Motherhood: At a Glance

I have experienced some recent tests to my ego as a mother. It has put me in my place and has allowed me countless hours of reflection and perseveration.

Kelsey (my little angel) has been getting in trouble at school. I was able to pass it off as kindergarten transition for a while, but realized sometime after the second humiliating call home from school that something needed to be done. So we scheduled a doctor’s appointment to have a check-up and ensure all the physiological avenues were addressed. The appointment was last week…

The nurse asked me what kind of referrals we needed and I answered with a definitive, “I don’t know.” The nurses statement, “Well, I don’t know what you expect from us if you don’t know what you need,” put me back in my place once again. Gone are the days when a doctor’s visit has to include a specific purpose (getting a referral), I just wanted to run the behaviors past a person who has known Kelsey since she was born, her doctor. The doctor came in and was much more understanding, and indicated that there was nothing to worry about at this point.

I left with a sense that Kelsey was cured. I don’t know why? However, in a frenzy of uncontrolled energy she hit a boy at Sunday School this weekend. We realize there are no quick answers as parents, just a lot of gut-checks.

 

Sugar High

My little sweet-pea Kelsey started the school sponsored summer program and is eagerly and excitedly preparing for kindergarten.

She is very excited to go to her “school” everyday and thrilled that kindergarten is starting soon, however everyday she points out as her highlight of the day; the food. She reported back the first day that they served candy in their cereal, she said it was called “Lucky Charms”. The next day I asked her about the cereal and she said that she discovered a new and better cereal with colored cherios and sugar called “Fruit Loops”. And then yesterday she said they had candy for snack time too. She described it as vanilla and chocolate frosting spread on crackers with chocolate chips on top. I have not been surprised with all of these little treats since the trend for school lunches have not been the healthiest and the obesity rate among kids is not the lowest in the United States vs other developed countries. What has surprised me is that my little sweet-toothed child has requested that I start preparing her lunch. She has asked everyday for the past week; could you prepare my lunch today (she has only been in the program for one week and one day). Last night she said, “A salad would be great for lunch tomarrow, could you make me a salad?” Today she said, “I would love some Tomato Basil Soup today for lunch, could you mix some up?”

Perhaps she is making some good food choices based on her healthy diet and upbringing or perhaps she is tired of the crash after the brief sugar high she experiences. In either case I have bought a lunch sack and containers to begin the process of preparing school lunch for her, the beginning of many years I am sure.