crazy stupid fun

crazy

1st grade girls...are crazy. I can't believe how mean they are, and catty, and lippy, and just...mean. Ellie has either witnessed or been told by her "friends" that someone/she, can't be friends with them anymore. (FLASHBACK to my 6th grade year when I was told that, too. But for real...6 year olds?) I had to rub my daughter's back last night as she was crying and didn't understand what it meant when someone screamed at her: STOP STEALING MY FRIENDS. Oh dear God help give me the patience and wisdom and tenderness to encourage Ellie and pour into her appropriately.

stupid

imagining my family on 20/20...is stupid. Emma, Griffin, and I took Ellie lunch at school today. It was our week...Ryan and I take turns each week. It's such a fun way to get to see/know all the first graders and also see Ellie's face mid-day. It's only 22 min. long for crying out loud, but at least we're keeping our faces in the school. Today, however, I imagined my family as the token "kid gone missing" episode at 10:00 on a friday night. Ellie left the lunchroom to go get her coat (outdoor recess is right after lunch). I waited for her to come back to the lunchroom, but she didn't. It was toward the end of lunch so I figured she must have just gone outside to play on the playground and just didn't say goodbye to us. I waited in the hallway and didn't see her. I went outside on the playground, but still didn't see her. So I figured she was still in her classroom. on my drive home, however, I started to imagine those tv shows and started freaking out that Ellie was stolen or something. Needless to say, I was soon on the phone with the school, asking them to check to make sure she was in her classroom. Oh man...I became "one of those moms" today.

fun

my kids...they just are SO fun.I really can't say it enough; I just am loving this time with my kids. Friday night family pizza/movie night has become a tradition (tonight was our 7th week in a row) and it's just too great. When the girls were praying for dinner tonight they thanked God that it was Friday so we could have time together. WHAT? I love it. I pray over and over that they just continue to love it.


griffin...my little marshmallow...The kid just cracks me up right now. He is a walking ham. He makes the most hilarious facial expressions, he eats so incredibly much, he plays peek-a-boo but covers his EARS instead of his EYES. I love it. He gives his sisters the most awkward, but adorable, hugs every time he sees them because he just loves them so much. And he loves to sing and dance. I mean for real...like no other one year old I've ever seen. The girls are nutso when it comes to the dance floor, so we have dance parties a lot. But Griffin is NOT ashamed to just break it down. The kid grooves and turns his head sideways and "raises the roof," for lack of a better description. Just too fun...

chicago...most memorable weekend I've had in a loooong time...and SO much fun!

My mom had the greatest idea to take the girls and I to Chicago for Emma's upcoming birthday. She was so excited at the thought of getting the girls an American Girl Doll. So, after inviting my sister (Kiki) and dad (Papa) and loading up the car with big girl purses, clothes, shoes, movies, snacks, and lip gloss...we were off. WHAT a weekend it was. Two nights at the Embassy Suites, lots of rides on cool "alligators" (that's what Emma calls escalators; too cute to correct her, even if she IS almost 4), and elevators, fancy food, shopping on Michigan Ave., deep dish Chicago pizza, and a two and a half hour GIRL TIME in the famous American girl palace, we loaded back up and drove home. It was perfect. I have never enjoyed time with my babes as much as I did last weekend.

Discernment

So that's the word that was in our "Get Wisdom" book this morning. I picked that page to do/talk about because I thought it was appropriate for Ellie now in the social scene at school. :)

I HIGHLY recommend this book...it's amazing.

Anyways, after it defined discernment, it had a few verses from Proverbs 4 in there about choosing the level path. We talked about what that meant and why it's important. The book always gives a few great examples about how the child can apply that word/concept to their life. I added a few of my own in there too. Then, there are some lines for the kids to write out 1 or 2 ways they could practice "discernment," or whatever word is being focused on that day. Ellie was quiet for a looong time so I finally asked her what she wanted to write down. She said she was praying so I waited a minute longer. When she said Amen, I asked her what she was talking to God about. She told me that she didn't want to tell me, and then put her head down. After MUCH reassuring that I wouldn't be mad at her, that it's always better to talk about things and to tell the truth rather than hold it in, and that I loved her no matter what, she opened up to me...

And this was it:
She told a little boy at school to Shut up.

Yep, that was what was breaking her heart. She knew it wasn't ok and that we don't say that word in our house. And she knew there was a better way to handle the fact that this kid was driving her nuts in line (tapping her, talking when they were supposed to be quiet, etc.). So she broke down and said it.
While talking about discernment she realized that she had chosen the wrong path and didn't choose the right way. I LOVE that that scenario from school popped into her mind when we were talking this morning.

Now...praying for MANY MANY MANY more opportunities to talk, confess, pray, and learn together with Ellie...and the other 2 kiddos as well.

7 DAYS OF SCHOOL LATER

Ok...I know sending Ellie to school is right...at least I THINK it's right. Having her home with me last year was the absolute best decision I've ever made though. I am so so so so so so so thankful that I had one more year with my peanut. I'm loving that we made lots of cookies, did lots of laundry together, had lots of chit chats, laughed a lot, got beat in MEMORY games almost weekly...those times are irreplaceable.

...Because NOW...I'm dealing with a tired and emotional and stressed out 6 year old. She's not being bad or whiney, she's just reached her limit. For the first time EVER she didn't want to walk out on the soccer field last night because Ryan and I were dropping her off and leaving to go on a date night. (A much needed date night, nonetheless). A friend of mine (and one of Ellie's favorite people ever) was going to be watching her practice and bringing her home for us. But...when we got to practice, she didn't want to leave my side. She said she couldn't go out there. Yes she ultimately did, and loved it, and did very well...but she was hesitant, and that was weird for her.
This morning...same thing...literally would NOT walk into her classroom. Day 7 of school, lots of genuine tears, wholehearted requests for me not to leave her.Um yeah, talk about ripping my heart out. And this is ELLIE who is my social butterfly and the leader of the pack.

And to top it off she came home saying that a "friend" at school nicknamed another girl "UGLY" and called her that at recess. Ellie said she didn't do it. But how long will she remain OK with not fitting in with the mean girls??

So needless to say, it's been a hard week. It's hard to know what to say and how to respond with wisdom and grace, while instilling courage along the way. Being a parent is hard.