Everything Coming up Milhouse

For as long as my children have had age related milestones to reach, check-in meetings have always stressed me out.  Being twins, who arrived a little early (but not all that early), and having been born in the latter half of the year, they've been held to the same academic standards of kids who are six to eight months older than them,more often than not they are falling behind when it comes to what they 'should' be able to do by standardized milestones and testing.

Whenever I hear other parents complaining that the teacher didn't give them enough difference between what 'Good' and 'Excellent' means on a report card, or various other things about their child's intense academic prowess it fills me with a silent rage.  It's not like my kids aren't working hard, it's just they aren't there yet.  I mean I'm happy your kid is 'excellent', but maybe, just maybe other parents aren't appreciating your not so humble brag.

Image Courtesy of Kat Leroux

Neither kid was fast to walk (both were around 18 months).  We never thought that Jack would talk, but thanks to amazing care from their pre-school, speech therapy, and a lot of effort on his part, I can't imagine a time when he wasn't talking our ears off, despite being quite the introvert at school.

The minions have both been working hard with a tutor since April, and even worked twice a week through most of their summer.

Earlier this month when report cards came out I felt that old familiar feeling in the pit of my stomach.  As I tore open the report cards and read, I couldn't believe it.  All of a sudden things were clicking, both reports were filled with Satisfactory, Good, and even some Excellent.  There are still a couple of areas to work on, but this was by far the best report either child had received. I wanted to cry I was so happy, and at the same time I was in disbelief, with some irrational fear that the other shoe was going to fall when we attended the parent-teacher conference, but they were unfounded.  There were no surprises, just strategies we could work on together, and suddenly I felt some of this weight, some of this guilt that our kids just weren't keeping up lift.

A few nights ago when Jack read me his take home book, complete with inflection, voices, whispers, and emotion, I couldn't believe it.  It serves as a reminder that time passes, our kids reach their milestones on their own schedule, not one that was standardized. The next time I find myself getting stressed out about things they aren't or can't do yet.  I'm going to think about reading with Jack, or playing math games with Molly as she adds up her Sushi Go points, cause that's my Good and Excellent happy kids who love school and are learning, with or without academic excellence.

Thank You For The Music

March has marked a rough month sleep wise in our home.  There have been growing pains, stomach aches, and nightmares; most frequently popping up the night before mom or dad have a big work meeting, because that's just the way life is sometimes.

Most of these middle of the night scream serenades wake up the entire house, which means we have not one, but two little ones who are awake and want to crawl into bed with mom and dad.  This is where our spare room comes in handy.  We've been tired, and we've been grumpy as a result, but I'm thankful for a flexible work schedule that allows for the minions to sleep in a little so I can walk them to school on the mornings following a particularly rough night on nightmare mountain - even if it means more night shifts plugging away on my laptop.

As I dropped the kids off at school this morning (last night there was an epic nightmare about a fire monster) I realized that Molly has stopped kissing me goodbye at the school yard. I'm guessing she feels a little too grown up for that now.  I still get a hug, but nothing more before she runs off to greet her friends.  She's also requested an alarm clock so she can wake up, get dressed and ready for school without the assistance of mom, which is fantastic - I mean we want to raise our kids to be independent adults, but it also stings a little.

A picture snapped by a friend years ago of Molly asleep in my carrier on a hike

One of the things I'm finding about having multiples as your only children (or having only children I imagine) is that once a phase is over it's gone forver.  We couldn't wait to get over diapers and full-time daycare costs, but I'll admit I miss the feeling of a baby falling asleep in my arms, those kisses from Molly at drop off, and the way that Molly used to call Wheat Thin Crackers Hayden Crackers.
Both kids still run to me with open arms and big hugs whenever I pick them up from school or aftercare, but I know that those days are limited too.  It helps a little that Jack is really affectionate and in a little less of a hurry to grow up than his sister

So as we continue to have our bed invaded by little star fishes on a regular basis I'm trying to savour it instead of begrudging it.  I'll cuddle them, stroke their hair and watch their little cherub cheeks while I can.  I mean a full night sleep would also be great, but for now I'm going to enjoy today, and maybe take a nap if I can.

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