Adjusting

The last couple of months have required a lot of adjustment on Silas's part. First, we began abandoning him at preschool. He had never had a babysitter before, much less been left somewhere away from home, and it was quite traumatic. Soon, the three hour days became six hour days, and he was expected to take a nap without being put to bed by his parents. This month, to further transform his world, Christine started going to work - sometimes not even getting home until after he was asleep! Tonight brings yet another change - Christine left after dinner for her first night shift, and they won't see each other until tomorrow afternoon.

Initial reactions were intense. He would cry throughout our trip to school, exclaim that he didn't want to go to school, clutch at me and beg me to play games or build towers or read more books when I attempted to leave. Time at home has sometimes been stressful as well, as he clings to Christine and acts out.

Are things improving? I took Silas to school this morning and carried him up the steps to the door, letting him walk up the last two steps on his own. When we got inside, he told me, as usual, that he wanted to read a book before I left. We selected "Philly Joe Giraffe" and were soon surrounded at the table by a group of three friends. As we read through the book, I paused to let the kids name animals or musical instruments that we saw - and shy Silas was sometimes the first to call out "Butterfly!" or "Trumpet!" At the end of the story, one of the boys returned the book to it's shelf. Silas got up, put his kale smoothie cup (breakfast on the go) in his cubby, and returned with his arms open. I gave him a hug and a kiss, said goodbye, and walked out the door. No tears, no stalling, just a boy who was ready to get on with his day.

Hey, I realize there've been no pictures in a while. Here's a Hallowe'en preview:






He's a "friendyi ayyigator"

Ten

As Christine put it, "Could I even have been a teenager in the '90s without this album?" Now, Silas discovers the joys of Pearl Jam. (I like the part when he steps on the stickers and then tells me he's wearing a funny kind of shoe.)