My daughter seems never to tire of the bubble blowing process. Me, I just sit back and watch a growing artistry in the use of liquids and air.
Our little girl is 4 1/2 now and she has come to play 'favorites' from day to day between me and her mom. She is as temperamental as the day is long and has always been a pretty moody child. Still, it is a challenge when you realize that you are not the 'favorite' of the day. It's challenging to remain entirely neutral on this, but I try my best, feeling that to be swayed by it too much would just be feeding into the whole thing. Also, even though she may have a favorite initially that often changes as the day progresses--not to the opposite of favoring the other parent, but it mellows as the day gets underway. There are so many twists and turns with parenting that are anything but obvious that one is constantly having to check one's equilibrium. This is a good thing and it gives way to a baseline of caregiving. No matter what your child says to you, you are still there to take care of them, meet their needs, and love them. I'm sure this gets harder to remain neutral about once they get beyond a certain age. I, as her father, have less ambiguity and tolerance in the sense of boundaries with my daughter and perhaps this makes me 'less popular' by default at times. I accept that, but I am still human and these things still affect me. Mostly, I always come back to "You are my daughter. I am your Dad, and it is my responsibility to protect you and look out for you and teach you the best way to be in the best way that I know." This is my default self-soothing mantra. God knows, every parent out there needs one...or so I imagine. So, on we go with this parenting relationship in which we are all learning so much. Sometimes I'm not sure who's learning more or who's really 'teaching' who, Shayla or myself, and not that it matters, but it bears mentioning, if for nothing nothing more than to point out that the act of parenting continues to show itself as the greatest teacher of my life....and that is no small aside.
Shayla planted these sunflower seeds just days ago and now they're already developing into seedlings!! Grandma Joan bought a little Gardening Kit for her and these were her first attempt. It was really exciting for Shayla to get up today and see that the sprouts were coming up through the soil! Yay! She's really enjoying this...and so am I!
Shayla has been really excited for the past several weeks about her upcoming daily Pre-K schedule. Yesterday however, she was expressing a little concern over being away from the home nest for hours everyday. We assured her that it would be fun and that she would love it. We are pretty sure that she will. It does, though, bring back memories of my own fear of stepping out into the wild blue yonder without my mom for hours every single day. Even at 44 years of age I can still remember that feeling: a little trepidation mixed with a slightly chilly internal wind.
It'll be okay My Sweetness. Mommy and Daddy are here for you......
Well, I think the time has come, and the 'I am the center of the world, aren't I?' bubble in the mind of our 4 1/2 year old daughter is going to undergo a little adjustment tomorrow morning. We are enrolling her in the Pre-K program of one of our local elementary schools. I think this is a tad different than if she was attending Pre-K at a facility that was just a Pre-K all on it's own, and nothing more. There are those of course. At this one however she will be exposed to kids her age all the way up to fifth-graders, I think it is. Although they will be in their own classes and everything she will see that there is a whole universe of kids and get a real sense of age and hierarchical order. I personally think that this will be pretty good for her developing psyche. Not in the sense of being the 'low man on the totem pole'--or girl, in this case, but rather to be introduced to a sense of societal order and hierarchy. I think it could be really good for her own personal socialization and self-conception within the masses. If she feels at all daunted by it, once introduced, I am right here to quell her fears. If our past experience with our beautiful daughter is any indication, I think she will very likely enjoy it to the point where we may have to reign her in slightly. What does that look like you say? It looks like this: "Shayla, we are so happy that you are loving Pre-K and your teacher, and your 'friends' so much, but no you may not sleep at school. It's not designed that way. They expect you to go home at the end of everyday, and then show up in the morning on the following day, and the day after that. Being there for 6 hours everyday is plenty. We are your parents and we love you, and we want to spend time with you everyday as well. I know you miss your 'friends', but you will see them again tomorrow." Who knows how it will be? We will see shortly. If she is intimidated and scared we will soothe her, but chances are, I think she will love it. Onward and Upward: Shayla is growing up.