The Preschool App.

Your first kiss. The passing of a loved one. Leaving home for college. Committing to marriage. Giving birth. These are some of the things that I consider "life-changing" moments. Moments that are not only life-changing, but are also generators of immense stress. WRONG! There is no event in your life that can compare to the stress of filling out your (first-born) child's preschool application... especially when you are a teacher! Here are the top 10 list of questions running through my mind as I fill out the piece of paper that could potentially determine whether my child is headed to Harvard or The Hills...

10. Do I describe my child's personality as "fun-loving" or "fun-loving as long as there is a nap involved"?

9. Is "Peek-a-Boo" considered a developmental milestone?

8. Is my child's obsession with the song, "Happy Birthday To You" mean that she has musical talent?

7. Can I write down "nose-digging" as my child's hobby?

6. I wonder if grunting is considered as "expanded vocabulary"?

5. Will they accept "Ewwww..." as, "I have to use the bathroom"?

4. Is okay if my child can only correctly identify her colors with the use of M&Ms?

3. Cry. Stop. Cry. Stop. Cry. Stop. Signs of resiliency?

2. Do they consider, "Because I said so" an effective form of communication?

1. Is neurosis hereditary?

Happy Slicing! :)

Growing pains

An exhausting Easter Sunday prompts me to write this post.

    My daughter, who is one-year old, has always preferred her mother over many others for obvious reasons, of course. However, yesterday, actually the entire last week was the most intense my husband and I experienced with her. Incessant crying, even hating her dad, made for an angst-ridden, stressed out afternoon and evening for us (and probably for our family members, too). Feelings of frustration, embarrassment, then indifference, then back to frustration, embarrassment, and repeat... 

    Besides a nap and mommy carrying, what will remedy this situation from continuing to occur? Not necessarily remedy it, but at least lessen its intensity and frequency. She just will not go to any other person besides mom, dad, grandpa and granny! My husband and I are always brainstorming, thinking of strategies or things we should or shouldn't be doing to make her more comfortable around people. She has a bright personality and is a very mellow child... except for those times where we are with others who want to also enjoy her, but she just won't give them a chance. 

    An evening filled with conversation, questions, confusion, lack of answers, but she did sleep through the night -- probably so exhausted from the day's crying. 

Growing pains are pains for all; deep breaths even as I type. 

(Suggestions welcomed)

Emalia

Daughter
I breathed you in
the moment you were released
into the world to make your mark
to question
to love
to empathize
to lead
to be yourself

Daughter
your bright spirit
gives me new life
day in
day out
my purpose redefined
to strengthen your wings
so you can fly
Fly!

Daughter
a reminding smile
of innocence
of peace
of a better place
a heart so pure
so soft
so real
so vibrant

Daughter
the beat of my heart
time quickly passing by
priceless moments
left to reminisce
my memory holds strong
like my arms around you
slow down
I need
to fully embrace you

Dear Lord

Dear Lord,

Help me

help my child

foster a love for reading.

Math is good

Math is great,

but reading is so much better.

Dear Lord, 

Help me

help my child 

write like there's no tomorrow.

Articulate

and punctuate

all the way through college.

Amen.

mommy dilemma: Sleep

NOOOOOOOO! Please go back to bed. Please. Please. Please. This is my personal mother's mantra as I lie in bed with my eyes still shut, praying to every god out there that my one-year old will grant my wish and go back to sleep for a few more hours in her own crib. It is not that I do not want to go get her and rock her back to sleep; I don't want to be setting some precedent for when she turns nine years old and still wants her mommy to help her fall asleep (like I did when I was nine!).

I am assuming that this is a familiar scenario to many mothers AND fathers out there. It is too early to wake up with the baby, and we want to get a couple more hours more of sleep...BUT, the only way the baby is going to go back to sleep is if we bring her into our bed where we know she'll be out like a light again in a heartbeat...BUT, oh! We are setting ourselves up for trouble down the road! The baby will not want to sleep in the crib...oh no, now she won't sleep in her big girl bed! Whether it is the Ferber method (Cry It Out!) or the Dr. Sears method (cuddle, cuddle, tend to their tiniest whimper), a parent will never get the rest they did prior to having kids.

I think I'll go get her and tuck her into bed with me and my snoring husband. Until tomorrow...