A Bicycle Built for Three

It's been awhile since I've had the time, energy, or capacity to post. Summer was filled with my personal studies and other adventures, and now I'm gearing up for year 21 in the classroom. However, we've reached a much bigger milestone in our house -- Little Man is officially a preschooler. Being away all day is nothing new; having been in daycare most of his life, Little Man has had the privilege of so many others besides us loving on him and shaping his early years. Some of those people are still in his life today, a fact for which we are so grateful. This summer he had his first taste of day camp, and though it wasn't so far off from any other daycare experience it also actually was. Watching him stride in and out of the building each day with his backpack (which is adorably almost as big as he is) made him seem so grown up. He still held my hand as we walked across the parking lot, but it was obvious he was ready to tackle the day on his own. Some days he would ...

Little Man is taking the age of four by storm.  After having some really big feelings around that time he has started to somewhat find his footing again; his feelings are still big, but his reactions are starting to very slowly become more proportionate.  However, in an attempt to react intellectually rather than physically he has started to rely on his vocabulary to make his discontent known.  In the hierarchy of harsh roasts of others, young kids can absolutely hold their own. The latest weapon in Little Man's arsenal, like many his age, is to hit where he thinks it will hurt the most -- "You're not my best friend anymore.  I don't love you anymore."  While I obviously realize the intent is not genuine, it's hard not to feel the sting when he thinks he has made his point.  Recently on a night when Husband was away and I covered bedtime duties, we had a rough go.  As I helped him regulate by cradling him in my lap, he mentioned missing Daddy.  I ...

Last year Little Man's third birthday was on Mother's Day  -- this year the celebrations are just one day apart.  He's another year older and -- at least in his mind -- another year wiser.  Looking at him I don't see much difference, but holding up pictures from last year to now it's a shock.  His vocabulary, his interests, his emotions; everything about him is big and getting bigger.  His independence is reassuring and scary, such as when he takes off at warp speed down a busy street or is very insistent in telling me that stomping his foot in rhythm with Lady Gaga is not the same as finding the beat of a Lady Gaga song (both true stories that occurred on the same day).  Needless to say, he keeps me constantly on my toes.  No one can make me laugh harder or clench my jaw tighter than he can. Little Man, on your fourth birthday I wish you the space to continue spreading your wings along with the peace you seek when emotions feel too overwhelming. ...

Yesterday our city experienced a severe storm; it has yet to be called a tornado, but winds were incredibly strong.  I was in my classroom planning when the sirens went off; moments later we got the call to move to our designated shelter location.  The energy was different as both students and teachers could tell this wasn't just a drill.  We ended up sitting in a small hallway together for nearly an hour as warnings popped up on phones, then changed, then got pushed back.  A few students got upset, and some enjoyed the adventure of missing class.  We did our best to keep everyone calm and entertained, including playing 20 Questions and Guess the Animal.  Our lights went out a few times but never for long, and our emergency lights always came through as needed.  Finally, stiff and sore, we managed to get ourselves back to class and to some semblance of schedule.  After that hour spent with students I realized I focused all of my mental energy on t...

It has been a big week for Team Little Man. For one, he competed in his first gymnastics meet.  We have no illusions of future greatness; he loves going to the gym, but his athletic pursuits are sometimes overshadowed by his social connections.  The meet was packed with families and friends wanting to see their favorite gymnast succeed; it was sometimes hard to find a spot without getting in someone else's way.  At the end Little Man was Little Man -- both in his moves and in his desire to know what everyone else was doing.  In a group of four he solidly brought up the rear (although he ended up third in the all-around thanks to a tie for first).  He was thrilled with his new trophy, proudly displaying it in the air and constantly exclaiming, "I won!"  We were so glad he bravely stepped on the floor and enjoyed the experience without any pressure. He also spent his first night in his new big boy bed, an early birthday present from Husband and me.  We c...

One of Little Man's favorite phrases lately is, "Let's pretend.."  Sometimes the phrase is followed by, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to myself" -- although a moment later I'm obviously expected to be part of the conversation.  Little Man's stories certainly run the gamut, from tales of heroic acts to ferocious bear hunts to mysterious worlds on the other side of the cracks in our fence.  He talks of his older sister and what her life must be like, as well as reporting the goings on of his daycare friends.  He is quite insistent that his version of the world is true, and there are times where perhaps that would be preferable. This type of creativity is something teachers like to call "a rich inner life".  At this age it's beautiful and entertaining look at a developing mind.  Many argue that the structure of education and its path to college or career prioritizes logic over whimsy, even as more and more businesses find tha...