Angel of God and Old MacDonald had a Farm. Jace starts Preschool

My baby started preschool today.  Equipped with a new outfit, new shoes, and a new backpack, he was on cloud nine.  today is Wednesday and on Monday Ashlynn started school much to his dismay. He was a terror throughout the entire morning, and when we dropped her off he didn't attempt to move from his carseat and declared, "no mommy, I'll wait here."

"Uh no Jace.  Even if you're jealous, we still have to support each other."

He came, unhappily.  Needless to say, he was elated to go to preschool today.  I scrambled the night before to print out our family pictures so he would have a current picture to put on an "all about me" sheet the teacher wanted.  I thought I had the picture of him on the jetski, but it didn't print.  You on the jetski or pretending to tow cars would really describe your personality perfectly.

Well this morning I picked up said pictures and also had to get a composition notebook for you.  What the heck a three year old will be doing with a journal I have no clue, but I got you one.  Grandma S is out of town so Cody took off work to watch the kids.  He took the kids to school and I told him he had to take a picture or I would "kill him."  It sounds funny, but I this is how much it meant to me, and I was so sad about not being there myself.  A picture could at least document it forever.

I didn't get a picture.  I called Cody after preschool was done.

"Where is my picture???" I demanded.

"I sent it.  Didn't you get it?"

"No!??!"  "If I got it, why would I be calling?" I vented.

"Okay, I'll send it again," he said casually.

I had to write a text to ensure he sent it, and that's when I received this

Okay first of all, Jace is adorable and looks crazy happy.  However, THIS is his first day of school pic???  I had the ladies I worked with look at it.  

"He is so fired" said one.

"That's a man for you," said another.

Ugh!!  I was devastated.  Where is his backpack??  Where are his new shoes??  

Okay, but where is his backpack??  I begged my husband to please take a backpack pic.  I could tell he was annoyed.  I begged some more.  Doesn't he know how important this is to me?  I couldn't drop off my BABY on his first day of preschool.  The least he could do was to get a presentable picture.

I figured he wouldn't do it and that's when I saw this.....

My heart swelled!  Look at that little guy!  He looks so grown up and definitely ready for preschool. He was so stoked to go.  I hope he always loves school.  When I asked him the other day what he was going to learn in preschool he proudly declared, "my alphabet!"

I don't doubt it.  That face is the face of a winner, an inventor, a succedor (if that's word).  If we can guide him right, this boy is going to move mountains.

Tonight when I asked him if he was good, he said "yes" but then when I asked him if he got in trouble he also said "yes."  I asked him what happened and he said, 

"well, I stood up and the teacher said, 'Jace! No! Sit down!'  

I asked him, "Did you?"

Oh yes mom, I did!  

LOL  Good boy.  I love that kid.

Since I missed him so much all day I read his story and tucked him into bed.  he's been doing good saying the prayer "Angel of God" with me at night.  I decided to see if he could say it himself.

"Angel of God and my guardian dear to whom god's love commits you hear...lakdjadkjfskdjflskjdglaksdjgklasjg  Old MacDonald had a farm."

ROFL  I could not stop laughing.  Oh my goodness.  That boy. I called his Grandma Baskall and Grandma Louis and they both laughed out loud as hard as I did.  "Oh dynamite!" said my Grandma Louis.  "I pray for them two every night."

"Thanks Grandma!" I said.  "They need it!"

Parenting peacefully

I ran across this today, and it reminded me of my sweet Jace. Dynamite is the nickname my Grandma Louis has for him.  

Cody is determined to parent him peacefully, without violence, and I respect him for that. I honestly could have gone either way, but we are a united front and we must parent together.  Jace is no doubt a strong willed child.  Fiercely independent and strong, but with a soft heart and gentle soul.  When I yell at him he immediately yells back, but will fold into my arms needing a hug.  

Cody started that too with Ashlynn.  Do you need a hug?  She would always say yes, Jace would always say no, but I soon realized just because Jace said no didn't mean he didn't need one.  I started responding with love during those moments.  Those same moments that would have earned me a smack in the face or a paddle with the wooden spoon, I hug my son instead and afterward have him say he's sorry.

I see a difference.  He asks for hugs now.  I don't even have to ask.  He knows when his emotions are so high and he doesn't know what to do, he comes asks for a hug.  I think this is parenting peacefully.

It's hard to be judged from family members so critically.  I'm constantly being told how bad my son needs spankings. The other day at this birthday party, my mom took away car keys from him and he yelled at her and slammed his door.  My sister-in-law piped up quickly to declare "my kids would never slam a door.  What did we make you do when you slammed doors?" to which her sons quickly replied "kiss it."  She was so indignant and proud until I said, "oh yay, I'm so glad I get my parenting slammed on my son's own birthday."  

She did apologize, but those things are hard to hear.  I know in my heart though, the approach we are taking is right.  I know spanking just causes rage as an adult, proven in study after study.  I have rage and I hate it.  My brother had a saying all kids come out of childhood needing therapy.  I think about that now and I don't think that needs to be true.  Maybe we are wrong, time will tell.

Jace though is absolutely destined for greatness.  He is smart, ingenuitive, strong willed, assertive, but also has a great heart.  Cody and I have to teach him to channel all those strengths into something positive, because Jace is a game changer.  I love that little boy.