Fears, They Have a Few...

Over the past few weeks Allie has indicated that she is not overly enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming an adult.

The latest hint came today at lunchtime: "Mommy, I don't want to grow up."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"I don't like grownups."

"What about them don't you like?"

"Well, I don't like the way they brush their teeth."

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Ever since Jeff's 2-week sojourn to Europe earlier this month, Sean has been anxious about bedtime. His well-established ritual used to consist of falling asleep within 5 minutes of his head hitting the pillow. Now, however, he's been slinking out of his room in search of one more hug. Or, better yet, company. "I don't like to sleep alone," he tells me each night.

Tonight, I poked my head into his room to see if he was asleep. I found an empty bed, and a boy stretched out on the floor next to it.

"Why are you on the floor?"

"Well, I ... I just ... I thought that this way I won't see the dark night sky." I glanced at his window -- the curtain, pulled over a few inches to let in some fresh air, was indeed exposing the inky black sky.

"Look, I can just slide the curtain over, and then you won't see the sky."

"Oh, yes! That makes me feel MUCH better. Thanks, Mommy."

One day the anxieties won't be so easily assuaged. Till then, I'll relish my ability to dispel his fears with snuggling and with closing the curtains.

Oh, You Again?

Well, I don't have much to show for 4 weeks of silence.

One thing I do have, however, is a brand spanking new improved mood. I am just amazed at how much happier I feel when the weather warms and the days lengthen. Nothing like the blush of spring to throw my lousy winter disposition into sharp relief.

I've even remained fairly sanguine about the fact that my little boy has just one class left before his preschool "graduation" this week. That kindergarten classroom looming in the distance? It's too far away to contemplate right now.

Right now we have a whole fun summer ahead of us. Let's hope both my newly sunshiny outlook and my attempts at semi-regular blogging will stick around for a while.