Dylan came home from school one day last week and almost immediately drew this:
Let me translate. It says: “cookies? Mom? Dad? Alexander?” Alexander, in case you’re wondering, is one of his cousins who live in California. While we’re on the topic, Dylan’s new answer to the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” is “I want to live in California with my cousins.” The thing on the bottom is an elevator (use your imagination), and the stick figures on either side (keep using your imagination) are Mike and me. (Picasso, he is not.)
He learned about the question mark at school, and all of the sudden any statement can be transformed into to a question bursting with possibility.
“We can play soccer” becomes “We can play soccer?” (*Yes we can!)
“We can swing” becomes “We can swing?” (*Yes we can!)
“We can run” becomes “We can run?” (*Yes we can!)
“We can eat” becomes “We can eat!” (*Yes we can!) (God willing!)
He hasn’t learned about the exclamation point yet (that I’m aware of), but it’s coming. I know it! Babies are cute and everything, and first rolls, steps, and words are incredible, but in my mind, nothing compares to the amazingness of witnessing my five-year-old learn to read and write.
Is it awesome? Yes it is!
September has been was a busy month. (When I began writing this post, it was September.) Without much warning, my days have become filled with homework, PTO responsibilities, volunteer hours, school fundraisers, after-school activities, birthday parties, and play dates. On top of that there’s Riley’s preschool schedule, food therapy three evenings a week, laundry, cooking, and, if I’m lucky, watching some television on the DVR. (Did you watch The Mindy Project? It’s cute. No wait, it’s cute!) Beyond that, there have been family birthdays, anniversaries, Jewish holidays, and the cold/cough/bronchitis thing that is still causing us grief.
Has everything changed? Kinda, sorta. Yes! The rhythm of having two kids in (the same) preschool has shifted dramatically. But like any new dance, practice makes perfect better. When will it end? Good grief. I have a feeling this pace will continue until Dylan and Riley graduate high school. This time of year – from September to January – has always felt like someone pressed the fast forward button. Those of you who know me well know that – yes – I’m already planning worrying about Dylan’s birthday party in early December, and – yes – I’m also thinking worrying about gift ideas for the holidays. There are only 84 days until Christmas! (In case you’re wondering, Hanukkah is 67 days away.)
If you don’t hear from me quite as often (at least for a little while), just know that I’m here doing my Mama gig – spelling (yup, still spelling), watching in awe as my first born learns to read and write (!), and figuring out how to carve out some extra space for this writing gig that is – without question – what I want to do when I grow up.
*This is not an intended endorsement for Barack Obama, but well, that wouldn’t be so bad, would it? (Don’t answer that question if you don’t have anything nice to say.)
The Runaway Mama by Jen Gregory 