She's on her way...

Some changes have been going on in our larger family. Mom and Dad sold their house and we moved them out of 4408 this past weekend. Until they move into their new home, they are staying with my sister Jolene. But that's for a different post.

Since Cate has been in school, she has had mixed up weeks of where she goes when school is over. Three days she goes to the after-school program; one day she is picked up by Grandpa Ken and Tuesdays have been bus days. Until this week. Today is the first day Mom came over to our house to watch the kids. And Cate couldn't be more excited.

We've been building up to this moment for a long time. Today is the first day Cate is getting to and from school by herself. Ever since Grandma and Papa sold their house, we figured there would be some transition time and the possibility of Grandma watching the kids at our house was a high probability. As soon as we told Cate she wouldn't be taking the bus on Tuesdays, she asked if she could walk home from school. We said we'd think about it.

So last night we agreed she could do it. Then she upped the ante and asked if she could use her scooter to transport herself. I agreed thinking that she would get to and from school that much quicker.

This morning, she was up when her alarm went off and did everything she was supposed to do in order to get an early start. I wrote the note to her teacher informing her that Cate was going home to her Grandma--by herself. I remembered to include the home number just in case.

As we made our final preparations--scooter-check! helmet-check! lock-check! key for lock-check! Oreos-check!--I gave her one final pep talk:

Me: Okay Cate, remember...come straight home when school's out.

Cate: I know, Mom.

Me: And if your friends invite to play at the playground, politely say no.

Cate: I know, Mom.

Me: And come down the street you said you would because that's where we told Grandma you would be coming from.

Cate: I know, MOM!

Me: Okay. Be good and be safe. I love you!

Cate: Uh-huh. Bye!

And away she went, scootering down the street. A straight shot to school. Only two blocks. Watching her confidently go took my breath away. I don't know who grew up more this morning--her or me.

Phone Call From My Mom

Mom called me at work this morning. She calls often enough, so it's no big deal when her number is displayed on the ID:

Mom: Your son is really weird.

Me: Oh?

Mom: Yes. Your dad went to drop off the older boys and Cate goes along. I was busy doing something and came back in the kitchen, but Max was no where to be found. I called out, 'Max! Max!' And then I hear this little voice say, 'Wet, Grandma! Wet!' Do you know what your son was doing?

Me: No.

Mom: He was standing outside on the top step just on the other side of the door...in the rain!

Me: My little rain man...

"Shut Up!" Part II

So, my audience of one, would you like to know what happened after Cate uttered those two words to Grandma?

Cate walked in the back door into the kitchen, where I was making dinner. Her head was bowed down and when I asked her how her day was, she replied: "I don't want to talk about it." She knew I knew already.

At the dinner table, I brought it up again telling her that we needed to talk about it. I explained that when the time was right, she could tell me she was ready to talk. That was agreeable to her.

I was washing dishes when she approached me and said, "I'm ready to talk about it now."

So we sat down on the sofa and she said she told Grandma to shut up, "because I didn't like what she was saying to me! She was telling me I still had to take naps after I told her then when I am five, I don't have to take naps anymore." So we talked about what the real story is about taking naps--when she is five and a half and in school, she will not have to take naps any longer. Unless, of course, she was acting like she needed a nap. Plus, whatever Grandma says she has to do, then she needs to be obedient to Grandma. She told me she was sorry and I told her that she needed to say, "I'm sorry" to Grandma the next time she saw her. I also told her I was proud of her for telling me what happened and that I hope she can tell me anything she needs to and I won't be angry with her.

Boy, it would be nice if that last bit sunk in with her. Because I am sure the teenage years are going to be a real adventure with this girl.