Adjustments
So, as it turns out, one of my kids is having a lot of trouble adjusting to Robin’s new school. And it’s not Robin.
Davy comes with us every morning, in the stroller, as we walk Robin to school. There’s some steps in front of the school so I generally carry Davy while I’m taking Robin in. Once inside Davy looks around wide-eyed, at all the kids, all the toys—the art supplies, the books—all the fun that everybody is already busily having. He watches Robin race off to join in whatever activity catches his eye.
Davy’s at that stage where he’s perfectly capable of making his opinions known on just about any subject, despite the fact that his vocabulary is limited to “hi,” “bye,” “mama,” “dada,” and an all-purpose “DA!” that translates to “I want that!” I hear “DA!” a lot when we’re leaving the school. He’ll be pointing back over my shoulder as we’re walking away, saying “DA! DA!” You don’t understand, mom! I want THAT!
Then when I put him back in the stroller, he starts to howl, arching his back and twisting and fighting. In his mind it is utterly unfair that Robin gets to stay in this glorious children’s wonderland, and he does not. To ease the sting, I’ve starting taking him down to the park after we drop Robin off, giving him a little time on the swings and in the sand. It helps, but it does seem like Davy’s getting madder about this situation each day it’s repeated. He has a pretty keen sense of justice, at least so far as it applies to injustices personally suffered.
Next year he’ll be old enough to go to school two mornings a week. And it won’t come a day too soon for Davy.
