Tomorrow I send my first born to kindergarten. He is so excited. So ready. He is 6 years old after all; there is no more putting this off. It is time for him to move on to life's next adventure. How is it possible that this time has come? How can he be so big, when my arms so clearly remember holding him as a newborn, a toddler, a chubby little boy? Just tonight as I held him, his tired hands found and tugged on my hair, just as they have done ever since I nursed him. He is not little anymore. He is tall; more muscle than pudge, and so curious about being grown up. What will this next chapter hold for him? How much joy, and how much pain? Will he make good friends? Will he get his feelings hurt? Will he be kind and remember the Golden Rule? How much of his innocence and passion will get trampled on? Will he still love me best? Will he still want me to hold him close and to run my fingers through his hair and up and down his back? Will he still pull on my hair when h...
Sunday, after preparing Super-bowl snacks containing way too much Velveeta, cream cheese and mayo, while the littlest was sleeping and before we headed over to Grandma's to watch the game, I took the Bigs on a new adventure- ice skating! There are several rinks in our town that rent skates for super cheap. It has been on my "must do" list this winter. When I walked out the door, keys in hand, ready to drive the 8 blocks to the rink, the kids said "NO! We want to walk!" "It's too far," I said. You'll decide you don't want to walk home." "NOOOO! We want to walk!" said the Bigs. Then I thought to myself: " What's the MATTER with you? Isn't this EXACTLY the kind of afternoon you were hoping for?? A winter's walk in the sunshine followed by bonding on the ice??" "Ok!" I said. "Let's go! What a good idea!" And we were off. The walk went great. No complaints, but ...
I remember looking at Claire as a newborn- only a few days old. I remember thinking, "who are you?" She was my little baby- so intimately knitted in me and now known in my arms. But, I had a feeling that, unlike her brother, getting to know her would be like getting to know a stranger. I would have to be purposeful in developing our relationship. She has never been an open book, and her ways are not my ways. Little by little, over the last 6 years, that is what I've done- gotten to know my daughter on purpose. She is sensitive, she is stubborn. She hates loud noises and loves quiet, grown-up moments with me alone- folding laundry and drinking "coffee." She has rhythm, she is strong. She loves to teach, not to be taught. I have seen her put aside her strong will to make her baby sister happy and tell her big brother that he's her "best buddy." She loves nothing more to go... anywhere... with her Daddy. Sh...
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