Baby Steps

We are all busy with baby steps.

My sister is learning to let her kids grow up; her first born baby is all the way in Korea teaching children to take confident steps in learning English, her second son is taking steps toward a confident future in his heavy military boots, and her third son recently took winged steps toward independence when he flew by himself on a commercial flight. She would be the first to tell you that it isn't easy, but that God gives her heart peace. After all, she continually places her kids into His care for His guidance.

My own 2-year old son, my first born baby, has begun his baby steps on the path of seeking knowledge. Preschool may not seem like a big deal to many, but to him it is a whole new exciting world! Learning social behaviors and rules as well as playtime guidelines in a way that is thrilling...taking steps to become a better student. I miss him every moment he is gone, but I know that these little steps are leading him down a path toward great things.

And then last night, my sweet 9 month old baby girl made up her mind to walk. Standing up in the middle of the floor, without holding on to anything, she smiled a large 6-tooth grin and carefully balancing, tentatively lifted her fat little left foot....moved it forward...and placed it down. Still smiling, she followed that with her fat little right foot...and took 5 baby steps. 5 small steps away from infancy and 5 giant leaps toward Life. I cheered her on, clapping with my hands but crying softly in my heart. Yesterday she was waving those chubby little toes from a white ruffled bassinet and tonight, those chubby little toes are firmly planted on the ground, leading her toward independence.

It is with a desperate heart that I once again, along with my sister, mentally place those tiny feet in His hands. The brown feet of my son and the delicate white feet of my daughter, carefully and continually given to their Creator. And what better place for them to be, for I rest knowing that He does guide them, and He does order those baby steps. Their paths are ordered by Him, and He sees every baby step they take.

PreSchool Adventures

July 31, 2009

Preschool Day One - I was fine until walking onto the school campus for the first time, seeing new backpacks, excited students, and smelling School; that unforgettable, unmistakable aroma that is ingrained into the psyche of every former public school student. This aroma causes my eyes to sting with tears, and my throat closes tightly to hold back a sob. Samuel seems excited and was so occupied playing with the new toys that he barely had time to tell his Silly emotional Mommy "BUH-byee!". I walk back to the house and start a busy day that is planned to squash the emotions.

August 3, 2009

Preschool Day Two - Silly Mommy....I mistakenly showed up to retrieve my child from school an hour and a half early! I guess I missed him. I post his scribbled-marker picture on my fridge; it's beautiful.

August 4, 2009

Preschool Day Three - He doesn't even want to eat or drink anything, but prefers to immediately dress and stand by the door, longingly watching the other kids walk to school. While walking onto the campus we see a slightly older, taller boy wheeling his Transformers backpack. I glance at Samuel and see him watching the boy; then his pace picks up a bit and he pulls his shoulders back a little and pulls his Cars backpack a bit faster, with an achingly-adorable and innocent grin on his face. He is a School Student.

I go to the office to pay for his lunches for this week; $1.25 a day! On one hand, this is cheap, certainly less than the cost of a McNugget Happy Meal. On the other hand, his favorite meal in life is a McNugget Happy Meal and everything else is like pig slop, in his toddler pickiness. So I am probably spending $1.25 a day for the goldfish and animal crackers that he'll allow himself to consume in lieu of a Happy Meal.

Walking back home (alone), I still have twinges of emotion. Silly Mommy.