Three Weeks and Counting!

How Pregnant Do You Have To Be...

... to ask your 3-year-old to vacuum baseboards for you?



Thank you my sweet, sweet little helper!

Don't Mess With My Girl!

Ally has been wanting to be a bus rider since Kindergarten. This year we finally have a bus route that goes through our neighborhood so, with much hesitation and nervousness, I let my baby ride the bus home from school.

The first couple of days were fine. She LOVED feeling so grown-up, had made some new friends, and enjoyed the responsibility of watching for her correct stop (where I was always waiting!).

On the third day of school, she got off the bus and greeted me with smiles and stories about her day as we walked home. Then she very nonchalantly threw in "Hey, Mom? Some boys on the bus were making fun of me today."

WHAT????!!!!!!

Come to find out she had sat toward the back with one of her male friends from first grade, and his older brother and posse - a group of FOURTH GRADERS - teased them mercilessly the whole ride home. Ally's friend is a very shy little boy who cowered in the presence of his older brother, and Ally was just so shocked that she had been speechless.

We often encourage Ally to respectfully speak her mind with kids her own age, but we didn't think that would be wise to suggest with 4th grade bullies. So Ray and I came up with several other ideas for her to handle the situation safely, and discussed them with her.

Of course, I told Ally that if at any time she didn't feel safe riding the bus, I would be happy to come and pick her up from school.

But she was determined to remain a bus rider!

For the next couple of days Ally simply chose to sit near the front of the bus with some different friends.

And all was well.

BUT THEN...

Ally noticed her friend (the little brother of the head bully) sitting by himself. Oh, my sweet, compassionate girl who does not want anyone to be left to sit by themselves! Looking around and not seeing his older brother, she decided to sit with him once again.

Suddenly she turned and realized that the older group of boys was right there, had spotted her, and opened their mouths to start in again. Here is how it all went down, according to Ally...

So I turned to them and said:

Look, I am GOING to sit HERE with my friend today. I don't LIKE it when you make fun of me. I don't WANT you to make fun of me. And if you DO make fun of me I will HAVE to tell the bus driver and then you will REALLY be in trouble! OKAY??

The older boys looked at her for a minute in disbelief then said "okay...fine".

And they have not bothered her since!

Another First Day

Our baby girl #2 headed off to preschool this morning. She was so excited, and could hardly wait to see her friends and meet her new teachers!