Being the bad and lazy mother I am, I didn’t really actually do any updates for Mylie on her birthday this year. Nor did I post her first day of school pictures. So, to redeem myself, I’m combining it all into one. Here. Now. Better than nothing, right?
Mylie started her second year of preschool in September. This year, instead of going to the high school program, we have opted to do a co-op. I wanted to try my hand at being a little more proactive in her education, as last year I found it was a little to easy to sit back and watch (or not watch, as the case may be). So, we found a wonderful curriculum and a little group of 8 kids and have jumped in with two feet. Mylie seems to be having a great time, and if you ask her she will consistently tell you that her favorite part of preschool is “snack.”
And where to I begin with the updates?
Mylie is four. She loves to mention that to any guests at our house. She is so very excited to be so grown up, and I have to say the feeling is mutual. By the end of her “threes,” I wasn’t sure if she and I were going to make it much longer under the same roof. And though we are still challenged at times, I am able to see a very tiny light at the end of the tunnel. Tantrums have toned down a bit, as has her obsessive compulsions over things like textures and dirt and the tightness of her clothes. Those things still bother her, but she is developing better coping skills to handle them, especially when she can’t change them. I’ll hear her say things like, “I’m going to deal with it, Mom,” which is a HUGE step for us.
By the end of summer, Mylie was really ready to get back to dance. She got to move up to the next level this year, which moves much faster, and keeps her on her toes (no pun intended….really!). She really does have a budding talent, and has been able to recognize the value of practicing. She will say, “Look Mom! I’ve been practicing!” when she gets something right.
I’ve also started giving her some informal piano lessons. I broke out my old Level 1 piano books, and she’s been enjoying them. Now, before you go accusing me of bragging or being one of those pushy stage moms, let me clarify. I’ve come to the realization this year that I am just not crafty. I don’t have a huge wall of craft supplies all neatly organized. I can’t pull fun projects out of my rear thin air. Trying to put them together stresses me out. But I can dance with her. And I can teach her piano. And it’s been (mostly) fun. At first, I was a bit frustrated by her inability to listen to ANY sort of direction before proclaiming she could do it. Yes, I know she’s four, but still. At least pretend to listen to me. But last weekend, something clicked for us, and in the last 4 days, she’s learned two songs! And since she’s had freakishly large hands since birth, I think she’s got a good future ahead of her.
I continue to be amazed at her memory, and that’s kind of an understatement. There are times when I swear the girl has not forgotten a word I’ve said to her, ever. Even (and sometimes, especially) when I don’t think she’s paying attention. For instance, we have started to read the Articles of Faith (some of our scriptures) every night after dinner. Though she often doesn’t seem to be paying attention, the next night when we come back to them, she has a good portion of the previous night’s memorized. After two days she could recite the first two, and we didn’t even think she was listening.
Also, one time she asked me where the gas from our cars came from. I explained the process once in layman’s terms as I knew it (from dinosaurs, to bones, to oil, to pumps, to factories, to trucks, to gas stations, to cars) and she repeated it nearly verbatim to anyone who would listen for the next week. On September 11th, she started asking about why the flags were flying, and I tried to give her a not-too-scary-but-truthful explanation. Tonight, without prompting, she retold the story again….flawlessly.
I’m sometimes afraid I’m not enough for her. The girl totally wears me out. Not physically, but mentally. My introverted mind needs breaks, and being the extrovert she is, hers never stops. She is constantly asking “what are we going to do next?” before we are half-way through a current task. She will plan out her entire day in the morning, and is constantly thinking 5 or 6 steps ahead. She also has an incredibly difficult time entertaining herself. Now that she no longer naps (and quiet time is difficult with the two kids sharing a room), I often feel mentally exhausted by mid-afternoon.
I do love her though, and she is an amazing kid. It is fun to watch her personality as it continues to grow and shape itself. Every day I’m just thankful that we are no longer in the “threes”. Here’s to the fours being a MUCH better year!
How is it possible that we gave birth to the same child? Oh wait…you married me and I married you. She's an amazing kid. Just wait till Kindergarten, its AWESOME!
Are you talking about London? Oh, except we're not to the point where she's taking direction from me yet, thus still no piano of violin lessons for that girl because she "already knows how to play." And, by the way, we would LOVE to move to Portland. I can think of all sorts of good reasons. I fell in love with the city when we came up for your wedding (the only time I've been there). If Taylor had a job there, we'd be there in a heartbeat. Maybe next summer, we can vacation at your house!