Friday, August 24, 2012

mom school


Stella missed the cut-off for kindergarten this year. I was sad that she wouldn't be able to start with her two best cousins at our neighborhood school. I even thought about having her tested and sent early.  But the more I thought about it (and prayed about it), the more I realized that of all my kids, she needs my attention the most. So instead of rushing her off to school, where I'm afraid she'd be lost, or sending her to another year of preschool (which she loved, but doesn't really need), we are having "mom school" and she is in heaven. Sometimes we renovate bathrooms, or run errands. Sometimes we play with Elliot, or like yesterday, we make brownies. Lots of times we practice reading and writing. But whatever we are doing, she is right beside me, right where she wants to be.

I am grateful for the revelation we can receive as mothers. I am glad that I was able to listen to my heart and know what Stella needed most. I am happy that I followed those feelings and I know that I am doing the best thing for her this year.

But please bless me to be patient with her! Goodness, that girl can talk and talk and talk.


Best brownie recipe here. This time we used dark chocolate chunks instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Oh dear!

14 comments:

  1. Enjoy that special time with Stella!

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  2. Love this!! What a wonderful year you will have.

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  3. I love this post and those brownies look soo good!

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  4. I have a talker. He is wonderful and sweet but his mind never stops and he feels the need to keep a running dialogue. He is my oldest. Two years ago, I had three kids at home, and was so excited to finally send one off to school. I won the preschool lottery and so all we had left to do was finish potty training him. He finally got it and started school. Hooray. A couple weeks in, he started to fall apart and regress in the potty training department. I prayed and prayed about it and felt I should keep him home another year. What?! That was not the answer I thought we all needed and despite my husband thinking I was crazy I followed that answer. Best decision ever. Sure it was hard some days, but he needed me and needed one more year of my attention. You are a great mom! You won't regret these moments spent making memories.

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  5. best decision ever. love you both!

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  6. All I can say is I love you and you are the best mom ever. Such a good decision.
    Hugs

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  7. I need to thank you for this post. Seriously, same position over here and I'm blessed to spend everyday with my little man. I need to focus more on brownie making and less on reading. :) Thank you again. :)

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  8. She is so lucky to have you for a mom. Have a great time together.

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  9. I see ahead a book of September pictures and stories, October pics and tales, November... (dictated by her and written by you).

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  10. this is so kind and beautiful, steph. and so selfless, as ever. love you all so much!

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  11. I don't comment as often as I should...
    I just want to say how much I love your blog.
    I love that you listened to the inspiration you received. u inspire me.
    Little ones grow so fast.
    I'm totally selfish and homeschool my 4 little kiddos. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but it works for us and my little ones love it. We take it year by year.
    Enjoy this time you have with Stella. I bet she will remember and cherish these times with you too.

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  12. Man, Elora can talk and talk and talk too. I don't think it's just cause I'm a talker, I think it's cause she's a four year-old girl.

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  13. i really, really love this post. i, too heavily rely on prayer to help navigate me through tough parenting choices. i am so grateful for the inspiration that i get to receive on behalf of my sweet girls, because i am their mother.

    (you are a really, really great mom.)

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