August 2011 Updates- Michael Edition

Michael is a mixed bag on any day of the week.

He can demonstrate cooperation, empathy and ring-leadership.  He can also scream, argue, cry, whine, resist and cause general chaos.  He is the one most often sent to a time out on the stairs or in his room.  He takes up ALOT of my time, to be perfectly honest.

(I'm interested to see if our days smooth out a bit once he is in school all day OR if one of his siblings steps up to fill his tantrummy shoes.)

Despite his flair for the dramatic, Michael really is a great little guy.  He just needs to get his emotions in check and not let them get the best of him.  Under non-tantrum conditions, he is so much fun.  I love that we can have a real deal conversation.  I love hearing his ideas, the way his mind puts things together and processes.  I love hearing him recount a story to me or tell me about his dream.

I can't believe he is on the brink of starting kindergarten (in four days!).  I feel nervous, hoping that I've prepared him well enough.  Sometimes when I hear what other kids his age or younger can do, I feel that I've let him down because I haven't practiced certain skills with him.  I hope I haven't done him too much of a disservice.

I know he is ready to do this school thing.  Michael loves structure and schedule and being expected to do things independently.  He also loves tasks and activities.  I think he will love being part of a class- if preschool is any indication.  I think he will miss having so much time with his best playmate Liam but I think that everyone will adjust to the new normal. 

[BTW, Liam is clearly upset with this pending change- worried face, asking lots of questions, a bit mopey.  But I have a feeling once he realizes that we get to have buddy time, it will ease the transition for him.  He also resumes speech therapy and gets to meet his preschool teacher- she comes to our house!- this Tuesday so that will definitely help as well.]

Michael has been a bit overreactive this past week (even by his standards).  I wonder if this is his way of venting some nervous feelings about school.  We've talked it up, have a countdown calendar, got a mailing from his teacher...he knows it's getting close.  There is an orientation this Friday and I think it will help us all feel a little less nervous about that first official day.

It's hard for me to write about Michael outside of kindergarten right now.  I should quickly mention that he did great with swim lessons over the summer, is about ready to try his bike without training wheels and is signed up for t-ball for the first time.  So right now, there is so much anticipation about what is to come.  A new chapter is just beginning...

Standing on the picnic table because....well, why not?