Something just happened...

When Samuel was 2 1/2, his social skills therapist suggested that I enroll him in some type of Mother's Day Out program to give him time to socialize with other children his age. So, very reluctantly, I enrolled him one day a week at the Mother's Day Out program at our church. I remember calling my good friend (the Assistant Director) 3 times in a 5 hour stretch on Samuel's first day, just to check in on him. I know, I know... I didn't want him to grow up and "leave" me so soon, but I knew it was for the best for Samuel.

When Avery was 2, I decided out of pure necessity to enroll her in Mother's Day Out. You see, my social butterfly child needed some serious social time that she just wasn't getting at home from me. She was driving me nuts, quite frankly. So, Samuel and Avery both started going to Mother's Day Out twice a week. It was good for her, and she really enjoyed it.

Now then, here I am with Isaac. He's 3 1/2 years old and he's never gone to any type of daycare, preschool or Mother's Day Out program. He does go to Sunday School at church. And during the school year he goes to choir and missions on Wednesday nights, plus he goes every other Friday to the childcare at my Mothers of Preschoolers group meetings. So, he's getting some social time each week with friends his own age. I've never seen the need to put him in Mother's Day Out. But people keep asking me why I haven't enrolled him in Mother's Day Out or preschool for this coming school year.

I don't know, I think something just happened to me when I realized that Isaac was my last baby... my last feeding, last bottle, last diaper, my last time to see my child learn how to crawl, walk, talk... And so I've never really pushed Isaac to "grow up." Hmmm, and we wonder where that "baby of the family" business comes from...

No, I think I just learned the hard way that children grow up way too fast on their own. I mean, I simply can't believe I have a 3rd grader who looks me straight in the eyes now when he talks to me because he's that tall now! And my 2nd grader, well she's just way too mature for her own good. So, maybe the best approach for Isaac is to not push him to grow up even faster than he needs to. I like being at home with him. And trust me, I know all too well that Kindergarten will be knocking on our door long before I am ready to let him go. So for now, I am keeping Isaac at home with me for one last year. And I will cherish every single minute of our time at home together.