It is a bittersweet time for me right now;
My oldest child is graduating the 5th grade
and going off to Middle School;
and one ending 2nd grade,
and also starting a new school.
I am sure that more than a few of you either have,
or are going thru similar things in your own family.
Raising children is such a gift in our lives.
An alchemy of growth in both the parent & the child.
This will be the first time going to different schools
than this one they have attended since Preschool together.
*This was Miss Red's first day of Kindergarten. (05)
As you can see- J.Diesel is ready to go with her :) *
*Here they are again on the first day of school
in 2008-
and the Little Man's turn at Kindergarten*
I know that things are changing,
once again...
leaving nothing untouched as time always does.
I try to savor these fleeting moments while I can.
The same way I did when my children were babies-
knowing that these are the times we will remember
in the years to come.
Each time we walk to school together-
I know that never again will we all get to spend that particular sweet time together...
The 3 of us walking up the street to the local school.
saying hello to our friends and neighbors,
discussing what is going on in their lives.
As I watch my growing daughter-
I think of how far she has come in such a short time.
She has become such a sweet young lady...
(which the occasional spice thrown in for good measure!)
She constantly blows my mind with her altruism & kindness to others.
And they both amaze me with their grasp of concepts
that most adults rarely consider.
It makes me proud
to know that I have done well to help them get to this point.
Yesterday my daughter told me that she plans to audition
for an opportunity to give
one of the 5th grades Valedictorian speeches at graduation.
She had prepared without me even knowing-
and as I listened to her read it
tears filled my eyes.
When did this child get so eloquent?
In her speech,
she spoke to the kids about reaching for their dreams-
and making those dreams into their future.
And she spoke to both parents and students
about how much they need their parents support in this time-
that without it, those dreams may not be a reality.
I couldn't help but feel pride
in knowing that my daughter's strength
in some way is a credit to my own.
And not only that...but that she knows it too.
WOW. Mama kudos for sure! LOL.
Gosh I have me some great kids :)
Not to leave my son out of this...
as he has grown & matured in leaps and bounds as well.
He has always talked about wanting to learn German.
So earlier this Spring we started to learn German together...
which has been an adventure.
We speak it pitifully- but you should see us at the dinner table!
I found some great learning tools, and created a few charts
of basic terms to post around the house.
Although my daughter wasn't interested at first,
she is now playing along too.
Every day this kid comes home with 'Treasures' in his pockets...
paper clips, wires, nuts & bolts.
Many parents might scold their son for 'collecting trash'-
(and yes...I have had to bite my toungue more than a few times!)-
but I see that he is collecting these things to create something wonderful.
He comes up with the most amazing little inventions from them.
I am beginning to collect items for him to create a workshop space
where he can tinker with his 'Treasures' and come up with new creations.
I see big things for him.
for them both. :)
I am enjoying all of these stages & changes.
And I am grateful for this life.
Watching our children grow up is such a blessing and a lesson.
I cannot wait to see what is next for us. :)
Thanks for stopping in; and best of luck to all of you; and your families.
~Danae
My oldest child is graduating the 5th grade
and going off to Middle School;
and one ending 2nd grade,
and also starting a new school.
I am sure that more than a few of you either have,
or are going thru similar things in your own family.
Raising children is such a gift in our lives.
An alchemy of growth in both the parent & the child.
This will be the first time going to different schools
than this one they have attended since Preschool together.
*This was Miss Red's first day of Kindergarten. (05)
As you can see- J.Diesel is ready to go with her :) *
*Here they are again on the first day of schoolin 2008-
and the Little Man's turn at Kindergarten*
I know that things are changing,once again...
leaving nothing untouched as time always does.
I try to savor these fleeting moments while I can.
The same way I did when my children were babies-
knowing that these are the times we will remember
in the years to come.
Each time we walk to school together-
I know that never again will we all get to spend that particular sweet time together...
The 3 of us walking up the street to the local school.
saying hello to our friends and neighbors,
discussing what is going on in their lives.
As I watch my growing daughter-
I think of how far she has come in such a short time.
She has become such a sweet young lady...
(which the occasional spice thrown in for good measure!)
She constantly blows my mind with her altruism & kindness to others.
And they both amaze me with their grasp of concepts
that most adults rarely consider.
It makes me proud
to know that I have done well to help them get to this point.
Yesterday my daughter told me that she plans to audition
for an opportunity to give
one of the 5th grades Valedictorian speeches at graduation.
She had prepared without me even knowing-
and as I listened to her read it
tears filled my eyes.
When did this child get so eloquent?
In her speech,
she spoke to the kids about reaching for their dreams-
and making those dreams into their future.
And she spoke to both parents and students
about how much they need their parents support in this time-
that without it, those dreams may not be a reality.
I couldn't help but feel pride
in knowing that my daughter's strength
in some way is a credit to my own.
And not only that...but that she knows it too.
WOW. Mama kudos for sure! LOL.
Gosh I have me some great kids :)
Not to leave my son out of this...
as he has grown & matured in leaps and bounds as well.
He has always talked about wanting to learn German.
So earlier this Spring we started to learn German together...
which has been an adventure.
We speak it pitifully- but you should see us at the dinner table!
I found some great learning tools, and created a few charts
of basic terms to post around the house.
Although my daughter wasn't interested at first,
she is now playing along too.
Every day this kid comes home with 'Treasures' in his pockets...
paper clips, wires, nuts & bolts.
Many parents might scold their son for 'collecting trash'-
(and yes...I have had to bite my toungue more than a few times!)-
but I see that he is collecting these things to create something wonderful.
He comes up with the most amazing little inventions from them.
I am beginning to collect items for him to create a workshop space
where he can tinker with his 'Treasures' and come up with new creations.
I see big things for him.
for them both. :)
I am enjoying all of these stages & changes.
And I am grateful for this life.
Watching our children grow up is such a blessing and a lesson.
I cannot wait to see what is next for us. :)
Thanks for stopping in; and best of luck to all of you; and your families.
~Danae
