Slice of Life - Growing Up

Slice of Life is sponsored on Tuesdays by Two Writing Teachers. For the month of March we are posting a slice each day on our blog. Join in!

Liam is in third grade. He is a study in contrasts. Talking to adults is difficult for him. He looks down, heat rushes to his cheeks, answers are mumbled. His first years in school were difficult. He didn’t speak much, if at all, in class. I clearly remember celebrating with his teacher in second grade when she had to tell he and a friend to be quiet in class.

With his friends, he is loud. He loves to play, run, imagine. He tends to be a follower, I’m guessing leading is too much in the spotlight. But his growth over the years has been apparent to us all.

This fall Liam mentioned that he wanted to join the local YMCA’s basketball league like he had the previous year. Sure, we thought. It was a bit of a step-up for him from the second grade team, but he loves shooting baskets at home, so why not. Liam loved the seven weeks, but we were often left watching with amused expressions. He would guard on offense instead of defense. If given the ball, he looked to see how quickly he could pass it to someone else like a game of hot potato. However, he had fun, which was our goal.

A few weeks ago he mentioned in passing that the spring league was starting up at the Y and could he join. I’ll admit, my first thought was not positive. Luke’s travel league had just finished and I was looking at free weekends for the first time since July. But, we of course agreed.

Both teams – fall and spring – have been made up of other kids from our town. They are great kids that Liam is friends with. I think this helps him a lot on the court. Last week’s game was a marked improvement from the fall. I smiled watching, thinking how much these kids had grown. Liam knew the difference between defense and offense. While still looking a bit nervous when he would get the ball, he would wait longer before passing, even looking at the basket a few times.

Yesterday we headed over and Liam was already pumped. He had hung out with his cousin the night before and had a sleepover to go to after the game. I reminded him before the game that my goal each and every time is to have fun. He grinned and took off with his friends.

I don’t know what happened to their team, but they were on fire. The kids worked together – shouting out who to pass it to, finding the open man, and at one point they even completed a pretty amazing play. Liam shot about five baskets with one that actually went in. He was beaming, but his friends were cheering just as loudly. Later, Liam told me that the kids had decided everyone on the team should make at least one basket during their game and they were working together to make sure that happened. How cool!

He had a bit of a swagger to his walk as we left the gym. His chatter was nonstop. And as I watched him talk to his coach, a few parents, and then high five with his friends, I had to wonder where my shy little boy had gone. Then, he ran over to me, smiled, hugged me and I saw him there – and so much more. 

Slice of Life - Memories from a Book

Slice of Life is sponsored every Tuesday by Two Writing Teachers

Monday night I laid down the law, Liam had to clean out his bookshelf. For an eight-year-old boy, his shelves were full to bursting. By a rough estimate, he had well over three hundred books in his room, board books, Spot books, all the way through the chapter books he is currently reading. While I am a fan of choice, he often lamented that he had nothing to read, which I felt was because it was overwhelming to try and find a book. I sent him in to clear out anything he doesn’t want to read and bring them to my room. He happily set about that task. 

Load after load came into my room to sort for Goodwill. Liam was a relentless purger; he needs to come tackle my classroom library. As he worked I heard him call out, “Mom, I found one that’s too special to get rid of.”

He came in and put this sticker on my hand. It was like being punched in the gut with a flood of memories.

For Luke, the transition to preschool was pretty seamless. He was already in daycare daily; heading to another spot with more kids was no big deal. With Liam, everything was an undertaking. Dropping him off at daycare produced a few tears the first few times, but he got past it. Preschool was that times a million.

One of the first days of preschool the speech teacher emailed me how adorable Liam was and how she enjoyed holding him to help his tears stop while she was in the room. It seemed he cried for the entire two hours he was there. This continued for many weeks. The teachers were wonderful, the school was terrific, but my little guy’s heart was breaking – and so was mine.

We tried everything to no avail. He cried through school pictures, snack, art projects, and more. Finally, I purchased the book The Kissing Hand after reading about it online. Liam and I cuddled up that night to read it and I showed him the stickers in the back. I told him the next day I would put one in his hand and he would be fine when he went to school because he would know I was with him.

The next morning I prepared the boys to head over to daycare and I brought Liam the stickers. He shook his hand and whispered that he didn’t want one, it would fall off and the power would be gone. Thinking quickly, I grabbed a Sharpie. I quickly kissed his hand and drew a heart on his palm. I told him to hold it tight and see if he felt better. He nodded and off to daycare they went.

A few hours later I was in my normal teaching routine and I passed by my desk computer. Glancing at my email, I noticed one from Liam’s preschool teacher. Opening it up and skimming it, I immediately gasped and quickly sat down. My student Nathan quickly looked at me and asked what was wrong.

