Not Cool

I'm chiming in tonight for a quick post because I need to get some things off my chest.

M had a play date today with a little buddy from preschool. It just so happens that this little girl has an older sister that has been in J's class for the last couple of years. She is a year younger, but because of their mixed classroom, they have been together for a bit. Both of these girls are the daughters of Jacob's upcoming 4th and 5th grade teacher.

We like this family. My words in no way reflect ill-will towards them or their values and teachings.

After picking M up from their house this afternoon, and while we were in the car, she told J that Older Sister had said that she didn't like him. After a little bit of prodding, M told us how the conversation went down:

Apparently Younger Sister mentioned that she wished J was there. Then M stopped, and it was here that J asked her, "Did Older Sister say she hated me?" M proceeded to say that, "No, she just said that she didn't like you after Younger Sister said she wished you were there."

When I looked in the rear view mirror, J had what appeared to be a look that said, "REALLY???" He uttered a half-hearted laugh in what I perceived to be an attempt to hide his disappointment.

I would be lying if my blood didn't boil at this point. J, like any other kid, has his share of quirks. J can be loud. J can be disruptive in class. But I am positive that he never did anything to her personally that would cause her to have those feelings towards him. Not because he's a saint, but because for the most part he doesn't pay that much attention to girls.

Once I pulled myself together I told him that Older Sister was probably just being silly; maybe just playing around with the younger girls. I told him that sometimes people do things to try to be cool.

His response: "Well, it's not cool."

This was the time, I knew, to say something meaningful. Instead, everything coming out of my mouth sounded like Generic-ese: I told him that as long as he knew in his heart that he didn't do anything to her to bring about those feelings, then it's her problem and not his; I told him that everybody isn't going to always like him. Blah. Blah. Blah.

And then, finally, out came what I know to be true: "If she (or anybody else for that matter) makes the bad choice of not liking you, she is denying herself of your friendship....and that's her bad because you are AWESOME!"

It's not original or patent-worthy, but definitely true.

I don't have the time, desire, or credentials to delve into the mind of a seven year old. I realize that after 40 years I may have forgotten a few things about being that young and that her words could have come from a place that I no longer know exists. This isn't so much about Older Sister as it is about this guy:

At nine, J is still somewhat encased within the wall of innocence. The fact that it crumbled a little today is just life being played out and merely the start of the destruction. Life will continue to happen and the wall will be shaken over and over, its foundation determining whether it will eventually break and come tumbling down or stand strong against the elements.

As his parents, D and I hold the responsibility to build a foundation for him; one that will hold him up against life's elements no matter how shaky they become. I hope this is a place that empowers him to be strong when he feels weak and brave when he is scared; a peaceful retreat for the times when he is wronged; a fortress that keeps negativity and self-doubt otuside; and a constant reminder that he can do more than he is capable of.

But just like any structure, it isn't built in one day. It's a work in progress. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes life lessons.

Today's incident could be classified as a life lesson. And it stung. As they sometimes do, it stung. It stung him and it stung me -- maybe more than it did him, because I'm not sure one can be immune when it comes to seeing their children hurt.

NOT COOL, Older Sister...NOT COOL!

Little Piano Man

The venue, the songs, and except for a little change-up, the company was the same.

Heck, even the suit didn't change.

But unlike January's recital, J performed his first solo

And his second.

Which, for some reason is not uploading.

A few days later, at the State Capital, he got the chance to play a few notes on the grand old piano that sits in the reception room.

Congratulations, Little Piano Man!

Today is Summer

"Today is Summer" were the first words out of M's mouth this morning. They were followed by, "we can go swimming in the pools and whatever." That we live in the Northwest has no bearing on her comments. She's out of school therefore it's summer and when it's summer, you swim.

Yesterday was her last day of school....and if you've been around a while, you know that means that there was a picture on the front porch.

There was an ice creams social at school and some posing with her buddies.

Both kids were blessed with great teachers this year.

