Just a gigolo

I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what the male version of a hussy is. I think it's a Gigolo. A sailor with a girl in every port. That seems to be my son.

This week was historic. On Monday, his teacher sent home a list of phone numbers. They had requested anyone that was interested in sharing contact information could send in their info, and like 7 parents apparently responded. A bit disappointing to me, but thrilling to Christopher. 20 minutes after he got home, the phone rang. It was Bella* who asked very sweetly if she could talk to Christopher. I had no other response but shock, and handed the phone over. They jabbered for 10-15 minutes. Chris was having his flush, and was parked on the potty, but he was talking and talking. At first I just sat there, but opted to give them a little privacy. I thought I had more time, he's 5 going on 15. It weirded me out. This was the first phone call from someone who's family I don't know. I have met her, and she's super nice kid, but still, I was totally unprepared. I listened. They talked about their parents names, he asked her mom's name, she replied, and he said, "Wow! That's a long name." He talked about how Daddy built him a house and it gave him headaches. It was so sweet. Yet at the same time kind of worrysome. Girls are calling him already?! He's 5!
What am I going to do with him when he's 16, or them?!
Apparently Bella called again Tuesday, and left a message. So he tried calling her yesterday, and he was thrilled to leave her a message. But her message on the machine was so sweet, she told him she Loved him So Much, and he's a real sweet boy. It was adorable. But as soon as Chris listened he knew it was Bella. I was worried, she hadn't left her name. But Eric says, she shouldn't have to, should she.

That brings me to yesterday. I got the opportunity of tagging along on Chris's Field Trip to the Brownsburg library.



His teacher said Everyone Loves Christopher at his parent/teacher conference. I didn't talk much about that, but he's doing well, needs more time to make progress on the IEP goals. He's doing great with letters and numbers, mostly check pluses for grades. There was one check minus, on a 'quiz' where she asked him to draw a person in front of a cart. Eric was confused where the front was, it was a side view picture. And she meant down in front of the front door. Chris got very confused. Then again, so did Daddy. I probably would have drawn it next to the cart too. Carts go forward, once deffering which way it was going then we could deduce front. Oh well, it's one thing. Clearly he's doing OK. But she said Everyone who meets him adores him. I knew that, when we go down the halls, all the staff say Hi Christopher. He enchants them all. We took that to mean the staff, but apparently the girls in his class are pretty gaga for him too.
On this field trip, 3 different girls were trying to walk in our boys only group. Towards the end of the library tour we got to go behind the scenes which was really cool, then we sat in one of the kiddie classrooms and read a couple library based songs. As he sat next down, Sammie* came over and sat next to him. Now I was actually paying attention to the librarian, suddenly I glance over and Christopher has his arm around Sammie's shoulders! I glanced at his teacher, and she smiled at me, shaking her head just like I was. I swear I was observing teenagers on a date! His arm was around her, then her arm was around him. Then he put his arm around her again. I shook off my shock, and broke out the camera.



Now this photo shows his hand on her backside, but it had just fallen there from her shoulders, he was constantly moving to touch her, and vice versa. Blessedly this only lasted a minute or two, and the teacher sat down next to them. They knocked it off. But I swear he was about to climb into her lap.

I know he is a touch seeking kid, I love that about him, he's such a cuddlebug. But he's My Cuddlebug. I'm not ready yet for all this. I thought I had a few more years. I feel like he's aging too fast. I never would have called a boy at age 5. I did write a letter to a boy when I was 10, but I was in high school before I called a boy. And look at these girls today, calling boys at 5, and arms embraced in Kindergarten. Great Jehosephat!

On the other hand, he's just so darn loveable. He's enchanting. He's had that Gift from birth, and now that he's in school, he just Enchants so many more people. Even the office staff!

*Name changed. (I would say 'to protect the innocent', but...um no.)

Jammin' Jammie Day

Monday was a great day for Christopher. They were having Spirit week at school, to pep the kids up for Just Say No to Drugs lessons and Parent/Teacher Conferences. So Monday was Jammie day. We let him choose which jammies he wanted to wear. He chose his 'Buzz Lightlayer' jammies the night before, and we let him sleep in them. And he was so wound up the next morning, he was literally running wild. He wanted to take his Fluffy Muffy and slippers to school. But I think those stayed in his backpack.



We surprised Chris at school: Sam and I brought Grandma for lunch! Chris was so surprised. On one hand it was pure joy, on the other confusion because of changes in his routine. The kids in the cafeteria were all so happy, and it was just great to see Chris in his element at school. And what a great Blessing to be able to share that with Chris's Grandma Christine during her Fall Break too.




