This week started out beautiful! A warm and sunny day Monday and an even better Tuesday. Glorious enough to allow me to teach outside ALL DAY! Yes, you heard correctly, I taught math, reading, writing, social studies and science from the courtyard located just behind my " Learning cottage". I woke up Wednesday to find something different. It was cold, windy and by today it was down right yucky with the rain and fog. The weather changed so quickly! I wasn't expecting it. I even wore a skirt on Wednesday with the hopes that the weather would go back to what I had already gotten accustomed to in the 2 short days prior. At this point of my blog , you may be asking yourself, "why are you telling me this stuff, it has nothing to do with Maxwell". But as I think about my reaction to the unexpected change in weather, I also realize that this is my reaction to Maxwell growing and changing daily. Sometimes I get so accustomed to his behavior, his eating habits, his being my little man that I get caught off guard when something changes unexpectedly. So there is the connection...but there is more.
For 3 years now, I have picked Maxwell up from school, gotten in the car, talked about what he did all day on the ride home, then we eat dinner. ( sometimes I cook, sometimes I am too tired and we run through K&W Cafe or Cracker Barrel and grab something to bring home and eat.) So all of this had taken place , just as normal, (tonight was a tired night that we went to K&W Cafe) and we were preparing to eat dinner. When we arrived home, I really have to change and go to the restroom, so I told Maxwell to put his coat up and then play in his playroom for a few minutes while I changed clothes. I changed, etc in about five minutes and come out of the bedroom. As I come around the corner and head toward the kitchen, this unexpected change is right in front of my face. My 4 year old little man had set the table, completely. He had gotten the food off the counter and put it at each of our respective spots, placed the silverware on the table with napkins, our drinks were at our seats with straws already in the cup and he was sitting there waiting on me. He even had put the bag the food came in, up in our baggie bin. I was speechless. When did he learn to do this? At what point did he become old enough to do this without me? When did I miss this new intrinsic motivation to do such work? He was so proud of himself! I was proud of him, too. But in all of this, I was a bit sad. I know some of you may say, WHAT!?!?! I would love my kid to set the table without being asked, or without being beaten to do so! But you see, I have been in a routine for 3 years and know what is expected of me. I know that it is my "job" to prepare dinner and his "job" is to eat it and put his dirty dishes in the sink. I take care of the rest. But my "job" is changing unexpectedly. He is becoming more and more independent each and everyday. I did expect that, eventually. Just not today. I am again faced with the realization that things change and my little man is not so little anymore. I am so proud of him, but just like the weather, I want my little man back! Back to what I am accustomed to on a daily basis. Back to needing me the way he needed me, even just a few short weeks ago. But this is not to be. I am thankful that he is growing up. I am grateful that he is capable of doing more things on his own, and I would never let him know that I do want to spoil him a little bit longer, and it is okay to leave your clothes or toys in the floor, because I really don't mind picking them up. He needs to do these things on his own. I guess what I am saying is that I just expected him to grow on my terms and when I was ready for him to do it. But God has a plan for him, and that plan is much better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I am just glad that God's plan still includes cuddle story time at night, complete with hugs, kisses and the phrases " Mommy tuck me in" , "Will you sing Amazing Grace" and "I love you". As long as those don't change anytime soon, I think I can handle the rest of those "unexpected changes".
For 3 years now, I have picked Maxwell up from school, gotten in the car, talked about what he did all day on the ride home, then we eat dinner. ( sometimes I cook, sometimes I am too tired and we run through K&W Cafe or Cracker Barrel and grab something to bring home and eat.) So all of this had taken place , just as normal, (tonight was a tired night that we went to K&W Cafe) and we were preparing to eat dinner. When we arrived home, I really have to change and go to the restroom, so I told Maxwell to put his coat up and then play in his playroom for a few minutes while I changed clothes. I changed, etc in about five minutes and come out of the bedroom. As I come around the corner and head toward the kitchen, this unexpected change is right in front of my face. My 4 year old little man had set the table, completely. He had gotten the food off the counter and put it at each of our respective spots, placed the silverware on the table with napkins, our drinks were at our seats with straws already in the cup and he was sitting there waiting on me. He even had put the bag the food came in, up in our baggie bin. I was speechless. When did he learn to do this? At what point did he become old enough to do this without me? When did I miss this new intrinsic motivation to do such work? He was so proud of himself! I was proud of him, too. But in all of this, I was a bit sad. I know some of you may say, WHAT!?!?! I would love my kid to set the table without being asked, or without being beaten to do so! But you see, I have been in a routine for 3 years and know what is expected of me. I know that it is my "job" to prepare dinner and his "job" is to eat it and put his dirty dishes in the sink. I take care of the rest. But my "job" is changing unexpectedly. He is becoming more and more independent each and everyday. I did expect that, eventually. Just not today. I am again faced with the realization that things change and my little man is not so little anymore. I am so proud of him, but just like the weather, I want my little man back! Back to what I am accustomed to on a daily basis. Back to needing me the way he needed me, even just a few short weeks ago. But this is not to be. I am thankful that he is growing up. I am grateful that he is capable of doing more things on his own, and I would never let him know that I do want to spoil him a little bit longer, and it is okay to leave your clothes or toys in the floor, because I really don't mind picking them up. He needs to do these things on his own. I guess what I am saying is that I just expected him to grow on my terms and when I was ready for him to do it. But God has a plan for him, and that plan is much better than anything I could have come up with on my own. I am just glad that God's plan still includes cuddle story time at night, complete with hugs, kisses and the phrases " Mommy tuck me in" , "Will you sing Amazing Grace" and "I love you". As long as those don't change anytime soon, I think I can handle the rest of those "unexpected changes".
No comments:
Post a Comment