Wild By Nature

Conferencing

Terry and I had Wyatt's first parent teacher conference the other day.  I wasn't nervous.  Just apprehensive, I guess.  I know Wyatt is very smart.  His vocabulary is amazing and he makes quick connections.  I know he is a good kid.  They have told me about one incident when he got angry and pushed a little girl on the playground.  They said he admitted to it immediately and then was crying and so upset about it that they felt bad punishing him.  He was punishing himself far worse then their time out would.  I know he flaps his arms, jumps and rubs his hands when he gets excited but only when he gets excited.  It is like his excitement cannot be contained and spills out through his entire body. I know he can't pronounce certain words.  But others like carburetor, amphibious, frustrated or sea anemone, he can say perfectly and in context.  I know he sometimes has trouble concentrating on things he doesn't want to do.  He can sit for hours, explicitly following Lego directions, but has trouble sitting still while eating dinner for 5 minutes.

I know all of these things about my son but my worst fear was they were going to tell me something I didn't know.  Something that I wasn't aware of.  Something that I didn't know to look for or be concerned about.  His inability to pronounce L's is endearing, not concerning.  His attention span is classic 4 year old boy, nothing to worry about.  His flapping makes me want to hug the child till he pukes, not an early sign of something bigger.  His excitement around other kids is because he is an only child, not because he is anti-social.

I love Wyatt's teachers.  I respect them.  They are with Wyatt 9 hours a week.  I value their opinion.  I appreciate that they have more experience with younger kids then I do.  But it is also hard to hear someone else talk about your kid.

Most of what they said was positive.  No surprises.  They did mention a few things that I was concerned about myself.  They think his L's will mature with time.  And his stammer, when he is trying to find the right word, is from excitement and nothing more.  He could use with some more interaction with other kids, but I know that.  Hence the two story-times, soccer, YMCA class, and of course the East Ave summer camp that will be starting shortly. We will keep working on his letters and numbers, his penmanship, his concentration.  But they were quick to remind me that even as adults things that interest us hold our attention for longer.  Basically, they confirmed what I already knew; that Wyatt is a pretty amazing kid and I couldn't be prouder.

So Long Winter...

49 Months

Goose,

The dust has settled from your birthday.  Just barely. You are still talking about presents you want for your birthday.  Child, you got enough.  Trust me.  And, Thank God, you finally are including 4 in your counting!

A Wyatt Original

We took a lovely mini-vacation to visit Mia and Kelly (and significant others) in Boston.  It was just nice to get out of the state for a while.  Pretend we were somewhere warm.  We went for a hike in the woods and you brought your camera.  Honestly, some of the pictures came out pretty damn good.  You might have an eye already.  It is just too bad that the picture quality isn't too great.  I might even frame some.  I'm not even sure if you meant to do it, capture the texture of the leaves or a ray of light, but you did.  On our way home we stopped at the Boston Aquarium.  You have been watching this new show on Disney called the Octonauts.  You're obsessed and have a new found interest in marine life.  I swear, you were running around the aquarium telling me which blob of colorfulness was which.  "Look Mom!  Its an anemone!  Its a comb jellyfish!  Its a sea cucumber!"  Or directing where we should go next.  "Mom, where are the pilot fish?" Most of the time I had no idea what you were talking about.  I had to keep checking the map.  You ran through that place.

I was determined to get you on skis this winter. Unfortunately, we have had one day of snow compared to last years 50 million.  So, I figured Boston was about as far north as we were going to get.  I found this little mountain about 30 mins from Mia's house.  I got you all geared up and you lasted 2 runs.  I decided to just stick with you in my boots in case you needed an extra hand.  I got you sliding your feet and then we went up the bunny hill.  You did it once holding onto me for dear life and the second run you let go a little.  When you did you started yelling, "Mom!  I'm skiing!!  Look, I'm skiing!"  Before reaching to grab a hold of me again.  After that, you asked for some hot chocolate.  It was very cute and I wasn't going to push it on your first time.  Hopefully, next year we will have more opportunities.

You finally had another audition.  We were on a little drought there for a while.  I wouldn't mention it but you said the darnest thing right afterward.  Aunt Wiz was trying to explain to you what you were suppose to do when they called your name.  In some vague way she offered, you have to do what they say and then they will give you money to buy lots of toys.  Yes.  That is what she told you.  So, you go in and look perfect and adorable.  When it was over you marched straight to Aunt Wizzie and say "I did everything they told me to do.  Are they going to give me money now?"  Ehh, no.  Not quite yet.  All the parents around us started laughing and we rushed to get you out of there before you said something else.

You have perfected this uncanny ability to know just when I am going to loose it.  When you are so close to pushing my last button and earning yourself a time out. When you have asked to too many times for water at bedtime.  When I am about to loose my patience.  Just before that happens you run to me, throw your arms around any part of me that you can reach and say "I love you, Mom."  I don't know how you have figured it out but you have.  Of course I am a sucker for your I love yous.  It might not get you out of a time out but it will certainly buy you some more time.  I might not have figured you out but you definitely have figured me out.

I love you everyday,
Momma