Beyond Babies

Hiyah!  Merrick yells to Marley as he holds tight to her backpack.  She trots around with Merrick tailing behind her like a horse and her rider, cute as buttons in their first day of school outfits. 

“Be ready to cry” everyone told me.  Why?  Why would I cry this year?   I mean, they were in school last year, why is this year any different?

We pulled in the parking lot, one little blonde kid holding tight to the other as they gallop through the parking lot into their new school…it was then that it hit me.  Not that they were in a new class, with new friends and a new teacher to get used to.  Even after Merrick’s accident last year, I wasn't concerned with disasters on the playground or bullies in the classroom.  Nope, what brought that all too familiar sting to my eyes, that all mothers understand, was knowing that throughout their entire life they would have each other.  They might not always get along, but they know the other one is there. 

It was obvious to me as we sat waiting on their new teacher to come get them, that we were now beyond babies…I have little-big kids now…big 4 year olds.

We are leaving the three’s behind…God Bless!  Don’t get me wrong, three was a pretty good age.

While you were three, you learned to pedal a tricycle.

You learned to make new friends on your own – at church and at school – and you would come home and tell me about each of them.

You learned to play with each other, not just fight over toys, but really play and create and imagine.

At three you learned to write your name and count to 20, you could each throw a big fat daddy tantrum and then curl up in my lap and give me a hug.

At three you took 3 hour naps and loved your teacher, Ms. Jayne in the Bears Class.

It’s been a few month’s now at your new school.  You are learning leaps and bounds over last year and every single day you make me proud with the school work you bring home.  I never went to Catholic School but your new school reminds me of what that would be like, Christian based but disciplined…which I like.

As we work through our Pre-K year, Merrick you continue to be sweet, thoughtful, caring, a good listener (at home) and many times easily enraged.  But just as quickly as you can pick up the remote and throw it, you can run across the room and hug me…full of love. 

We are working on your agro-ness as well as using our inside voice and being a good listener at school.  Merrick you really love to learn. 

When you are sent home with “Practice Pages” aka homework (I KNOW!  At 4 years old!) you can’t wait to do it and show me what you learned at school.

Marley you are all things princess and girly; driven, ambitious and often times irrationally irate.  At school it is reported that you are such a good listener and I wonder if I should put your teacher on payroll at home so we can experience that too. 

You still have these crazy phases where you are testy and sassy and then as quickly as it began you are the sweetest, amazing, extraordinary child in the world. 

You like to learn at school and want home to be fun/play time (I can’t blame you girl). It's funny because sometimes I think your stubbornness is getting in the way of you learning and then you will haul off and recite a Bible verse complete with Chapter and verse number or recite the pledge of allegiance when I had no idea you knew even knew it!  You continue to amaze me every day. 

In your 4 year old class you have learned to choose your own centers.  Marley you love housekeeping and Merrick you seem to like them all but say your favorite is cars.  

You have almost eliminated nap time simply due to your school schedule being from 1-4PM. 

You know full well how to write your name, and in lowercase letters – sorry mommy & daddy screwed you up teaching you to write in all caps like we do.

You can count to 30 and write sooo many letters and color in the lines.

You are memorizing bible verses and teaching other kids that they shouldn't eat food dye (wink).

Just when I think I have been as impressed as I can be for the week, you run off and recite something new that you learned and I am filled with happiness all over.

M&M, parenting is not easy.  You push me and try me and sometimes I want to just shake the sense into you.  I don’t claim to be doing everything right, but I will tell you what…when you work together, protect each other, comfort each other or just beeline it to the door when I walk in yelling how much you missed me, it reassures me that our family is perfect just the way it is.  As you move on to the next class and the next…the next phase of your life and the next, I promise to be your passionate cheerleader and love you fiercely.  You are both perfect, just the way God made you.

“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139 13-14