Magic month

I don't know if it's the fact that he's back in school or if it's just the age or what it is, but this has been such an amazing month with Jack. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed him so much. We have been having such a great time together.

He has been so affectionate and loving. Every day, he asks me repeatedly, "Do you know how much I love you?"

I usually answer, "Is it as much as I love you?"

And he tells me, "I think I love you more than you love me."

I'm choosing to take the "glass half full" view of this comment and take it to mean that he loves me so much that he loves me even more than I love him and not that he thinks I don't love him that much. Because, as every parent learns only once they have children of their own, you don't love your parents the same way they love you.

Jack has also been so much more independent and self-sufficient this month. Most days, he wakes up earlier than Violet and me, and he will just entertain himself until he hears us stirring. A couple of times, he has surprised me by getting through his morning routine - brushing teeth and getting dressed - all by himself while I was still asleep. It makes mornings so much more pleasant when I only have one child to worry about getting ready.

He's also so much more flexible these days. When things happen, like he gets hurt or bumped, he is able to shake it off so much more quickly. I used to hold my breath every time he'd bonk his head on something, waiting for the meltdown. Now, he's much more likely to say, "I'm ok!" Of course, every now and then, he'll be tired or an injury will be especially grievous and he will cry, but I think that's completely to be expected. Even friends have noticed and commented on how much more mature he has become.

His understanding and ability to make good choices have come a long way. It makes me proud when I hear him being able to resist peer pressure and not copy some of his friends' naughty behavior. I feel that he is often susceptible to silly behavior, especially when he's around his friends. When he can stick true to what he knows is right, I just feel so much more secure that he will continue to make the right choices when he gets older and I can't be around him as much.

I used to have an old superstitious fear of celebrating my children, as if the gods would strike me down for my hubris. For example, it feels that every happy boast about how well the kids have been sleeping would be followed by a KNOCK WOOD, because it always seemed that inevitably something would happen and we'd be back to square one. But I also want to be able to rejoice in my kids' achievements. I know there are days that it must seem to Jack especially that all I'm doing is scolding him. I want him to know that I've been paying attention, and I notice all the good along with the not-so-good.

I'm so proud of my boy, and I look forward to even more magic months in the future.

P.S. KNOCK WOOD. :)