I fought back tears as I tried to explain. Liam’s kind teacher had emailed to tell me of his breakthrough. He hadn’t shed one tear yet that day since being dropped off by his daycare provider. He was quiet, of course, but was tear free. The only thing he was doing that was a bit odd, she mentioned, was that his fist was clutched against his heart the entire morning. I looked at Nate with the tears threatening to overflow and explained, his fist was keeping my kiss in and his hand was on his heart so he would know I was there. How badly I wanted to rush out of my classroom, race across town, and hold my brave little boy. I swallowed it down, stood up, and taught instead.

Parenting is tough. The challenges change as they grow, but the reward of knowing these people is huge. Looking at my big eight-year-old today, I can hardly remember a time when I had to help him to be brave. But the memories are there, just below the surface – for him and for me.

Yes, Liam, you are correct. This book is too special to be donated. This is part of our story – yours and mine.

Bedtime with Liam

I remember reading a quote once that writers live their lives with their eyes wide open. Before I was a teacher that writes, I don’t think I truly understood that idea. But tonight, as I lay with Liam just as I do each and every night, this popped in my mind. I immediately scribbled it down. Must share with my students in the morning.

Do you write? Do you share your writing with your students? I know it can be scary but it is the single best thing I've done for my writing workshop.

Bedtime with Liam

Each night we lay down to the same routine:

Teeth brushed.

PJs on.

Books read.

Music.

Prayers.

When you were small people told me I’d made a mistake.

We should put you in your crib.

Let you cry.

How would you learn?

But others whispered secrets to me.

How fast you’d grow.

How they’d give anything for these moments back.

Reminders to listen to you.

And it doesn’t work for everyone,

But it did for us.
The family bed.

Slowly, when you were ready,

The move to your own.

Each night Daddy can find me here.

Though you don’t need me anymore,

Neither one of us wants to stop.
Lying on my slide.

Reading, typing, while you drift off.

Those whispers were right.
I wouldn’t change this for the world.
How you curl your body up next to mine.

The rhythmic tap, tap, tap of your hand on my side.

Your contented sigh, Mama, as you drift off.

I’m exactly where I should be.

A Trip to Anderson's Bookshop to see Dav Pilkey

Man alive, today is one of those days I need to remember. So apologies up front, my friends, because I’m recording it here so I can remember it AND share it with my students on Monday. J

My mom joined Luke, Liam, and me in a six hour round trip drive to Naperville, Illinois today – home of the amazing Anderson’s Bookshop. Dav Pilkey was there for a signing and my friend, John Schu, was meeting us for lunch. I wish we could have stayed even longer and seen more friends, but we were on a tight schedule.

We arrived in Naperville in time for lunch and before even reaching Lou Malnati’s we had to stop for a literary moment – a photo with Cat in the Hat.

After our photo shoot we quickly did a bit of pre-signing shopping at Anderson’s Bookshop. Can I just comment on what an amazing store this is? The staff is unbelievably kind and helpful. The selection is amazing. What a place. When my son, Luke, wanted to locate the Goosebumps series, a staff member helped him find it and had a great conversation with him. My mom was looking for a certain type of book for my dad and someone else helped her with several suggestions. Everyone is so knowledgeable. Highly recommend a visit here!

 
Then we trekked over for some delicious pizza and met up with John. I think all of you that know him will agree, John is the nicest person on earth. I was grateful he got to meet my boys and my mom. We talked books, school, and more.

Then we headed over to be part of the underwear contest. Anderson’s was attempting to assemble the largest group of folks with underwear on their heads. While waiting for the photo op we filmed a #nerdbery video. You can view it on HERE on John’s blog. (My son Luke and I give a few book talks on it.)

Then we met up with Donna and jumped in line to get our books signed. Dav Pilkey could not have been kinder. He talked to both Luke and Liam about what they enjoyed reading. Upon finding out that I taught fifth grade, he asked what that age of kids think of Captain Underpants. (Answer – they love it) Then I shared how bummed my students were that they couldn’t come with me, so he gave me a high five to pass on to them.

We left with hugs to our friends and hopped back in the car to head home. The entire ride home the boys alternated between buzzing with excitement about our quick trip and reading their new purchases. We ended our evening with a fabulous dinner at my parents’ house where we recapped the day with my dad. I ended the night by coming home where both of my boys hugged me and thanked me for an amazing day. Awesome indeed.

So many things to be grateful today – including friends who bring books as gifts and friends who call ahead to bookstores and leave you gift cards. Thank you John and Margie! To pay it forward I’d love to giveaway a copy of Dav Pilkey’s newest book.

Giveaway Rules

1. This giveaway will run from September 8^th until 11:59 pm September 13^th. (Central time zone)

2. This contest is open to people living in the continental United States.

3. You must be at least 13 years to enter.

4. If you can, please pay it forward. Thanks!