Last day of “Pre-3″

For the last two years, Zach and I have been going to a co-operative preschool class for toddlers.  Since Arlo was born, it has been our “Mommy Zach special time” and really has meant so much to both of us.  I’ve made great mom friends through the class and Zach has developed some real friendships too.  And today was our last day.  I didn’t expect to be teary about it, but I will really miss our class and I just can’t believe Zach isn’t “pre-3″ anymore.

Teacher Nicole and Zach at the water table with two friends

I’ve learned so much about Zach (and myself) from class.  He likes to observe things for a while before he tries them and he wants Mommy in arm’s length when he does.  He is a little slow to warm up to new situations but then is a total fireball.  And lately, he has actually been starting to share (!), take turns (!!) and help clean-up (!!!!).  So I feel like the class is ending just as we are hitting our stride.

Zach and friends doing something important in the sandbox

As for myself, I think the class has really helped me with realistic expectations as a parent.  It is great to see the other kids misbehave and then watch to see how other parents deal with the same issues we have.  When Zach has issues, I always take it so personally, as some sort of defect in my ability to raise him.  But that expectation of myself isn’t realistic.  No parent and no child is perfect, we just have to learn to work together the best we can, not trying to be perfect, just “good enough”.

Lullaby

Each night when we put Zach to bed, we sing him a song.  Recently, he seems to enjoy having us make up a song about our day.  I have no musical ability at all, so the songs are pretty terrible, but he loves them.  And now he sings songs back to us.  We’ve had a rough few “Mommy Zach days” the last week and this was the song he came up with tonight while I was putting him to bed…

Mommy, I love you when you are angry

I love you when you are sad

I love you when you are frustrated

I love you when you go to work and when you pick me up

I love you when you are……. (long pause) different

 

So sweet, though I hope he is expressing unconditional love and not that he thinks I am a basketcase!