Currently he attends a private Christian preschool 3 days a week
for 2 hours a day and we are very comfortable with this setting. After much discussion we opted for public kindergarten. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the other two options but we felt like this was what was best for our family and for Reese. He is super excited to be going to school with the kids in our neighborhood. I knew choosing either of the other two would be out of my fear and not what was best for him. I also firmly believe that if we want our children to share their faith and be a light to this world, we need to release them into the world. It is this release of control though that paralyzes me with fear.
As I am beseeching God for bravery, I am also trying to capitalize on my time with Reese. Between Reese and Emma someone is going to preschool for a couple of hours each day. I usually use this time to exercise but lately I have been using the time alone with Reese to do something special. He calls it "our special time". My heart breaks to think that my alone time with him is coming to an end (at least on a regular basis).
This very child not even 6 years ago rocked my world to its very core but now I cannot imagine life without him. When I was pregnant with Reese I was working three jobs. I was working early intervention, teaching a college course, and working for the public schools. I was very passionate about my work, and yes, . . . some might say a workaholic! I went into preterm labor at 7 1/2 months (not surprising) and was put on bedrest. I went into labor on Reese's duedate but after dilating to 7 Reese was in fetal distress. I delivered by C-section and three days later was home with spinal headaches. Nothing was going as planned. I had post-partum depression that was horrible---I remember praying to God and telling Him that He had made a horrible mistake. I could not possibly mother this precious child. He would later reveal to me that He does not make mistakes and that He would mesh Reese and I together as mother and son in ways I could not have imagined.
At about 17 months Marty and I began to see a strong will in Reese that turned all of our parenting wisdom upside down. I knew "consistency" but Reese had a persistance that we could not have prepared for. Crying it out? Well, this was not a 3 day fix for Reese---we found out early that Reese could perservere for very long periods of time. To this day, he is not a great sleeper---we tried crying it out, ferberizing, everything. Parenting became a very humbling experience and we began to explore how to parent a strong willed child.
Reese's love language is physical touch. He could snuggle up for hours and the tighter, the better. Still at 5 1/2 when he gets stressed he wants to be held.
He is also very aversive to change. He still talks about when I changed his room at age 3. He also is the only 5 year old I know that does not want another sibling. He told me that he just wants it to be "Emma and me". Lucky for him, his Dad and I made that decision long ago.
Reese also has unbelievable math skills. He can add and subtract almost any numbers in his head. He is definitely a "numbers" guy like his Dad.
He also has a love for God that has surpassed my expectations. We read the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is not something we push but rather let him request it which he does often. He thinks of Jesus as a superhero (Well, He is, isn't He?).
This child who has rocked my world has taught me so much about myself. He has taught me how much I need to rely on God for parenting wisdom. Just when I let my pride rise up and think that I have all the answers, God humbles me. He has also taught me not to "bulldoze" my way through situations but rather listen and teach, and gently nudge.
Reese, my beautiful blue-eyed firstborn, my days will forever be different without you at home through the day. I will miss you terribly but I know I will make the time we have together count. I also know God will shape and teach you this next year. I know one day you will be a leader who will influence others to love God as you do.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Four Months
Every couple of days my firstborn reminds me that in four months he will be in kindergarten. There is excitement in his eyes and fear in mine. Over the past few months his Dad and I have considered various schooling options: public school, private Christian school (at a considerable distance), and homeschooling.
Currently he attends a private Christian preschool 3 days a week
for 2 hours a day and we are very comfortable with this setting. After much discussion we opted for public kindergarten. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the other two options but we felt like this was what was best for our family and for Reese. He is super excited to be going to school with the kids in our neighborhood. I knew choosing either of the other two would be out of my fear and not what was best for him. I also firmly believe that if we want our children to share their faith and be a light to this world, we need to release them into the world. It is this release of control though that paralyzes me with fear.
As I am beseeching God for bravery, I am also trying to capitalize on my time with Reese. Between Reese and Emma someone is going to preschool for a couple of hours each day. I usually use this time to exercise but lately I have been using the time alone with Reese to do something special. He calls it "our special time". My heart breaks to think that my alone time with him is coming to an end (at least on a regular basis).
This very child not even 6 years ago rocked my world to its very core but now I cannot imagine life without him. When I was pregnant with Reese I was working three jobs. I was working early intervention, teaching a college course, and working for the public schools. I was very passionate about my work, and yes, . . . some might say a workaholic! I went into preterm labor at 7 1/2 months (not surprising) and was put on bedrest. I went into labor on Reese's duedate but after dilating to 7 Reese was in fetal distress. I delivered by C-section and three days later was home with spinal headaches. Nothing was going as planned. I had post-partum depression that was horrible---I remember praying to God and telling Him that He had made a horrible mistake. I could not possibly mother this precious child. He would later reveal to me that He does not make mistakes and that He would mesh Reese and I together as mother and son in ways I could not have imagined.
At about 17 months Marty and I began to see a strong will in Reese that turned all of our parenting wisdom upside down. I knew "consistency" but Reese had a persistance that we could not have prepared for. Crying it out? Well, this was not a 3 day fix for Reese---we found out early that Reese could perservere for very long periods of time. To this day, he is not a great sleeper---we tried crying it out, ferberizing, everything. Parenting became a very humbling experience and we began to explore how to parent a strong willed child.
