Good Stuff

Feeling pretty good in general at the moment. Today BJ had a good morning at preschool -- he came home and declared, "Mommy, today we made playdough!" While he was there, BB and I attended a playdate for her playgroup. It's fun to see her with her peers, and I enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with some other cool moms. She splashed in the water table, played the toy piano, and had great fun tossing leaves over a little fence into the water fountain/pond at the home where the playdate was held. When we came home, she washed her hands "All by myself!" Good times.

This evening, I went to the parent meeting for BJ's preschool, and while I felt good going in, I felt even better when I left. I like his teacher, Ms. F, more and more. She is so down to earth, so thoughtful about her work with the kids -- without being cerebral about it. I ended up volunteering to be the library mom for the class, which means I get to check out 16 books a month focused on weekly themes. (Another excuse to think about children's books? Anybody who knows me well would understand why I'm excited about this.) She spoke a lot about her curriculum and how her main focus is social and emotional skills, with the overall goal of teaching and modeling compassion and kindness. I knew this, but hearing her articulate it was quite affirming.

I was also reassured by talking to some of the other parents in his class. One mom in particular, M's mom, said that she usually comes in shortly after we drop of BJ in the morning, and she's always seen him happy and playing and engaged. Hearing this did much to bring my shoulders down a notch or two from being up around my ears anxious about how things might be going for him. (Because even though I feel good about it, I still worry about him. Of course I do. It's my job!) But in general, I really like the vibe, the attitude, the community of his school.... I think it is exactly where BJ needs to be, and I feel comfortable leaving him there. And that makes such a difference as we deal with those few tears that remain, those anxieties that linger.

Plus we got home this evening to the babysitter's report that the kids had been angels. (S had to be on campus tonight, and the preschool meeting was mandatory for one parent at least, so we had to have a sitter here.) She's a new sitter, K, and I really like her. BB can't quite say her name, but she calls her "nice people!" Easiest sitting gig she'd had in a long time, she said.

Here's hoping the good stuff continues -- in spite of all the bad news these days. Housing woes, failing banks, impotent attempts at governmental bailout..... I was never an economist, but sheesh, even I can tell that this is NOT GOOD. Thank heavens S has tenure.