School

Yesterday was Jack's first day of the big "4 year old school". This year was slightly easier to manage than last year, since last year I was like, 2 weeks postpartem and sad as hell. However, the mom who had to be escorted by a friend out of the 3 year old room while HEAVING sobs had no excuse. I mean, really, do you want your kid to feel guilty that they are in school broadening their horizons, learning about the world at large and slowly but surely not needing YOU anymore? Be like every other mom. Shed a tear. Feel sad that your "baby" is moving beyond you. Hit Starbucks and Target in your 2.5 hours of freedom and LADY, JUST MOVE ON!

Trust me, I get her point. But at some level that just reaches the point of emotional instability (yes, folks, it was THAT bad) and then it's not good for anybody.

I read once that as a mother, you know you've done your job if your kids in adulthood really don't 'need' you anymore. Sad as that is, I suppose it's true. My job, essentially, is to get them to the point of being self-sufficient, contributing members of society with a good heart and a spectacular mind.

This segues perfectly into my next point. We've started Jack on a sticker chart for doing his chores. John wants him to learn the value of a dollar, so he can earn about 10 cents for each job he does. His jobs consist of Making his bed, putting away his laundry (easy stuff, like Socks and undies), and 2 x's a week collecting the upstairs garbages. I hold no hope that he'll understand money. I taught first graders who didn't have a clue as to what a dollar was, as money is a VERY abstract concept. My goal is to teach him a bit of responsibility. But is this too much at age 4? I don't know.

He was so cute when I explained that he would be earning money to do his "jobs". He said that if he does enough, maybe he'll have enough money to take us all to Mickey Mouse's house. Trust me when I say that's a lot of bed making! On that point though, he is essentially a good kid. And a very sweet one, when it's on his terms and he feels like being sweet.

Back to school. 4 year old preschool was an easy continuation of last year. I'm sure I'll have more to say when it's GRADUATION DAY (yes, there is a ceremony) and he moves into the 'big kid" school of kindergarten. I keep telling John that one day we will wake up, and he will be going to college and we will be wondering what happened to our little "jack sparrow/power ranger/buzz lightyear/and sometimes fairy princess (but we won't selectively remember that one)"???

For now, I can tolerate hearing "you don't know the power of the darkside" 800 times a day.


Life is beautiful. These kids are beautiful. Even if they drive me to drink!