Moving On

Last September I blogged about Jonah's first day of preschool and entitled it Seasons Change. Well, two days after saying goodbye to the dogs, Jonah had his last day of preschool (at least for now). Considering my emotional state about the dogs and the knowledge that we were going to be moving in a couple of weeks, I was more nostalgic and sad about this day than Jonah. With our new home being significantly further away, I knew he would not be coming back to that preschool and I was somewhat saddened that he would not be able to continue developing his friendships nor I the relationships that I had begun through the school and my MOPs group, both of which used the same facility. Jonah was pretty clueless and seemingly tired of getting up and out in the mornings three days a week as well (Kudos to you moms who work outside the home and have to do that 5 days a week!). I have been finding that Jonah is not really a morning person. (I wonder where he gets that from? Well, I'm congenial enough in the mornings, but I like it quiet and subdued until I've had a couple of cups of coffee and checked email. Jonah similarly likes his apple juice and a couple of cartoons before being shoved out the door in the morning.) So on this last day of school, Elisabeth and I popped in early to hang out with the class and get some pictures to document this milestone. Elisabeth enjoyed sitting and eating pizza with the big kids and later going out on the playground with them.

Friends Forever

We are getting ready to move in a couple of weeks to an apartment complex closer to my husband's work. And today was Jonah's last day of preschool this year. The move means it will be impractical for him to attend the same preschool next year. A few days ago I began to wonder if Jonah will miss school and his friends. It occurred to me that I should pray for friend for Jonah at our new apartment complex. So the other night when I was putting Jonah to bed. I asked him if he wanted to talk to God about anything and particularly if he wanted to ask God for a friend at the new apartment. He replied, "You mean like Elisabeth?" I said, "Well yes, your sister is your friend but would you like to pray for a little boy to play with and be your friend." He says, "Nah, that's okay." I said, "Well, maybe you could just thank God for Elisabeth then."

Needless to say I was humored and touched by his response. It's funny how, as a mom you can worry about things for your children, that are just not issue's for them. So I thank God that they enjoy each other and pray that they have a special, sweet relationship as long as they live. - Amen

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That a Boy!

One day last week, I went to pick Jonah up at preschool and as I was walking down the hall heard the teacher call his name and tell him to come sit down along with another child. When I got to the window I could see him sitting in a chair in "time out" along with another little boy while the rest of the class was sitting in the floor listening to a story. I asked the assistant what he was doing and she said that he wouldn't sit down and listen but was running around and went up behind the other teachers chair. I thought that sounded like typical Jonah stuff. The next time I picked him up though, I was glad to see him sitting and listening to the teacher.

Well yesterday I picked him up and found a handmade BUG certificate in his bag. BUG stands for Being Unusually Good. When I read the little certificate it said, "Jonah was extra nice to Jack today when Jack was sad." Awww..... I was so proud. He had a little reward in his bag too. We have been trying to teach him to be sensitive to his sisters feelings - especially when he has done something to hurt her - and it's nice to know he is learning to be sympathetic to others outside of our home environment. We asked him a couple of times what happened with Jack today and finally he told us that Jack was crying and missed his mommy.

Seasons Change

As I write this, the wind is blowing outside. While it has been overcast all day, it was balmy and warm this morning, but now there is a crispness to the air. A sign that change is coming - one season ends and another begins. And so things are changing in our family and in the life of our little boy - Jonah started preschool today.

Here he is immediately after I dropped him off:


His classroom has a door that opens out to this new playground:




When I went to pick him up, I snapped the above picture before the teacher told him, "Jonah, your mommy is here." He just ignored her in that "So what" kind of way - needless to say, I was not feeling the love. Promises to return and other distractions eased his departure somewhat.

When an opportunity arose at the beginning of the week for him to go to preschool, I started to get cold feet. Primarily due to the fact that the opportunity was for a 3 day/week class (9am-noon) versus a two day a week class. I guess my trepidation was unwarranted as he would seem to prefer 5 day a week class!