Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

Jack started first grade yesterday.  Here is a little note I wrote him to remember his first day…

Dear Jack,

This morning I woke you up and said “Good morning, first grader!”  You had a sweet grin on your face and were ready to start a new school year.  We arrived at school and I clenched your hand and hugged you tight as I watched you walk into your classroom.  Your nerves instantly subsided when you saw a few familiar faces.  Your classroom was decorated so nicely, and you quickly found your desk with your name on it.  I held back my tears and put on a brave face for you.  You know Mommy is very sensitive when it comes to these things, so I quickly snuck out of your classroom while you were chatting with a friend and let you get on with your day.

I can vividly remember my first grade classroom and teacher.  Her name was Mrs. Diehl.  She was an older woman, but had a passion for educating children.  I can’t believe YOU are now a first grader.  I know you are ready to learn about the world around us and mature just like I did in first grade.  I hope you make life-long friends and continue to learn about dignity, responsibility and kindness to others.

The last six years have flown by and you make me very proud.  Each day you are growing older, sweeter and wiser.   I enjoy watching you be the handsome boy you were meant to be.  But, always remember I am your mom.  I’m always available for a hug, talk or to answer any of the silly questions you have now and in the future.

I’m patiently waiting until three o’clock when I can pick you up from school and hear all the wonderful things about your first day.  I know the first thing you’ll tell me about is recess and how much fun it was.  I’m looking forward to this new year in your life, Jack Graham.  You’re the coolest first grader I know!

Love,

Mommy

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Until last week, Haley had not wet the bed since she was a small infant. All of a sudden, she began doing it again! The first night, I thought it was a fluke, as she had drunk a lot of water before bed. But then she leaked through her diaper for her nap, and the next night and the next!

I was confused. I wondered if I got a faulty pack of diapers, or I wasn’t securing them properly. I figured perhaps she was going through something developmentally that could be causing this. I did a little research and discovered that my theory actually has some validity. But wasn’t this a setback? I thought being able to “hold it in” while sleeping was a sign of potty training readiness—surely this is a step back, right?

It turns out that at Haley’s age—2 years and some months—often children do get better at holding it in. Often the result is not a dry bed, but a wet one. The child holds it in for a long time, until she finally falls asleep, gets into a deep sleep and “lets it go,” so to speak. Some suggest that this behavior signals potty training time.

So my husband and I decided to go for it! We purchased a potty training book online that promises to have your kid trained in three days. I don’t know much about it other than it requires you to stay home—and perhaps involves some toddler nudity. We intend to put the plan into action this weekend. Wish us luck!

From Friday Mom – Erin:
Parenting in the digital age comes with its advantages and disadvantages. On the advantage side of the ledger, I can: order diapers, wipes, baby food, toys, bouncers, exersaucers, you name it, with the click of a mouse; crowdsource recommendations on pediatricians; find quick answers for simple child ailments (such as how to remove cradle cap); and send pictures to relatives near and far.

On the disadvantage side comes the pressure: pinterest-perfect birthday parties; blog-worthy nursery décor; and the biting judgment of discussion board moms, should you find yourself brave enough to post on such forums. The metropolitan area where we live has one such website. I try my best to avoid it, but every now and then I’ve read through the various views on nursery schools, swimming lessons, and other gratuitous advice offered from behind a cloak of anonymity.

I tend to do a good job of tuning out these more negative elements of the digital age. Unfortunately, that doesn’t eliminate the pressures I feel when I talk face-to-face with other new moms. This past weekend, for example, I was talking with a good friend and new mother about our successes and failures with introducing our children to solid foods. I told her about where I had found good deals online for various brands of organic baby foods, and she informed me that they were making all of their own food. We went on to discuss which foods our children liked and which they didn’t like, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she was judging me for giving Rory pre-packaged organic baby food rather than pureeing our own bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.

At the end of the day, I know that if I tried to take the time to make our own baby food, one of two things would happen: either Rory would rarely have solids to eat, or I would rarely get a full night’s sleep. As with most things, the important thing is whether the decisions my husband and I make as parents are right for us as a family. And I am working to remind the competitive part of me of that fact when interacting with other moms. There is no “right for everyone”—there is only what is right for us.