The spelling bee...

The past few days Zack has been into figuring out what letter starts a word.

For example he came running down the stairs all excited telling me to listen. He proceeds to say the words bumble bee bully. Then he looked at me and said "Mommy, the word bumble starts with a b and so does the word bully."

When in the car, he wanted me to say words so he can figure out the letter. He did real well by sounding them out and telling me the letter.

Tonight while I was reading to him before bed, he pointed to a word in the book before I read it and he asked "Mommy does this word spell UP?" High five to my big boy. The next page he pointed to another word and asked if it was GO. High fives again!

I just can not believe how much he is growing and how fast he is learning things at his own pace.

The little know it all.

It is getting a little bit better and easier getting Zack to school in the morning. This morning was a rushed morning but when we got to the school, one of his friends was getting there at the same time. Both of them grabbed hands and walked into the school together. It was just so cute.

Picking up Zack from school today, I notice all the kiddos are outside in the fenced in play yard. I don't spot Zack so that tells me he already spotted me and is inside getting his backpack and ready to head home. The assistant teacher walks him out and we meet in the middle. She proceeds to tell me that the teacher woke him up at nap time (he was not sleeping but she let him get up). She took him into her office to play a game. She was testing him on what he already knew.

The assistant starts laughing and says "Gee could you work with him a little, he knew everything she asked." I giggled because really we don't sit and teach him things we just take the time while we are doing other things to point out stuff.

It did feel good getting a pat on the back though.

Logic

Four year old logic...

Zack has not played his Nintendo DS in several weeks, tonight he decides to sit down and play it. Out comes his Monster vs aliens game. For about 15 minutes I am hearing him say things like take that, and oh no they got me. All of a sudden he turns to me and says "Hey Mom, if I beat this level and make this guy dead, then he will be dead for life"!

The human cookbook.

Need a recipe for something? Just ask Zack.

Sunday morning I asked Zack if he wanted some pancakes for breakfast. Of course he was all for it. I couldn't find the recipe I had so I looked on line for one similar. Zack asked me what I was doing on the computer so I told him I was looking for a recipe. After rolling his eyes at me he responded with a "Mom the recipe is 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and an extra teaspoon of baking powder".

I just had to laugh because yet again he proves to me that he may only be four but he is listening to me.

Just for clarification... I did not use his recipe because that would have been a bit too sweet for me. LOL.

Eggs

Zack: "Hey Mom, what are you doing?"

Me: "I am making some hard boiled eggs to make deviled eggs."

Several hours later...

Zack: "Hey Dad, Mommy made some HOT boiled eggs today. Do you want a Hot boiled egg?"

Letting it go

It was past Zacks bed time so I asked Kris which job he wanted to do. The choices were to give Zack a quick bath or to change the sheets on Zacks bed. Well Kris chose to do the bed. Mind you I had already taken the dirty sheets off the bed, the pillow cases off the pillows and gotten the cleans sheets out and they were sitting on the bed.

When I got Zack all cleaned, dried off, teeth brushed, ears cleaned, and hair blow dried we went into his room to get dressed. I asked Kris what the heck was up that he didn't finished the bed. Apparently putting the pillow cases on the pillows and the pillows back on the bed isn't part of making up the bed. While I was stating my case, my darling child looked at me put both of his hands up and said " Mom just let it go, just let it go. Mom it is just a matter of letting it go."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

The excuses

I fear the future with this child of mine...

Tonight while giving Zack a bath, he said "Mommy how many more days do I get to stay home before I have to go back to school?" I let him know that he is able to stay home for three days and two have already passed so he has one more day to stay home. I swear he looked me straight in the eye and said "Sorry mom. I won't be able to go to school because I have the allergies!"

I politely told him he could go to school with allergies. I reminded him that if he could go to the playground with allergies he surely could go to school. He wasn't very happy with my response.

The giver

Both Zack and I woke up with signs of allergies. Poor kiddo asked for some medicine so I know it is bothering him.

He asked me what allergies are but I don't quite think he is getting the explanation because after I told him that I have allergies too he gave me quite the nasty look and said " Mom why did you give me the allergies?!"

I fear now that I will be blamed for every problem he ever has...

(sound familiar mom?)

Separation anxiety.

Today was a pretty long day.
When I finally left to go pick up Zack from his first day of pre-k, I wanted so much to hear him tell me how much he loved it. Did I get that?

Yes
&
No.

Once he realized I walked into the room the words out of his mouth was "Hi Mom, lets go." I let him know he needed to get his lunch box and his back pack. Once he grabbed them from his cubbie, he let me know he wanted to go home.

He waved goodbye to the teachers and to the classmates that were still waiting on their parents. I told him to tell them he would see them tomorrow. He did, although somewhat reluctantly.

It was like pulling teeth trying to get him to tell me some of the things he did today.

Once we finally walked to the car and got buckled in he said in a loud clear voice "Mom I had a great day but I DON'T want to go back tomorrow."

Trying to explain to a reluctant 4 year old that he doesn't really have a choice in the matter is a very hard thing to do. I think it is even harder since I still felt so terribly awful about abandoning him while he was begging me so hard to not leave him.

Tomorrow Kris takes him since I have to leave before he goes to school. I can only hope and pray that he has a better time handling the whole thing of being left there.

Worst Parent in the world!

And the Parent of the Year Award goes to...

someone other than me.

It is official!

I am the worst parent in the world.

At least that is how I feel right now. You see This morning was Zacks first day of Pre-K.
He woke up ready for the day to begin. He was happy and smiling and oh so cheery.
He was great getting ready for school. He was oh so happy and smiling taking pictures before we left the house. He was excited talking with a teacher we met out in the parking lot. He was excited walking into the classroom. He put his backpack and lunch box down and he went to some of the toys. Once he started seeing parents leave, his comfort zone was broken and he was getting ready to meltdown.

He clung to my leg like it was his last life line. He cried, he begged me not to leave him. He begged me to take him with me. He begged me to stay with him. Kris asked him for a kiss so he let go of me and clung to Kris. I had to walk out at that point or I would have lost right there.

It was about ten minutes before Kris came out. I swear I heard my kiddo scream when he opened that door. The drive home was deadly silent.

I have not received a phone call yet and it has been an hour since we left so I will go ahead and assume they were able to calm him down.

Oh why do I feel this is going to be the longest day of my life?

Anxiety in the making.

Little one starts pre-k tomorrow and I know it is a good thing BUT I want to know why I am already feeling nervous about sending him?

Can it be that he and I are rarely apart from each other? Can it be that he is getting a little bit anxious? Could it be because he keeps asking me if I will come to school with him? Could it be because no-one other than a family member has ever watched him when he is out of my sight?

Could it be all of the above?

Whatever the reason or reasons I know that as much as he can annoy the crud out of me on a daily basis, I will miss him terribly for 6 hours a day.