Transition is complete...

So many of you have inquired about Cole and how he is doing with his time spent at Montessori school. After our initial breakdowns the first two weeks (both Cole's and mine) we have found our new routine and thus new comfort zone. Cole loves his new friends and his teacher and assistants. We pull into the parking lot and he can see the kids on the playground and he gets all excited. Whereas a month ago, he clung to me with tears streaming down his face, he now runs full tilt towards the gate with his million dollar smile and a string of hellos. He rarely even turns back towards me after I plant a kiss on the top of his head after lifting him out of the car. His day of fun, activity and learning is ahead of him.

I so look forward to picking him up and as I pull into the lot I scan the playground for his blond locks, normally to be found pushing the big dump truck or playing in the sand. If they are inside, he is normally, no surprise here, on the MOVE-pushing, stacking, dancing...I catch his eye and he beelines for me, running into my arms, one of the best feelings in the world. He chatters away as I ask about his day, gather his backpack and his daily report and say thank you and goodbye until next time!

He is getting the exposure to do so many things and unlike play dates, the extended time spent with his peers allows him to learn from them. And it shows, as he has mastered quite a few new skills and is much more verbal being around children at his age and slightly older as they communicate together.

I have included below the class collage from his school. I put it in a plastic protector and hung it in Cole's playroom at his level. He likes to go up and point to his friends and teacher and say HI. It is the cutest thing to see him recognize them, like he is saying "hey, I know you".

Toddler trials...

Cole may run me ragged most days as he darts and dashes away beyond my comfortable distance--away from me at the playground, away from me at playgroup in the park, away from me during music class, away from me as I attempt to change his diaper--just insert location and repeat the verb. He looks over his shoulder as he runs from me with that impish grin that says "ha, ha look at me, I can go where I want too, I am Cole"!

Much like his mother, he is bored after 10 minutes in the same venue, looking for something else to experience and explore. Much like his mother, he has to MOVE all the time. Much like his mother, he likes to be in control of his actions. And so it begins, the trials of Cole's growing independence (versus my daily quota of patience).

Oh, I have read the toddler sections in numerous books which gently and not so gently warn me about the few LONG miles up the road ahead. There are sections in the library solely about parental coping mechanisms in dealing with toddlers finding their way in their fascinating but frustrating world. You have to digest what is the best route for you and navigate accordingly. However, despite having a guide or two, I need to be able to change course and adjust, all the while remaining calm and in control to give the illusion that I know exactly where I am going.

So though I think I know where I am going most days, the unexpected detours sometimes cause me to go around and around in circles. Until I can get in the right lane again, exit and be on our way, who knew how difficult and how much sheer endurance (mental and physical) it takes to follow the directions that Dave and I have chosen to follow!?

To ignore bad behaviors as long as they are attention seeking and not dangerous. I am either on the verge of laughing as he pouts and/or throws a fit OR I am vainly attempting to relax my posture and keep my voice steady as he goes limp and shrieks on the sidewalk (as our neighbors glance our way) because he does not want to go inside.

To explain why something is inappropriate, despite knowing he is young but realizing he understands way more than I thought possible. I find myself providing contradictory information to my 18 month old as I tell him not to throw his toys but seconds later I am throwing the ball (or whatever random toy) to Tucker.

To give two options when correcting inappropriate actions (obviously only one being the desired result) which enables him to choose and makes him liable for his decision. I find myself tongue tied when in a split moment's notice I am forced to think of the secondary option.

To use time outs wisely and above all else be consistent. I can feel the heat creeping up the back of my neck as I know a time out is the right thing to do in a situation but I am at someone else's home. Thus I feel the other mother's eyes upon us as I carry my twisting back-arching son to a quiet place for his one minute time to think (seem like forever for him AND me).

I realize with time that discipline will get easier (won't it?). It just seems as if I master one phase of parenting only to learn that the bar has been raised yet again. Well, I guess that is okay, I wouldn't want to be bored, sit around all day and/or not be challenged. So Cole, just be you and I'll figure out the path as we walk (or run) it!

A bit of interesting trivia for this week's post...

It has been an incredibly busy week and I have yet to find the time to draft a worthwhile post, so I will cut and paste some interesting trivia for you this week relating to Cole's birthdate.

Samichlaus, which means "Santa Claus" in Swiss German, is one of the rarest beers in the world, brewed once a year on December 6th, naturally aged before bottling, and distributed one year later. This beer was once the world's strongest lager (around 14% alcohol by volume) and has been listed in The Guinness Book of Records. Unlike other lagers, it should be stored at cellar temperatures in order to enhance its definite ale- like qualities. Creamy, soothing and gently warming, it is best served after dinner.

Switzerland is among those countries that separate the celebration of Santa Claus, and the giving of gifts, from that of Christmas itself. December 6 is Saint Nicholas' Eve, and that is when each new batch of the potent brew is made, at Zurich's Hürlimann brewery, and laid down to mature in the cold cellars. Samichlaus was first made in 1980, when Hürlimann decided to pit its super-yeast against other techniques being used to produce very strong lagers across the German border.


The cost of this famous but rare beer is 3 for $68.01, 6 for $128.88, 12 for $243.36. So maybe when Cole turns 21, we will splurge (at $22 a bottle that is a few bucks per sip) and celebrate his coming of age with some Samichlaus.

Please don't lick the rock...

After living on this earth for nearly 37 years and having had the privilege to have seen and experienced so much, I would have to say after 18 months in my role as MOM, that becoming a parent exposes you to situations that you never even considered as possibilities. It is truly amazing that many of my inhibitions and before-child notions have faded and been replaced by more useful and primitive impulses. Here are a few that come to mind:

Did I ever think I would be wiping my son's boogers from his nose at the playground and unprepared without tissues end up wiping them on my own sleeve?

Did I ever think I would sing in public or hop around like a frog only to do it every week during Cole's music class?

Did I ever imagine that I could read the same book over and over and over and over when I won't even watch the same movie twice?

Did I ever imagine that I would spit into Cole's hand at the park to help wash the dirt away from a new "ouchy"?

Did I ever believe I would voluntarily offer to clean up the poop from the bathtub mishap rather than cook dinner?

Did I ever believe I would be saying such things as "please don't lick the rock"?