Hmmmm...how bad is it to live vicariously through a 2 year old?
It's not as if I don't have a perfectly wonderful life of my own, but I have to say I tend to get more excited about Charlie's triumphs and more concerned about his challenges than I do about anything happening in my 34 year old days. Is that bad?
For example, it's Fire Safety Week at school! How cool is that?! And what perfect timing! Yesterday they learned what to do if there is fire in their house: run outside (and I of course informed Mrs. Kita that if Charlie ran out the front door when Jason started a fire in the fireplace this winter, I would blame her), and also what do do if they see smoke: crawl (and yes, I will try to take pictures if I burn dinner some evening and Charlie hits the deck).
But believe it or not, it gets even better. Today they are learning to Stop, Drop and Roll! I still have vivid memories of my kindergarten class rolling around on the carpet some 29 years ago. I can't wait to see Charlie demonstrate.
And as if that weren't enough for the week, tomorrow they are learning about Fire Trucks (I'm hoping that maybe the local station will drop by) and Thursday they're learning about the Fire Station, itself, (I'm still completely in the dark on this one, since I have not seen or signed a permission slip...I'm sure it will be creative and fun, though).
Of course, the highlight of this whole curriculum is that Charlie is going to be a fireman for Halloween in just another couple weeks. How perfect is that!? And Sully's mom and I are planning to take the boys to visit the Fire Station in full gear on the 30th.
And while I in no way mean to suggest that my life is boring, it's no Fire Safety Week.
Of course, higher highs can also mean lower lows. Yesterday I found out that Micah, Bryce and Hayden have all started the transition to the Older Twos room -- without Charlie. He's ready (i.e. of age and potty trained), but they only have three openings right now, so Charlie's three best buddies will be joining Miles, Vivie, Carly, Sully and Landon full time next week.
To be clear, I am in absolutely no hurry for Charlie to grow up and I am going to seriously miss Miss Brittany, Miss Brittany, Mrs. Kita and Mrs. Linda (just like I do Mrs. Jo-Jo, Miss Amanda and Mrs. Brenda), but I can't bear to think of him being left behind -- or having to spend all day without his buddies.
Granted, did he fall apart when Miles moved up? No. Vivie? No. Carly? No. Sully? No. Landon? No...but still... It reminds me of that Christmas in college when Matt & Amon got real jobs and Rebekah went to Europe...I cried all the way home from the shoe store. Of course, I did end up making another batch of fabulous friends, but it was heart-breaking at the time.
Who's going to run to the door when we arrive every morning shouting, "Chawlie, Chawlie, Chawlie"? I'm really going to miss that...
