Learning to Cope

As adults, we fall easily into that trap of expecting our kids to behave and react accordingly to certain situations. Expectations are high and often we forget that these little guys go through some major adjustment periods. Micron and I survived the first week of pre-school. (Our whole family did). I say, "I," because I'm the stay-at-home parent who has to deal with the crying child at drop-off and having to deal with her anxiety about stressful situations during the week. It's not easy. For her and for me. I try and not compare her with Micro, who by the end of the first full week of pre-school, had stopped crying. She is not him, he is not her. 

As a family, our anxieties get passed to and from one another. I'm doing my best to keep calm, give reassurance and strength, as well as trying to identify with Micron what she's going through. Breaking out of our comfort zones is no easy feat. It takes a village to raise a child, and I'm lucky my village is extremely supportive and comforting. But there are those moments, when I feel frustrations' pressure heavy on my shoulders. That unwelcome feeling of having to get through the next couple of minutes...you know what I'm talking about, whether you have kids or not. That has been my MWF mornings. I'm racing to drop off Micro 40 minutes earlier than Micron starts school, and help him settle in to follow the morning's directions from the teacher. Then the anxiety starts to set in about my drop-off with Micron. I know it's wrong to feel that because she'll feel it too. But sometimes, I can't keep it at bay.

I survived the first week of two kids in school. I got some quality "me" time. I had a GNO (girls' night out). I'm ok. Micron still leaves school with a big grin when I pick her up. Her teacher says Micron is her "little shadow." We can't win all the challenges the first try. We just have to keep picking ourselves up and try, try again. So, here's to Finally Friday, and may each week get a little easier. For all of us.