Let's get together

There's plenty I love about doing preschool at home. And seeing these two interact and work together is definitely one of the highlights. While Abby's doing the normal 3-year-old preschool stuff--crafting, cooking, reading, building, counting, coloring--Caleb's tagging along, and doing an impressive job keeping up with his older sister.

One of our preschool days was forecast to be much warmer than it actually was, so I found myself with some dead space on my lesson plan that I had hoped to spend outside. Thanks to a well-stocked pantry, the crisis of too much down time was averted with a little impromptu rice krispie treat making. (And yes, they're smearing chocolate on top of those rice krispie treats. They're called Chocolate Scotcheroos, and they're the best thing ever. I have my friend Leigh Anne to thank for the recipe. But I have only myself to blame for the fact that a tray of them lasts less than 24 hours around here.) Both Abby and Caleb are improving daily in their understanding and execution of taking turns. They make a great team, with Caleb demanding to add every ingredient, and Abby counting to make sure they each take the exact same number of turns pouring things in.
Later, Abby built alphabet roads out of blocks for Caleb to drive his trucks on. This random act of kindness caught me totally off guard, since Abby is usually pretty possessive of whatever she's constructing out of these blocks. We've talked a lot about why it's important to be kind to your brother, and how even when it's difficult, Jesus can give us a heart that is sweet and kind to others. After she built her letter z road and invited Caleb to drive his trucks on it, she proudly informed me, "Look Mommy, I'm sharing my blocks with Caleb. Is that so kind of me?" I assured her it was. "Now Jesus doesn't have to mess with my heart," she added.

Maybe I need a better way of explaining that one.

At Abby's request, we attempted to make a letter z zebra this week. Abby was gracious enough to tell me it was an awesome zebra, but Caleb was a little more honest, telling me in no uncertain terms that what he was making looked nothing like a zebra.

"There's no zebra, Mommy," he said, looking me straight in the eye. "It's a snake. It's a stripey snake." To his credit, I think he was right.

We worked on some more dot-to-dot counting activities, and Abby is still loving them. Caleb insisted on doing one as well, and proceeded to sing the ABC song as he pointed to each number. Abby was disappointed her worksheet only had ten dots, and asked that I please find one that counts all the way to 40, which, currently, is her favorite number, for reasons I will never know.

A quick survey of week sixteen at the Preschool of Mommy reveals that these siblings have come a long way since August. They have their moments, of course, but I find that the times I spend intentionally working with them while they work together--whether coloring, crafting, or cooking--are fruitful times when they are truly learning "how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1). I love having the opportunity see their relationship develop firsthand and to guide them in it.

When we started on this journey last summer, I received an email from a dear family member who I hope won't mind me sharing part of it. I've saved it and reread it often, and it has been such an encouragement to me:

Speaking as an "empty nester" you will never regret your times together at home with your young children. You will look back on it as the sweetest part of your life! It is your opportunity to mold that impressionable "clay," teach them about Jesus, and love on your kids like no one else can. Your close family unit gives great security to your children as they grow. My girls spend a lot of time together & consider each other best friends. That did not just happen. I specifically taught them to value each other and did not allow them to disrespect or mistreat each other.

I pray daily that my efforts will yeild such God-honoring results!