I want to write it. I just learned how to write my letters, I want to write it and I think it should say this:
Ms ___ and Mrs._____ , you both are great teachers. The whole class is getting very smart. The teachers and the class are very kind. Thank you Love, (my son)
He asked his older 9 year old brother to write it out, and then asked me if I could sit next to him while he re-copied it in his own newly learned writing. Tonight, after an hour, he finished his letter, complete with a drawing of his 2 teachers and him.
I might be a big pushover and a bit of a softy and hallmark kind of person – but sitting here on this gloomy Monday night… I couldn’t ask for any better than the beauty of what he did today, the miracles of my children, and a wonderful man as their father.
Now on that note – I have to go – my two perfect sons have just attacked each other with Wii remotes.
Signing off until tomorrow.
DevinAnne ©
Last Wednesday when I picked up my 2 boys from school, my 6 year old climbed into the car with a very sad look on his face. When asked what was wrong and if he had a tough day in Kindergarten... he replied with the best of all answers... "I had a great day, it's just that I won't see my class or my two bestest teachers until Monday because we have to have school vacation" He then got tears in his eyes. (And of course so did I...)
You see, maybe this is a normal reaction, maybe not - but in our home with the intensely odd schedules that my husband and I have worked over the past 10 years - my little 6 year old going to Kindergarten well it signified the beginning of a new book in our family's life...not just a new chapter. See, my husband works nights, and for the past 9 years he has averaged about 3-5 hours of sleep a night so that he can be there for the kids - lets' be honest... over the past few years we know we are not the only ones who have $ challenges to pay for daycare - though he would let me know he was tired, never once was my hubby negative or did he complain about it - in fact he has some of the most amazing times to talk about... not only did he see the first steps and hear the first words, he also experienced the many diaper decoration sessions at naptime, the markers on the wall art projects, and countless times of experiments on the dogs)He was a real trooper and I will add those things to the list of the already many reasons I will continue to grow and love him more and more each day.
So, when our 6 year old started full-time Kindergarten in September, it was not only an adjustment for him, but for daddy as well. See these two had spent the past 3 years together - every day – just the two of them.
Much anxiety was plaguing them both... would the other one be okay, would they be happy, would they adjust, and so on. The first couple of weeks were rough. No lie... there is no easy way for me to describe how one day I went from having 2 adorable children to three human beings that I was constantly wondering the following:
Will my Kindergartener like school, will he make friends, will he have fun, will he feel included, will he eat lunch with someone or by himself,
Will his big brother check up on him and speaking of his big brother -Has my 9 year old figured out that girls don't have girl germs... (Totally another writing I am not prepared nor have the experience with – I will let that day stay “away” for a while yet… whew…)
And finally - will the darling father of my children adjust and give in and accept that sleep is good, necessary, and now can actually be had by him?
So back to last Wednesday. In a nutshell. After the first few weeks of school being rough, my 6 year old adjusted. It was so exciting to go and pick him up at school and hear about his day, what letter they worked on, who he ate lunch with, what new arts and craft he brought home… but on this particular day to see him with tears sitting in the back seat looking so sad and “forlorn” – when asked if he would be okay… he replied with only one response
(I was sure he was going to ask for candy, ice-cream, pizza, a movie, something that would make him feel better… right?)
No instead my adorable son with whom I carried only not even 32 weeks inside, whom I watched get stronger in a NICU box for nearly a month, who the doctors said may not be able to hear due to preemie complications… the same son who looks to his older brother as if he walks on water, and thinks that if you say a bad word you are a bad person who must apologize to anyone around. Yes this same son who behind closed doors will be fierce about loving his Lightning Mcqueen – but for his birthday wanted to make sure all the kids got their own car… so was I surprised by his response… no… but it did make me want to stop the car and give him a great big squeeze.
His response, well it was this: “I think what will make me feel better is if I write them a note and tell them how special they are and how much I am glad they are my teachers and my classmates.”
I ask him, without letting him hear the lump in my throat,
“What would you like the note to say?”
He replies with “Momma, I don’t want you to write it – I want to write it. I just learned how to write my letters, I want to write it and I think it should say this:
Ms ___ and Mrs._____ , you both are great teachers. The whole class is getting very smart. The teachers and the class are very kind. Thank you Love, (my son)
He asked his older 9 year old brother to write it out, and then asked me if I could sit next to him while he re-copied it in his own newly learned writing. Tonight, after an hour, he finished his letter, complete with a drawing of his 2 teachers and him.
I might be a big pushover and a bit of a softy and hallmark kind of person – but sitting here on this gloomy Monday night… I couldn’t ask for any better than the beauty of what he did today, the miracles of my children, and a wonderful man as their father.
Now on that note – I have to go – my two perfect sons have just attacked each other with Wii remotes.
Signing off until tomorrow.
DevinAnne ©
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