First week down and one "wobbly" tooth

Well, Alyssa completed her first full (well almost full since we had off on Monday) week of school in her new classroom. She transitioned AMAZINGLY!!! She went into the new room without hesitation and didn't look back. She went on the bus, no problem. This class is more structured than her previous EI class, so they are seeing more of the off task and self-directed behaviors that I always see at home. Her previous class, while wonderfully nurturing was very much child-initiated. Great for a child who loves to be self-directed and will engage in self-selected activities FOREVER. Not great if that is an area that needs to be worked on. Alyssa needs to be able to accept more adult direction. She needs to learn how to transition when activities are not necessarily "preferred." She needs to initiate help and interactions. She had many opportunities to do all of these things this week and she shocked us all with the ease in which she did it. I am realistic that this just may have been the "honeymoon." But I am truly overcome with joy and pride. My sweet girl has come soooooo far. This past holiday season she nearly brought us all to tears as she joyfully jumped into the arms of a good family friend. NOT TYPICAL.....AT....ALL. She is growing and blossoming and becoming more at ease with the world. The sky is the limit and for the first time in a long time....I can breathe. I can cautiously breathe that she will overcome these obstacles or at least develop the coping skills that she needs to feel good about herself and less stressed.

Emily had her own milestone this week and I am as equally weepy over it. During breakfast this morning, I was doing my typical morning craziness routine...coaxing them to eat....blow drying my hair....settling arguments, etc. Emily starts complaining that her tooth hurts so bad that she can't eat her breakfast. Yeah right, just a new tactic to avoid eating. I tell her to swallow and then I check her teeth. We discover a loose front tooth. She began to grin and shouted, "I HAVE A WOBBLY TOOTH." We were both excited about the prospect of a visit from the tooth fairy, but to tell you the truth. Deep down inside, I felt a pang of sadness. My baby is going to loose her first tooth. Not like she is going on her first date (God help me), but sad to me nonetheless. Every new stage is fun and wonderful (most of the time), but I don't want them to grow up......I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T!!!! If I say it long enough and loud enough, you think they won't.



Nah, I didn't think so........