Just a couple of weeks ago, Abby gave her daddy a very grand compliment. I don't remember what he had said or done to deserve such accolades, but she turned to him and said, "You're the best daddy in the whole United States!" He jokingly asked her if there were better daddies in other countries, and she just laughed and said, "No!"
So, Abby may have the best daddy in the whole United States, but I think that I have the best kids in the whole world. Seriously! Just last week, Abby turned 5, graduated from preschool, and had her first-ever friend party. Busy week! Just reflecting on where she was when we started the school year in September, I can see how much Abby has grown and changed. She's a very bright little girl; she's already reading chapter books and loves the Junie B. Jones series of books by Barbara Park. In fact, she's been reading more than the simple, three-letter words for quite some time. She learned how to better follow directions--something we are still working on at home, but at least she can do it for school. She did learn how to write all of her numbers 1-10, which was something we hadn't gotten to yet. The biggest reason we had her in preschool was social; she simply needed more interaction with kids her own age. She became friends with some very nice kids this year, and we'll be sure to have play dates with some of them during the summer.
Abby was already a very caring little girl, and that was really refined during the school year. She would come home and tell me about this child and that one, and if one of her friends missed school because they were sick she would pray for them during bedtime prayers; one child's daddy recently lost his job, and she shared that with Ben and me and prayed for him and for that child's family and asked God to give him a good job. She's taken notice of which of her friends is going to have a new baby in their family soon. Toddlers and preschoolers can definitely be selfish little people; preschool was so good for Abby because it got her outside of herself and made her more aware of those around her and the needs they might have. I'm not saying that she was a selfish, spoiled, introverted child before; but I am saying that she needed this experience to really help her realize that there is more going on in the world around her than just what happens in her own family. Abby has always been anything but introverted, and she has a natural ability to make others feel welcomed and loved. She is thoughtful in gift giving, and she really pays attention to what others like and dislike.
Hayden turns two tomorrow. Where has time gone? I cannot believe that I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old! Well, I should revise that; I can't believe that Abby is already 5, and the shouts of "Mine!" and "I do it!" are all reminders that Hayden is soon to be 2. :) It has been fun to watch him because he is so different from Abby. He has absolutely no fear at all; he'll climb on anything, and Abby was never one to climb. He loves to bang things around and crash his cars, trucks, and trains; he loves to kick and throw balls; and he has just recently taken an interest in books. He'll sit through Good Night Moon a few times, and then he's ready to hit the ground running again.
Hayden and Abby are both caring kids, but Hayden is more of a cuddler and snuggler. He shows affection physically,where Abby shows affection in things that she does for you. Their love languages are definitely different!
I am actually quite proud of Hayden's "I do it!" attitude; before we went on vacation he didn't realize that he could "do it," like feeding himself with a spoon or fork or wash his hands. Something clicked on vacation and he suddenly became this semi-independent little boy who no longer wants help feeding himself, and just in the last week he has learned how to put his socks and shoes on. Sometimes he gets his shoes on the right feet! I really didn't expect him to be able to do socks and shoes just yet; in fact, I never even tried to teach him. He just took it upon himself one morning and walked into the kitchen with both of his socks and his tennis shoes on, strapped and on the correct feet, and said, "Look!"
He is very compassionate. If someone has a "boo-boo" he asks if they're okay; if someone coughs or sneezes, he asks if they're okay. If Abby is in time-out on the couch, he'll go sit with her most of the time.
So you see, I believe that I have the best kids in the whole world. They're not perfect, just like none of the rest of us is perfect. They argue and fuss and whine just like other kids, and they make mistakes just like other kids. But I truly believe that I have the best kids in the world.
I love Jan Karon's Mitford series. The book that I have been reading off and on since completing the series is titled The Mitford Bedside Companion. It is a compilation of the best of the series with essays added by the author. It's a great book, but don't read it until you've completed the series!! It could spoil some things for you!
In this book, Ms. Karon devoted a short chapter to "Popular Questions from Gentle Readers." In this section, on page 206, she says, "Brag on your kids. To them."
Since reading that one line, I have tried make sure that I do better at praising the kids to them, and doing more than just the "Good job" kind of praise. I want them to know that their mommy thinks they are the most special kids on the planet.
I'll say it one more time: My kids are the best kids in the whole world!!
Aren't yours? :)
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