Milestones

At 5 in the morning, Adeline cried that she had an owie and came into our bed. Two minutes later, she needed to do a poopy and that was it. Adeline was potty trained... or so we hope. She's refused a diaper since then and no accidents! Woo hoo. I'm not holding my breath.

She went to school today in a glittery pink tutu that slipped off her shoulders. She wanted that and a pink, flowered cape and silver shoes. She was jumping and running "like a kitty" when I picked her up. It is so interesting to see her in an element other than what she is used to and still thriving and happy.

George, too. He is so happy at school. With everything. He loves the French... which he is finally starting to share with us... the teachers, the kids, the activities. He only wants to learn more when he gets home, and I feel so good about our choice for him.

Cole is ever the enigma. I don't know if it's perfect for him or not. He never cries. He's excited to see the other kids. I am always worried that someone does not "get" Cole, but maybe I protect him too much. The 2nd language for anyone is good, I think. Isn't it? I hesitate and then tonight after I passed down his superman pjs to Adeline, he wants to know where his new ones are. I fumble to find some. I grab the blue bottoms, "Here they are!" He looks at the writing skeptically and sounds it out, "Sp...sp...sp..iderman. These are Spiderman's." I wasn't really trying to bluff him as the Superman ones are exactly the same with no logo but they do say 'superman' and not 'spiderman.' 

"When did you learn to read?" I asked incredulously.

"Those don't say superman, they say spiderman."

I go in search of the other pajama bottoms and find them in George's drawer. I hand them proudly to Cole. He checks the tag.

"Su-per-man. Yes. These are them."

Just when I think he's not getting much out of something (because he doesn't share it), I find out he's doing just fine.

Parenting is a constant reminder that you never know what you thought you knew. 

Cole likes to know what happens next. "And what's next?" Sometimes we go through the whole year (with particular emphasis on holidays because he likes to imagine them) and finally I stop, Tonight, Tom did not. He went through many years (then kindergarten..."And what's next?"...then first grade...etc.) until Cole was a very old man. 

"And what's next?"

Tom sighed and tried to explain death. Well... then you die. You get very tired. You have gray hair. It's a little bit like going to sleep. You have your family all around you.

"Why do you die?"

Your body is ready.

"But why do you die when you're not even fighting!"

Tom explained how everything gets old... flowers, trees, all living things.  Every body has a time. Cole took that in.

"Like Yoda?"

It's the only (non Power Ranger/robot fighting) death he's seen, and it's a nice reference actually.

Yes, said Tom.

And I am sure Cole lay there and thought about that for a long, long time.

 

Comments

[Babu]

I love the way you know your children!! You are aware of their individualalities and how they react to the world in their own separate ways. Many parents don't see the differences in their children and treat them the same even though they have different personalities and needs. George, Cole and Adeline are lucky to have you and Tom.