Things are changing a bit around the Webb household. Starting with our backyard. We have been spending pretty much all of our spare time working on our yard. And it is finally starting to pay off. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot to do out there but it’s getting better. We have grass in the front again and nearly have grass in the back now. I got a couple of new pretty pots and planted some pretty dangly plants to put on the upper balcony. My thought is that they will look great from the lower deck. I’ll let you know when we get the decks all cleaned and set up. One of the classes I am taking this term is Relationship with the Environment and one of my assignments is to spend at least an hour a week learning more about a specific space. I think the backyard will be the perfect space. Mostly because the kids love it, and I am loving learning more about how to care for it.
Even more change than the yards however are the kids. It seems all three of them are transitioning into a different stage right now. And let me tell you, that’s a lot of change. As near as I can tell all the changes are positive but transitions around here always come with some ups and downs. I think this is because we all feel a little unsure about being in uncharted territory. I can’t believe how fast the kids are growing and changing. It seems like every day now life is just a little bit different from the day before and while I am truly enjoying the ride (plus it gets easier everyday!) I am fighting for at least enough time to enjoy each moment before we are quickly swept into the next moment.
As I mentioned before, bed time has been a challenge. This is mostly because Daniel is at a strange point between needing us and needing a little space. The last few nights he has actually put himself to sleep which is a-mazing. Now, it’s not actually just as easy as that, there have been a few tears but he can’t seem to settle down with me in the room. He wants to stay awake and play and is rather heartbroken that I don’t want to stay awake and play with him. And let me tell you, it is really hard to tear myself away sometimes. He smiles this sweet, charming, goofy little smile and I have to consciously force myself not to get caught up in it. But even though he is sad that I kiss him good night and walk out of the room the last three nights he has stayed in his bed and sort of half fussed himself to sleep. I am really hoping this trend is going to stick (except without the tears of course). I am also really, really hoping that if he learns to settle himself to sleep maybe, just maybe he will get better at falling back asleep in the middle of the night and perhaps I might start getting a full nights sleep. Cause let me tell you, 3 years of sleep deprivation is really starting to kick me in the butt.
Olivia is also entering a phase of gaining a bit more independence. She can express herself so well now and clearly feels like she has more power over what is going on in her life. This is great because she also has more confidence in herself and has started doing more things on her own like picking out her own clothes and putting them on as well as going potty all by herself when we are at home. I love how proud she is of herself and it has been really fun to watch her test her limits and abilities. The other day we went out to run a few errands just Olivia, Leif and I and she did a lot of this testing. We stopped for lunch and let her pick out her own drink and fill it herself. We also let her clean up the table for us — making several trips over to the garbage all by herself. She couldn’t get enough. She kept coming back to the table and sitting for a little while and then she would find some little errand to do that would take her away from us again. Figuring out just how much she could do, and just how far we were willing to let her go.
And Josh. He’s always been independent. But now he’s, well, an adolescent. We are moving into a stage in his life that I have spent a lot of time trying NOT to think about. I have always been a little intimidated by the thought of having an adolescent and secretly sort of dreaded the idea. But now that we are moving into that place with Josh I find that I am really enjoying it. I mean really enjoying it. In fact, I think I have started to look forward to it! I have absolutely no idea what I am doing though. At least I have a background in early childhood development. I don’t have all the answers but I feel pretty confident trying some different things out. But this? All I know is how hard it was to be this age myself. Josh seems to be handling it quite well though and it is fun seeing him grow into himself. He has definite opinions about most things (for example, music and movies and politics) now and the best part is that he can clearly tell you why he likes one thing over another or believes one idea rather than another. And what I love most is that he will talk to me about it. What I don’t know is how to keep this open dialog going so he always feels like he can tell me what he’s thinking.
The most fascinating part is that with every changing stage for the kids, every time they learn just a little more about themselves, I think that Leif and I are right there with them learning more about ourselves and each other. Perhaps they are also teaching us a little bit along the way.
When I watch the way they interact with each other and others, I think we must be on the right track.
