A little bonding time...

This was one of those good parenting days.

I had wondered what this day might be like, with her sister not here to play with her and entertain.
My 8 year old is staying (for the very first time- without me, that is!) with her grandma for a few nights for some special bonding time together.
Meanwhile, my five year old and I have had our own bonding time- and I have to say, it was wonderful.

In fact, we had our first official day of home school Kindergarten here at home- just the two of us. I wanted to take advantage of being able to focus all my attention on her, and let her first day as a Kindergartener be extra special.
She was so excited about it, and her enthusiasm was contagious!

She helped me make the finishing touches on a big classroom type calendar I made- with apples we traced and cut out for each day of the week.
You would not believe how excited she was over this calendar. It completely made my morning just to see the joy on her face over this one, simple thing.

We sat together in the little spare room-turned classroom while she did a couple simple pages in each of her workbooks...we sang songs together....went outside for some fresh air...she read to me from her beginner book (she's just now learning to sound out words and it's very exciting for her- and me!) and I read a book of her choosing to her.

It was one of those idealistic mornings- truly! I had so much fun spending this quality learning time with her...and I think she enjoyed having Mommy all to herself.

It wasn't just the official Kindergarten morning that went so well...

Later, we went to get a couple things at the store and I bought her some new sidewalk chalk that was on sale. It doesn't take that much for my little one to be thrilled. At five, the smallest of gifts is call for jubilation.

Afterward, my child continued to be wonderful. Yes, she did. She played a computer learning game while I washed up the dishes and started dinner and then after her daddy came home, he went outside with her to play with the chalk.



After dinner, since she didn't have her sister here to play with her, I sat with her for just a bit and played with the doll house.

And right before bedtime, her daddy and I were treated to a one-girl puppet\doll show. Our tickets cost $4 in imaginary, invisible money, but it was well worth it, believe me!

When we all took turns talking to her sister and grandma on the phone, it turns out that they, too, had some incredible quality time together. I can't wait to hear more about it!

I am so very thankful that my oldest had this precious time with her grandmother...as you all know, her grandmother is 80, so this is truly precious time they have shared.
And meanwhile, I am so blessed to have had this sweet first day of Kindergarten alone with my youngest.
Each of these opportunities are so rare- and to be treasured.

As every parent will attest to (and every home schooling parent, in particular) not all days are such complete perfection.
Some are both grand and horrible all at the same time. Or even a few have just plain hair-pulling moments from start to finish, whether you home school or not.
I know I have had my share.

But when we can have a day such as this come our way once in awhile, golden and satisfying, it makes parenting completely and totally worth every soiled diaper and ear-shattering tantrum we had to endure.

And when they are all too soon grown and moved away, I just have a feeling that the ones that will remain crystal clear in our memories will be these rare and golden times.
And what they will be remembering, too.

Their Steps

Before I go any further, I wanted to thank my dear friend, Pea, who last week honored me with a new award! Thank you so much, Pea!
True, it seems kind of a humorous award name if you know me very well...I'm a bit shy in person, so schmoozing is the last thing I would probably use to describe myself!
But then I read the meaning behind this award...

It’s an award for those who have the natural ability “to effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Reading this definition make me feel humbled and honored! (Especially, coming from Pea, who personifies this to me!)

Blogging to me has surpassed the original purpose to practice my writing while keeping friends and family updated...it has become a source of encouragement and friendship for me, and I thank all of you who have enriched my life in this past year!

I'm going to think on this one, and come back to bestow the "schmoozes" to a few others! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm hoping you all enjoyed this last weekend of July. The last weekend! I absolutely cannot believe how swiftly this summer is flying by. I know people say that every year, but this summer is careening like a rocket through time, and I wish it would slow it's pace just a bit to a nice, lazy stroll.
But despite it's high speed, God's been able to not just teach me recently through the more painful parenting moments, but also in the slightly less-painful, yet foreign ones.

Saturday was a day of bravery for my oldest. And in a roundabout way, for me, too.

By evening, she had tackled a series of "firsts", ending with a visit the amusement park with her daddy and sister, where she graduated from riding those "big kid" rides...you know, those rides where everyone is screaming and even this mommy will not set foot on.
And I get just as nervous from the ground looking up, so all I can say is, I was glad I wasn't there to watch her on all of them or my fingernails would pretty much be history.


(This one might look tame, but I hear it went quite fast!)

But first, let me back track...
In the morning, my husband was working so I took the girls to a community center carnival. There was a rock climbing setup there, and I was surprised at not only my eight year old's bravery to try it, but my own to allow her with no hesitation. I am the ultimate nervous mommy (and it doesn't help that she broke her arm jumping off a mere 3-ft slide at age four!)
but something clicked in me this weekend, to relax those apron strings just a bit and let her try her wings.
And she conquered that mountain and reached the top!!!



And let me back track just one more time...
Just before this, we had dropped off some books at the library...
where I actually did my first act of bravery as a mommy.

I had awakened this morning with a pulled muscle in my hip, so when we reached the library, we parked almost right in front of the door. I told her she could take the books in all by herself...a first! When she picked her jaw up off the car floor, she excitedly took the books as her younger sister and I watched her like eagles, and she went inside. A moment later, she emerged...a beaming smile of pride upon her face.

This was a huge milestone for us... up until this weekend, she was officially still my very little girl, under my wing of protection, who isn't even allowed to cross the street alone. This weekend, she is still very much under my wing...but I loosened a few feathers just a tad and gave her a bit of wiggle room.

I grew up with very protective parents...so it comes by me naturally.
And yes, protective is good.
But as someone who has this natural bent, I have to continually remind myself that they actually belong to the Lord- He is their true Protector.

Yes, as a parent, I have to pray for wisdom and use it...ask for His guidance and listen...but I have to also relax my hold just a bit...year by year...day by day.
This may be one of the biggest challenges of parenting there can be.

But when I remember how much God loves my children, it becomes just a bit easier.
Then I can start to learn to rest in the fact that they belong to Him.

And that He is ultimately the One who loves, protects and guides them- through the valleys, over the mountains...each and every step of the way.