Reese's love language is physical touch. He could snuggle up for hours and the tighter, the better. Still at 5 1/2 when he gets stressed he wants to be held.
He is also very aversive to change. He still talks about when I changed his room at age 3. He also is the only 5 year old I know that does not want another sibling. He told me that he just wants it to be "Emma and me". Lucky for him, his Dad and I made that decision long ago.
Reese also has unbelievable math skills. He can add and subtract almost any numbers in his head. He is definitely a "numbers" guy like his Dad.
He also has a love for God that has surpassed my expectations. We read the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is not something we push but rather let him request it which he does often. He thinks of Jesus as a superhero (Well, He is, isn't He?).
This child who has rocked my world has taught me so much about myself. He has taught me how much I need to rely on God for parenting wisdom. Just when I let my pride rise up and think that I have all the answers, God humbles me. He has also taught me not to "bulldoze" my way through situations but rather listen and teach, and gently nudge.
Reese, my beautiful blue-eyed firstborn, my days will forever be different without you at home through the day. I will miss you terribly but I know I will make the time we have together count. I also know God will shape and teach you this next year. I know one day you will be a leader who will influence others to love God as you do.
Currently he attends a private Christian preschool 3 days a week
for 2 hours a day and we are very comfortable with this setting. After much discussion we opted for public kindergarten. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the other two options but we felt like this was what was best for our family and for Reese. He is super excited to be going to school with the kids in our neighborhood. I knew choosing either of the other two would be out of my fear and not what was best for him. I also firmly believe that if we want our children to share their faith and be a light to this world, we need to release them into the world. It is this release of control though that paralyzes me with fear.
As I am beseeching God for bravery, I am also trying to capitalize on my time with Reese. Between Reese and Emma someone is going to preschool for a couple of hours each day. I usually use this time to exercise but lately I have been using the time alone with Reese to do something special. He calls it "our special time". My heart breaks to think that my alone time with him is coming to an end (at least on a regular basis).
This very child not even 6 years ago rocked my world to its very core but now I cannot imagine life without him. When I was pregnant with Reese I was working three jobs. I was working early intervention, teaching a college course, and working for the public schools. I was very passionate about my work, and yes, . . . some might say a workaholic! I went into preterm labor at 7 1/2 months (not surprising) and was put on bedrest. I went into labor on Reese's duedate but after dilating to 7 Reese was in fetal distress. I delivered by C-section and three days later was home with spinal headaches. Nothing was going as planned. I had post-partum depression that was horrible---I remember praying to God and telling Him that He had made a horrible mistake. I could not possibly mother this precious child. He would later reveal to me that He does not make mistakes and that He would mesh Reese and I together as mother and son in ways I could not have imagined.
At about 17 months Marty and I began to see a strong will in Reese that turned all of our parenting wisdom upside down. I knew "consistency" but Reese had a persistance that we could not have prepared for. Crying it out? Well, this was not a 3 day fix for Reese---we found out early that Reese could perservere for very long periods of time. To this day, he is not a great sleeper---we tried crying it out, ferberizing, everything. Parenting became a very humbling experience and we began to explore how to parent a strong willed child.
Reese's love language is physical touch. He could snuggle up for hours and the tighter, the better. Still at 5 1/2 when he gets stressed he wants to be held.
He is also very aversive to change. He still talks about when I changed his room at age 3. He also is the only 5 year old I know that does not want another sibling. He told me that he just wants it to be "Emma and me". Lucky for him, his Dad and I made that decision long ago.
Reese also has unbelievable math skills. He can add and subtract almost any numbers in his head. He is definitely a "numbers" guy like his Dad.
He also has a love for God that has surpassed my expectations. We read the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is not something we push but rather let him request it which he does often. He thinks of Jesus as a superhero (Well, He is, isn't He?).
This child who has rocked my world has taught me so much about myself. He has taught me how much I need to rely on God for parenting wisdom. Just when I let my pride rise up and think that I have all the answers, God humbles me. He has also taught me not to "bulldoze" my way through situations but rather listen and teach, and gently nudge.
Reese, my beautiful blue-eyed firstborn, my days will forever be different without you at home through the day. I will miss you terribly but I know I will make the time we have together count. I also know God will shape and teach you this next year. I know one day you will be a leader who will influence others to love God as you do.
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made me cry gwen. so proud of you and your heart for God and seeking him with Marty to do what is best for each of your children and your family.
ReplyDeletemay He continue to give you wisdom and grace.
Great post, Gwen.....Hope you are sending him to a certain school I know, but I have a feeling it the other East Side elementary school. His teachers will be thankful, you guys have done a great job with him!
ReplyDeleteYou've done a great job with him Gwen. Sending our children to school is scary....I know! And it's scarier as they get older! But, I know that you can be proud of him, from the things you've instilled in his life now. Troy (9 years old) comes home outraged that his school taught him about Greek gods and Mythology, and stands up for his convictions. It's such a blessing to see that in him. I know that as you've instilled your love and God's truth in Reese, that he will be the same way, a light for his friends at school, and strong in the Lord! :)
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