Busy busy

October has literally snuck up on me. You kept saying something to me earlier this week about "Octember", and when I tried to correct you with October, you insisted on the former. I totally missed that warning. Driving to work this morning one of the side streets had those "no parking 10-01-08" signs posted everywhere. There were in fact no cars parked anywhere and I thought to myself how funny it was that people saw the sign and automatically didn't park... without bothering to see that the date wasn't until October 1. News flash!!! It IS October 1st. A quick glance at my watch once I got to work set me straight, and really surprised me. Which brings me to the point of this whole thought. It's been almost a month since we last made an entry!

Where did September go? In many different directions. It seems that September was even busier than the summer.

Despite the lack of entries, your new routine of daily preschool has meant you come home almost daily with a new "thing" to share. From the story about the Wright Brothers searching for the correct propeller to make the first flying machine move forward, to the "skip to my lou" song complete with verbal instruction and demonstration on how to skip, to discussions about how to properly carry a pitcher of water to the table (slowly, with two hands), to talk about Africa and Asia, to today's serenade of the "Dylan dylan bo bylan Banana-fana fo fana....."
song complete with many other classmates names inserted appropriately, your little mind is filling up with new things, and you're kind enough to give us little glimpses.

Since I don't get a chance to see what goes on in the classroom, your teacher called the other day to give me the run down. I was glad to hear you wait your turn to do things, as you are not so patient in the social settings I see. She mentioned you are very interested in many things, you're very verbal, you really like the practical life work (as evidenced by your insistence on helping me every time I'm in the kitchen doing anything), and you have generally adjusted very well to the teaching style. The word "assertive" was used to describe you. Somehow that word puts a positive spin on the behavior I might describe a bit differently.

Your teacher asked us to help work on slowing you down at home, as you like to run to your next activity and do things too quickly at school. She says she tries to emphasize that it's not a race, and the process, not product is more important. Very Montessori for sure. I had to laugh at this, as I'm pretty sure that left to your own devices it would take you at least two hours to get dressed in the morning, at least two hours to complete every meal, and a half hour to get in and out of the car, EVERY TIME. Yes, moving quickly is certainly not a frequently exemplified skill at home. At least not without a serious amount of prodding.

I do miss our Wednesday and Thursday mornings together, and though I have found ways to fit those activities we used to do together into your now quite busy schedule, it is not the same. There is little time to just relax, go with the flow, and see what the day brings. That is reserved for those rare weekend days where we don't have any previous commitments. Weekdays are scheduled from wake-up to bed-time. And so it begins, before you even turn three.