RECENTLY
I have heard mothers with several children say that homeschooling the
younger ones is eaier. For them, homeschooling is a way of life. There
is no change in routine. They often have absorbed more during their
distracting play than mom has given them credit for. Now, I believe
them. My Baby Bug
just turned 1 last week. But already she has learned so much. Her
casual observation has taught her a lot about our family and how it
works.She knows that when mom pulls out the phonogram cards during reading, it is time to practice her many random sounds. And maybe throw in a rasberry or two.
She knows that girls in dresses are supposed to spin in circles.
She knows that when we play the classical music, it is time to go open her sister's drawer, take out a tutu and come ask mom to help put it on.
She knows when daddy comes home, it is time to stamp in the hall and squeal. She lags far behind her older siblings, but she tries her best to be part of the stampede.
She knows beds are for jumping on, not for sleeping.
She knows dads are for jumping on. She even growls like her brother while she tries to wrestle him.
She knows the toilet is a throne of honor and praise. She begs to sit on it like her brother and laps up the praise and attention.
And she knows that at bedtime, everyone goes to the basket for a book and comes and sits in mom's lap. She knows to turn the pages gently, point at the pictures and ask questions.
There is, however, a disadvantage to being a three year old boy in between two girls. Baby Bear does not see it that way yet, but he will when he is old enough to be embarrassed by his parents telling people about his childhood.
You see, he can't bear to be left out of the dancing and twirling. And when the girls are spinning in their dresses, he is apt to don one as well. And this morning, he appeared during our music session in his underwear and a tutu to practice his ballet moves.
My Baby Bug's nick name did not come about as naturally as the other two's nick names did. We figured she needed one, and it should be an animal since we already have a mouse and a bear. Mostly we call her "Pudgy" because she is and I like all her little pudges.
She has a very sweet temperament. She is pretty laid back. She is not too concerned with the uncoordinated way Little Mouse carries her around and she rarely complains about the exuberance of Baby Bear's affectionate attention. Sometimes she looks at me with that pleading look of, "Isn't there anything you can do about this?" but she rarely fusses about it.
Her face lights up at the slightest attention. She is happiest being held or sitting up on her mat with someone to "talk" to. And she is talkative. I think she must have quite the sense of humor because she gets laughing so hard she has a hard time finishing the gurgles she was trying to say. She is amazed by Baby Bear. She watches him intently, flashing that toothless smile when he stops to talk to her. I think she knows that she is supposed to be working toward doing what she sees him doing.
The other day, I was changing her diaper while Baby Bear was jumping on my bed. Her eyes lit up. When I sat her up on the bed, she tried to jump as well. She bobbed her head up and down, throwing her arms up and down until she lost her balance and tipped over, giggling ecstatically. Her eyes shone as her brother toppled next to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She is five months old and is enjoying her newfound ability to interact with her environment. She has been rolling over (from back to front) for some time now (since she was three months old). Last month, she was really beginning to enjoy push ups. Then she slipped once and discovered that she can spin herself in circles and scoot backwards quite well by pushing off with her arms. We put toys down in front of her, and the more she tries to get to them, the further away she gets. Now she sits fairly well, and loves cooing and gurgling at her reflection in the mirror.
Her name means, "Beginning of the narrow path."