I suppose, in the first place, that was a misleading title a couple posts ago - I was tired and couldn't think of anything more creative. But how kind of you to anticipate missing me if I were gone! Funny how we weren't closer friends back in Greenville, while I think now we would be. The online connections are something, though, and I've really come to treasure your blog and your comments on mine, so our blogging friendship means a great deal to me. *sniff, sniff* :-)
Aimee did indeed do a great job with the pie-throwing, the only indications of her sensory issues ("issues" is such a less threatening word than "problems," isn't it!) being that she declined to smash the pie around in "Mr. Steve's" face, as her friends begged her to do, and she didn't stick around to exult over her victim, as she can't stand the sight of food on someone's face (which in this house full of boys she often eats in another room by herself). My, THAT was a mouthful! At any rate, had figured she would probably love doing it, and that the excitement over being the winner of the contest would overrule anything else.
Finally, I've been meaning to share this with you - back a few months ago, I was reading your blog when Dave walked by the computer and glanced at what I was doing. "Hey, I know her," he remarked. "That's...Hannah, right?" I said yes and complimented him on remembering something like that - this is, after all, the man who confuses Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts, among other things! - and he began to chuckle a little. "Her son's name is Ian, right? Blond hair?" Yes on both counts, as I continued to be amazed he would remember this from several years ago, after only seeing you guys briefly on a couple occassions. "It was her husband, right, who came to our apartment in Greenville to get a diaper for Ian?" at which I burst out laughing at the memory myself. Apparently that was amusing enough to stand out vivdly in Dave's mind, while I had nearly forgotten it, but it was funny. Do you remember that incident? I can't remember enough of the details to explain it sufficiently to everyone else here, but I thought you might appreciate it. :-)
Dave is working this morning, and I've got to get everyone to church this morning by myself, so I guess I should start getting about that. It's not actually the getting everyone there that's the challenge; it's rather being there that presents the problems. We don't use the nursery for various reasons, and I believe firmly in letting each child determine his or her own readiness for independence. For both Aimee and Drew, this has worked beautifully, and they both now choose to go to Sunday School and Children's Church; social butterfly Aimee never had much separation anxiety in the first place, and Drew was glued to me until exactly two years old, when he suddenly decided he would like venture out every now and then. Now I have Ryan and Chase, and while I am prepared to walk the halls with Chase for some time still (Dave and I take turns at this, I must add), I confess I am beginning to doubt myself where it concerns Ryan's attachment. He adamantly refuses to attend any children's services, even with one or both of his siblings present, and he is too big (and loud) for me to take along with me in Sunday School (as I could Chase), as well as not very cooperative for very long in church (again, Chase is a little easier there, too). This means that two people are almost essential - one to quickly escort the little ones out when Ryan becomes too noisy, and one to sit with the older ones. When I'm by myself, things can get a little hairy, and I can't help wishing Ryan would be ready for that little bit of independence already!
3 comments:
Anne, I want to commend you for having the conviction to allow your children to decide when they are ready to enter the institutional world that is childrens' church! Having taught for many years, it always pained me to see those traumatized faces. All children progress at different times and have their own comfort zones. Isn't that one of the reasons to homeschool? (Actually, I think that list is endless...) The very real idea that our children should learn and do things @ their own pace should be paramount. I must confess having a child not read until 2nd grade was tough. People give you the strangest looks! However, I feel vindicated having a 16 year old who loves to read and always scores in college level on comprehension/vocabulary/spelling. So, I think there is much to be said for letting them be comfortable with their inate sense of when they are ready for something.
~Rebbi~
OMGosh, I remember that diaper incident! Too funny. :)
Yes, I remember the diaper incident, although I'd forgotten about it until you reminded me with your post. Tim got a good chuckle out it too!
Thanks so much for posting for me -- I'm honored. :-) It's amazing how you can come to feel close to someone just by reading and responding to each other's written thoughts. I wonder if that's why we've been able to get closer than in Greenville -- we both seem to express ourselves better in writing, and we can give and take without the barriers of either shyness or a fear of "just talking about myself all the time." Anyway, yes, it's great, and I'm glad to have someone praying for me and someone to pray for who's "in the trenches" with me!
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