Reality check

Oh my goodness…I had forgotten how delightfully simple life is with only one child! This week, Sophie started her two consecutive days of attending Kindy and while we are only hours into day two, I am LOVING it!!!!

When we got home from dropping Sophie off this morning, it was like Elliott and I had a moment of realisation that we were all alone and could safely play however we wanted to without a certain four year old bossy boots (albeit a beautiful, kind hearted one) interrupting. First thing was first, Elliott raced down to the bathroom and climbed up the step in front of the vanity because, after all, Sophie sneaks in there all the time to eat the toothpaste so there must be something fun up there J The toothpaste didn’t catch Elliott’s eye but the plug did so he spent a good quarter of an hour with the tap running gently simply putting the plug in and out of the basin. He giggled and squealed with delight as the water drained away and it made me realise I was forgetting to enjoy the simple things with him.

Then we left the bathroom and Elliott plonked down next to Sophie’s craft trolley. I pulled out some paper and a sheet of round stickers and we sat on the floor while Elliott joyfully peeled and stuck (well, tried to anyway) stickers all over his page. I of course talked him through colours and counting and all the incidental learning things you can do when you are able to focus on one child without stress and interruption. Again it made me realise I am completely forgetting to teach Elliott about the simple little things, like colours and counting.

Finally, just now before Elliott went down for his nap, we played farm animals where I named and made the animal noises while he jiggled them around and cheerfully threw them in the fenced paddock we had constructed. I think this is the first time I have even focused on animal noises with him…talk about slack!

So in light of the mornings events, I have realised I need to pull my thumb out of my arse, encourage Sophie to be more independent in her play and spend far more of my day engaging with Elliott. The poor child has no hope if I continue the way I have been and unknowingly neglect his learning and development. Good grief, I am an Early Childhood Teacher for Heaven’s sakes, I should be doing a much better job than I am! Don’t worry Elliott, a change for the better is coming…I promise xox      

My handsome little Elliott!