Change...

Change can be good and it can be bad, for a mom I think that change is bittersweet! My kiddos are changing all of the time, simple changes from what they like to eat or a HUGE change like putting our pet squirrel on a shelf! Background, Hunter has had a stuffed squirrel since he was 2 which he affectionately and innocently named "Nuts"! Nuts has been all over the world with us, his first trip was to Cincinnati for Pat's grandmother's funeral. Hunter was only 2 or 3 at the time but would carry him in the front of his pants, and he would nicely ask people if they would like to see his Nuts, while putting his hand into his pants! We have laughed about this forever-oh the looks on people's faces! Hunter is now almost 8, and I noticed the other day that he put Nuts on the shelf with all of his other special stuff! This change is very sad for me, because I know it is a sign of Hunter growing up! Hunter has carried Nuts everywhere with him, and has been a source of great comfort for him; we have lost him on several occasions, but have always been able to find him! Every time I go into his room and see him on the shelf, it makes me very sad-how I will miss the days when my babies where babies!

This is Nuts...

This is one time that Hunter was playing outside and positioned Nuts on the chair so he could watch him...

Change can also be very irritating, Taylor is now 11 and sometimes wants to think and act as if he is a teenager! Ahhhhhh! This change I will put a stop to, I do think it is very age appropriate but will try to hold it off as long as possible! He has a few years left before he can turn into a teenager. I am thankful for being here (South Africa) for several reasons, one is that Taylor would have just graduated from 5Th grade and would be going into middle school this coming Fall-here he is still in 5Th grade, and life seems to roll on at a much slower pace than it does in the states. I feel kids get to be kids a little longer, and there seem to be not as many pressures for kids! Thank Goodness, time to mature for a little boy who would not have been ready for middle school!
Change for Claire is GOOD! She seems to be making a lot of progress, and really is talking up a storm, although hard to understand at times, we do seem to get most of it! I have changed her school schedule, she has been going to her therapy school five days a week, I have moved it to three days. For several reasons, one Claire is progressing nicely where others in her class are not and unfortunately may not, and I wanted to get her out to have a little more "normalcy". She will transition into a playschool with therapies, but the new year does not begin until January! I also think she needs to be a little kid still and have time at home, and not be rushed into being gone five days a week. She will get all of her therapies three days a week and will be home with me two!
Oh how change always happens; one day sad, next day happy! I am sitting back and watching my kids grow, anxious and excited for what is to come, but oh so sad about what I am loosing! There is a line in a song by Mark Harris that I love that goes..."I'll have tears as you take off, but I'll cheer as you fly" This could not be more true!