Katherine, (my great little keeper)
Katie, the oldest of my twins, has been having separation anxiety, in terms of leaving me and going to full-day first-grade. She's six years old, and is realizing the cord has been cut. She's not liking it very much, and it's making her very sad.
It's a bittersweet annoyance to me. I love knowing she wants and needs me so much... but enough is enough. I love having her near me. But I love having her leave so she can bring me back pictures that she draws and crafts she creates without me. I love those arts and craft things they do at school with colored paper, popsicle sticks, glitter and glue! I love hand prints and poems. I love finger-prints and "Mommy, I love you!" messages. I love knowing I was missed, and I love the pictures and kisses I get from them... I love knowing I am the center of their universe.
For as long as it lasts, I treasure those moments, because I know it won't last forever.
They grow, and want to become Big Kids... and become bigger and stronger... and find their own friends who have better houses and bigger rooms and less annoying brothers and sisters and cooler parents with more money and less rules.
Right now, in Katie's mind, I'm The Best, and no one can replace me.
How can I not adore that?
I've been torn, wanting to keep her home with me... keeping my little girl home, safe and sound with mommy, where she belongs, because I need my little girl too.
But the truth is, my little girl needs to grow-up, and become strong, and accept other people's kindness, as well. Yesterday I sent Katie to school with a piece of bright pink fabric with a spray of my favorite perfume, for her to snif anytime she got homesick. I wrote a note to her teacher explaining this. Her teacher wrote back saying that was a great idea, and that there was another little boy in the class having a hard time missing his mommy, too. <smile>. It must be so difficult for the early-age teachers to endure this stage of development with children... especially if the parents are not home taking care of their children.
This morning Katie was in tears again. I was torn. I don't want her to be so upset going to school. I hate having her so upset, and feeling as if I'm sending her away to a place she hates. I thought the comfort-connection would help, but that wasn't enough. She needed more, but what? She needed incentive. That's when it hit me: she needed to feel like she was brave and strong. I needed to teach her she was a big-girl, and show her by telling her, "If you go to school, when you return, I will have a Bravery Reward for you!"
Her face lit up!
I struck gold.
That little wench can be bought like no tomorrow!
I know High-School Musical 2 is her new favorite music... and that girl LOVES to sing, and draw, so I just so happen to have a stationary set I bought the other day that I forgot to give her.
Today is my lucky day... and hers, as she will be rewarded with my smart thinking.
Creativity IS the mother of invention, isn't it... or just dumb luck, either one of the two, I'm not sure anymore. Either way, my little girl is lucky to have a teacher who is a Mrs. AND... I'm lucky to be a SAHM who communicates back to her, "Katie has a mommy who misses her little girl, too".