Milestones just inches apart

Milestones. These should be spaced a ways apart right? It feels like right now we are moving at light speed and hitting milestones everyday.

Noah started community preschool three weeks ago. He has already managed to get sent out of the classroom for his talking and boundary testing. Part of me was prepared for this with Noah. He likes to do his own thing and still likes to be center of attention. He is extremely sociable and loves to play with others as long as he is the leader. He is also competitive. All traits that might serve him well later in life but in preschool, without the emotional maturity to rear in those impulses and without empathy for others developed quite yet, well these traits work against him.

So we have started spending time discussing the precepts. I'm trying to water them down to a kid level. Once we get there and I can simplify them I plan on creating a hanging for our family room. I also gifted Noah with his own Buddha for his room. I think I might buy a child Buddha for each of them to keep in their rooms.

Runa has started 3 year preschool. She only goes two days a week in the morning but I have to say I am so happy we are doing this. She has the potential to be introverted in groups (much like her mommy) to the point of shy. I am hoping this will ease her into the transition into public school next year. The night before her first day was rough. She was scared and it came out in the form of tears at bedtime. She didn't want to leave mommy or her daycare provider. She was scared to be alone. But the teacher there is good and it quickly dawned on Rue that here was another person who would protect her and take care of her. She loves the arts and crafts part and feels so big walking in with her backpack.

Mommy also shed tears over this transition. A year ago when this was Noah starting I was amazed at how easy it was to watch my little man march on in there undaunted by this change. Runa was hesitant but I could see her mustering her bravery and left before it failed her. But leaving my baby there was hard this time. I think this might be the way it is with me.

So now we are heading into fall. The weather is finally turning, my favorite time of the year is coming. The career craziness of summer slows while the family craziness of the school year ramps up. There are holidays and birthdays and fall days and snow days to come. The oven will be turned on along with football. Ahhh, the fall and winter just make me happy. Granted there will be days where kids are sick of being inside but we are working up plans for those days.

I look at them daily and marvel in their growth. It's easy to look forward to winter when you have children since in them you can see the spring.