Blessed Unrest

Asher: "Adirah do you want me to be a vaaaaahhhhmpire?" Adirah: "Yes, but don't be a mean one of those" Asher: "Actually they are all are mean. Vampires suck blood" Adirah: "Okay, but don't hurt my body" Asher "They don't hurt bodies, they just suck blood" Adirah: "OK, dont' suck my blood" Asher: "OK,......Mom do you have a safety pin?"

At 2 yrs and 8 months: When she hides she calls out "Where is me? Where is me?" When I ask her to do something she says "I'm are doing that!" Example "I'm are being careful mommy!" She can follow through a complete knock knock joke. "Knock Knock, who's there? Cow say. Cow say who? No! Cow say Moo!" July 28, 2011 Today Adirah watched me make hamburgers for Asher. While I was cooking she said, "There is folk in there!" "Food in there?" I said "No ! F F FFFOKE!" "Foke?" I said, "NOOOO, Uhhhh," Adirah said exasporated, "Fmoke!" "Smoke?" I asked? "Yes!" She said "Foke!" July 30, 2011 Funny conversation with Adirah: Me: "Look I got new toothpaste!" Adirah: "Is it pink?" Me: "Yes, it is pink." Adirah: "Who is it for? It is for little kids? Is it for me?" Me...

It has been Seven months since Adirah stopped napping so when something happens to make her nap it is noteworthy. Yesterday Adirah had a fever. "I'm tired" she says as she does EVERY DAY around 2pm but EVERY OTHER DAY she won't nap no matter what I do to try to get her to sleep during the day. She sat on my bed watching curious George on the iPad. When she became too tired to watch anymore, she curled up and fell asleep. And she slept. And slept. I stayed right next to her watching her sleep. She didn't look worried that she might fall off the bed-as I was. She slept for THREE HOURS. And never once did she wake up, groggy and disoriented and think "I'm late to pick someone up from school"-as would happen to me I ever was able to nap in the afternoon. She didn't have to worry if the kids were unattended or if someone was hungry. I watched her face and I saw complete relaxation. Complete trust. I was there to watch over her...

This is a letter I wrote to Adirah's teachers at her Montessori school. This morning, Adirah set up her own tea party. She chose the tablecloth and the tiny cups and plates from her tea set.  Next, she found some flowers and set them in a vase in the middle of the table. These are simple tasks, but seeing her standing on tip toe with a determined look in her face to reach the water-reminded me of being a child and for a moment I could almost see what she was seeing and feel what she was feeling. She put the lid on her teapot and held it firmly walking heel to toe over to the table.  This action brought tears to my eyes. I felt so happy that she has had this Montessori experience for these years. And it tugs on my heart that her time in the preschool classroom will end one day (soon!!). Of course, I see her perform dozens of tasks independently each day.  But today, the tablecloth, the plates, the teapot, the cups and the flowers had a profound effect on me. Maybe ...

Asher : "Passover is the one with all the Matzoh right?" Adirah (5 1/2): How many days until my spring tea? Me: Seven days Adirah: But what does that add up to? Me: Well there are seven days in a week Adirah: Nooooooo! What does it add up to? How many? Me: Well a day is 24 hours and there are seven of those until your spring tea. Adirah: You don't understand! Me: Well, honey, there are seven days in a week and there are about four weeks in a month (I thought for a moment about how I was going to explain that only February had exactly 28 days and not even all of the time) Adirah: (Getting very frustrated) No how much does it add up to? Adirah threw out her arm incensed and then held up some fingers, How much? Me: Ohhhhh (thinking now about her Montessori training) 3 +4 equals 7, or 5+2 equals 7. Adirah:(Smiling) 3+4. Okay

Morning with Asher: 8 yrs old 7:45 wake up  Asher "Why did you open the curtains too bright! Too bright!" Grumble and other noises Me: "Okay, I will close the curtains if you get up." Several more tries. Finally Asher gets up. And gets dressed SLOWLY Asher comes downstairs and begins to draw. Me: "Asher I need you to get your shoes and socks on" Asher : No response Me: "We have 10 minutes, please get your shoes and socks on." Asher fidgets with a sock. I make his breakfast and finish making his lunch. I also pack up a hearty snack. I go over to Asher . He has one sock on. On the way to school he grumbles "Why do we have to walk? My legs hurt." "The more often we walk the more stamina you will build,"  I say wondering why I at 45 have more energy than an 8 yr old. He walks more slowly. He hates school. "I packed a yogurt," I say "I won't eat it" he says.