Some Quality Time

Dear Elijah,

Gabe and Talia went to school today. They have the same teacher this year, Mrs. Crouch, in the same class. It's so awesome! Gabe had an amazing experience with Mrs. Crouch last year in first grade, and because in Montessori there are combined grades, Talia got to go to her class this year as well.

They were both so excited to go to school. Talia got up right on time to get dressed and get her hair done. She was ready to go! I knew she would be. She has been ready for quite a few months. She went and met Mrs. Crouch last week and saw the classroom and everything. This morning in her school video she said that she just couldn't wait!

Gabe was just back in the routine quickly, and taking his time to get everything done this morning, just like usual. He has his own time clock, that is for sure. Does everything according to his own time schedule. He was excited to have Talia there with him.

I totally trust that Mrs. Crouch will handle them just like a champ. She is such a great teacher. She believes in teaching principles of the classroom first, respect, peacefulness, in dependency, etc. Then academics come as they learn various principles. I completely agree with her. She is such a great fit for our family.

On the other hand, you, Elijah, had a hard time this morning. "Where are my kids?", you said as we were getting to the gym. We told you again we had taken them to school and you got to be with mom and dad all by yourself. You just cried. "I need my kids.", you said, and you kept crying. Took you a few minutes to be okay with it all. It is going to be quite a change for you.

But me, the mom, couldn't be happier about it. I'm so excited to have some alone time with you! There are things about being the third child that has their advantages, however, there are other things with your behavior and just having some quality time, than hasn't been there. You haven't had that quality time with us like Gabe and Talia had. I am excited to just have time with you before the baby comes.

I'm excited to make things alone with you, to read alone with you, to build with you, to just have you here by yourself with me. I'm excited about what can mean for our relationship. Getting a really good solid relationship with you by yourself has been a little bit of a challenge for me because of how difficult you can be sometimes. So this will give me a chance to build that one-on-one relationship with you. I am so excited about it.

I love you so much. I hope you know it. I hope you never feel looked over. I hope you always feel how much your mom and dad love all of you kids individually and collectively together.

I love you,

Your Mom