Catching up

School has been in session for a few weeks now.  We are settling back into routines.  I think I am doing well making the adjustment but I am a little on edge.  Some things upset me more than they should and so I know I am still carrying a certain amount of stress.

Here is Robert with our recycling basket.  Sometime last year we started a chore chart with the boys.  They have chores they need to do, just as members of the family and then they have chores that they can be paid to do.  At the end of the week, they fill out their form and they get paid.  It has been working pretty well.  It is harder to fit everything in with them away all day at school, but they are managing.  Even Robert has saved a good amount of money.

Robert now goes to the library at school too.  It is interesting to see which books he brings home.  A couple of Fridays ago he brought a craft book home.  One of the crafts was this cute octopus puppet.  I sent this  picture to his kindergarten teacher and she asked me to come to class and do the craft with the whole class.  I did it this week and it was lots of fun.  It was especially fun to meet his classmates and see where he is spending his weekdays.

I miss Robert during the day.  Sometimes I find it has been hours since I have talked to somebody and that is strange.  I am enjoying the chance to catch up on things in the house.  At the same time I have found that there have been many things that need doing and I am not catching up as quickly as I thought I would.

Here is the big boy in the beech tree at church.  This was the day of the parish picnic.  I like this picture.  It shows me so many things.  He has grown so much and is getting more confident in himself.  He seems to be transitioning well into the middle school.  He has more homework, but he approaches it well and has gotten it done even on the evenings when he really would rather not.  I am very proud of my boy.  He has some special needs, but it is amazing how much he overcomes and excels in.

I watch my children every day and am amazed that my babies are little boys.  I want to hold on to this time and make it count.  I am trying very hard not to rush things and to just enjoy the little things in life.  Like Robert who right now is talking to me, so I need to end this and pay attention to him.