some random thoughts about the week

I have a week's worth of things to say and will not be able to remember them all. I think I'm a little PDD myself (aren't we all?) because last week every day we were on a weird schedule and by the end of the week I was an emotional wreck. Sometimes I just want everything to stay in the straight line that I put it in and I want everyone to repeat the script that I expect them to repeat and not deviate from it. . . Wait, is PDD so wrong?

Thursday I had my parent-teacher conference with Henry's teacher. It went wonderfully, not that I really expected otherwise. But I think I have to pinch myself once in awhile to make sure this isn't a dream. Henry's pattern in the past has been to start off in a new school situation with flying colors, and then have an ugly regression after the initial "honeymoon" period. (After he has suckered all the teachers into thinking he's so sweet and innocent...)

(Knock on wood) that has not happened this year. However, his teacher had written me a couple notes in the past week that he had had a "rough" day, was "extremely resistant" to his speech therapist or that he scratched another child, and that gave me the sinking "here we go again" feeling. Ms. H told me that she is not concerned about the few bad days that he has had, and she really put my mind at ease.

You know what really thrills me about kindergarten? The art projects that Henry brings home. In past situations it was always left up to him whether he wanted to participate in the craft activities, and he always opted not to. But now he's not allowed to choose not to do the craft- and he seems really proud of everything he does.

We had a really long weekend- Henry and I had the day off Friday for Veterans' Day and Tommy's sitter needed to take Monday off for medical reasons. So I got to spend some extra time with each boy! Also, I took both of them to the park on Sunday and that was fun. The unsuccessful trips are always the ones that stick out in my mind- I need to make a point of remembering the successful ones. We played on the playground and walked in the woods to "throw sticks in the creek" at Henry's request. He picked up a "stick" that was actually a branch and was probably 9 feet long!! He dragged it along the path and down a long series of wooden steps to the water's edge, then dropped it over the rail into the mud- didn't even throw it far enough to land in the water! But Henry didn't care, he was having a ball. It is fun to watch him play on the playground too- he is gaining a lot of confidence in climbing.

We were in the van Friday and Henry was looking at a toy catalog. He loves to look at catalogs, but wouldn't actually play with most of these toys if he had them in front of him- just likes to admire their photos. Anyway, he says in a scary kind of voice "I am Darth Vader!" (Yes, even using the correct pronoun.) And asks me what this toy is called. I was SO EXCITED (being a former Star Wars fan myself). I'm thinking "pretend play! I'll get him the Star Wars ultimate light saber for Christmas and we'll play sword fights! What a breakthrough! I didn't even think he knew who Darth Vader was!" Etc. etc.

Then, a few hours later we're watching Toon Disney and I see a commercial for the ultimate light saber toy in which the child says, you guessed it, "I am Darth Vader." He was just scripting a commercial. Sigh.