Chris wanted to us to join him at recess, which we did for a while. Though his friends B and C were more interested in us than Christopher was. He was climbing, smiling, and playing. But I'm proud to say with the new weighted vest they put on him, he's not inclined to be the Loudest and Craziest kid in the bunch. Those teachers are saints, they let those kids go Crazy. But as Chris recently pointed out to me when I asked him, when are you allowed to run wild and be crazy (the answer was NOT in the restaurant where we were at the time), he replied "At Recess." Oh yes. That is the one place where they can Go Bonkers. And Blessedly, I'm not in charge. Grandma and I ran for the hills, Grateful that there are women who are not us, who find Joy in manning the yard for recess, like his new Principal. He's really Blessed at school to make many new friends.

Throw the Gauntlets

I've finished putting together Chris's Halloween Costume. It's a new experiment for me in Needle Felting. But he's so excited, he can't wait. The cape Aunt Lisa made last year. The mask is from the zoo, when the new bat exhibit opened this past spring. So we just had to fill in the gaps a little bit. But that little bit has been received with Great Joy. I heard him bragging to his friends, "My Mommy made my Batman costume." I'm a little excited too. Maybe as excited as he is. Yesterday the gloves that Daddy ordered arrived. We'll save a picture of the whole thing for when he gets all dressed up. It's going to be AWESOME!

Fire Station

I was Blessed to be able to be a chaperone on Christopher's first field trip of the school year. We went to the B'burg Fire House. I'm sorry, Fire Station, as Chris kept correcting me. I absolutely love to help out with his class. He's really Thriving.



I met up with Chris in his classroom. All the students had been told to wear their purple bulldog t-shirts. It was wonderful to see all the kids matching, and behaving. They were so excited to walk down to the Fire House. I had a group of 4 kids including Christopher, and the kids held hands. How cute is that?



I love Kindergartners. Having a parent visit totally makes their day. Made mine too! I got to know his teacher a bit better, and I'm just thoroughly impressed with her. She's absolutely wonderful, loves the kids, and yet disciplines. God really knew what He was doing placing Chris with her.



The kids got to do a full tour of the Fire Station, seeing where the firefighters ate, slept, played, exercised, all the bells and whistles. Literally. At the end we went down the garage, a great big honking garage, where the kids got to climb into the Rescue vehicle, but our time with them was limited, because during the 1 hour we were there, they got 2 calls, and had to take off.



We got to see them use the firepole. The kids were in awe. Mine is the teensy head up front. But I just love the shot of the girls holding hands. Did I mention how much I love kindergartners? They come up to me, and tell me how much they love Christopher. They want to hold his hand, they want to hug me. My word. So adorable.



I mean really, how can you resist the Cuteness of this class?!



I just have been getting such Divine Vibes from the people at his school. I was nervous, I admit, I had my doubts as to whether or not sending Chris to school full days would be wise. But they keep proving to me this was the right decision for him. Monday we met with his team at the school. He has been upgraded from being on a 504 plan to an IEP. This opens up all kinds of doors for him. We requested a PT assessment, since he seems to have some core weakness still. And he qualified for OT and Speech based on some speech and social behavior issues. They have already taken all kinds of steps to help him. They gave him the camp chair, a chew toy, the FM system. And this week, they started using a weighted vest to help center him during free time like recess. And it seems to be helping. He hasn't gotten a dart in weeks. Nothing but beautiful green smiley faces. I'm so Proud of him. He amazes me constantly. He's brave and strong. Even when he started pooping out on the walk back from the firehouse, he kept moving, kept those feet going, I couldn't carry him, and he was a little whiney, but one of his girlfriends came up and held his hand, and he held mine, and we were playing I Spy to distract him, and she said, "I Spy a brave sweet boy." Yeah, I spied that brave sweetboy too.

A Mustard Seed

They say it takes Faith the size of a mustard seed to grow a Tree of Faith. Chris has been developing and growing his. We pray before bed together every night. Most of the time, Chris has been just content to let us pray for him. But recently Chris has wanted to lead us in prayer, but he was frustrated because he "didn't know the words." We told him it didn't matter, God just wants us to talk to him, and tell him what is in our heart.

Tonight Chris's prayer was:

Dear God, Thank you for everything you give us. Thank you for our teachers that teach us. Thank you for Kindermusik class. Thank you for green smiley faces. Please keep us safe, and keep away all the bad dreams. In your name we pray, Amen.