M learned so much and J continues to thrive!

As soon as the preschool functions were complete, we headed over to Burfort Park for J's end of year picnic. Mr. H does an amazing job of putting together certificates for each kid with an adjective that describes them. His wife said this is something that starts at the beginning of the year because he really wants to make sure that he gets it right. 

J's adjective was earnest:

Resulting from or showing intense conviction

Today was J's last day of school

Actually, it was a half day, so by noon when they got off the bus, the neighborhood moms had a whole spread of junk food laid out, a bunch of water balloons, water guns, sidewalk chalk, and music.

Our neighborhood rocks.

Summer doesn't officially start for another week or so. We have an ABC's of Summer list to put together, a chore chart to be tended to, read-a-thon materials to look over, but today was a little taste of what's to come.

M had a point -- Today is Summer!

Who's Those Kids' Mother?

There's a mom that belongs to one of J's baseball teammates that any time her son does something spectacular on the field, will get up off her bottom, stand up in the bleachers, put her hands up in the air, and ask, "Who's that boy's mother?" I love it. Makes me laugh every time. She is one proud momma!

It's been a while since I've posted, but it's not for lack of having anything to say. On the contrary...we've been swamped. These last couple of months have been kept us on our toes. It seems like every night there is something. It's hectic, but it's been fun.

In mid-March J made his acting debut in Mr. Halvorson's class play, Doonots on the Amazon. I hope to write more about it in a later post. for now, here are some of the deets:

J was cast as the Prime Minister of England...as shown here with the Prime Minister of India:

And as an anteater..as shown here with his homemade costume:

They've been working on this production since January. It was a fun show and J did a great job learning his lines. 

Right around the same time, J made another debut...this time on the baseball field. No tee this time! It started out kind of shaky, but he's worked hard and has come a long way.

They made the playoffs, beat an undefeated team on the first day, another team last night; but unfortunately, they lost today. By one. Just two games away from playing in the championship. It was a good season for the Wildcats.

M continues to do ballet. She could be the cutest ballerina ever:

Her recital is coming up in a couple of weeks, but her dress is here now. And at the end of the day, that's all that really matters anyway, right?

She's also picked up a new hobby: Soccer.

It turns out little Ms. M has some futbol skills. We don't keep score or anything, or for that matter tabs, but if we did, the stats would show that the Ninjas are 4-1, and that M has contributed five goals thus far ☺. And, not to brag, but I have heard the words M and good used in the same sentence several times. 

I wonder who that girl's mother could be?

To add to an already-chaotic Saturday, J had a musicianship exam one morning. And this is what a perfect score on the whole darn thing looks like:

THE. WHOLE. DARN. THING. 

Out of 115 students that took it, only 15 had the honor.

While we're on the subject of music, his teacher mentioned in passing to him the other day when she was being hard on him that he is one of the best elementary-aged kids she has.

Does anybody know who that boy's mother is?

Yes, that happened. 

Somewhere in between all the madness, M figured out how to ride a bike. 

This was over a month ago. Just the other day she rode about two miles. She's amazing!

It's been a busy few months around here, but M played her last soccer game of the season this morning, and in the next two weeks we'll go to two recitals...one for each of them. After that things slow down for summer.

But before signing off, I must ask:

WHO'S THOSE KIDS' MOTHER?

Grinin' from Ear to Ear

About a month ago, J was the G.R.I.N Critter in his class.

It's something that I equate to being the student of the week or month or however long goes in between G.R.I.N. assemblies.

His previous two teachers didn't participate, so this was his first time in his almost-four years at Hansen.

The class compiled a list about ways in which they noticed J was special.

 And then Mr. Halvorson condensed it into the official document to be read by his two buddies, Alec and Reese, at the school-wide assembly.

"Jacob has a wonderful positive attitude. His cheerful smile and thoughtful friendliness are like a rainbow of goodness in our classroom. Jacob is a marvelous mathematician. Jacob, you rock!"