There's a portion of the Christmas Grinch, a dab of my crazy assignment, a cup of blog ennui and a whole lot of "Franklin! Would you Puuuleeeease!" in my eggnog these days.

There is no alcohol due to the afore mentioned dab of crazy and that's really too bad because the mornings before work seem to require a hefty dose of rum.

Good News:
Franklin will be moving on to a new centre soon. He is to join many of his old friends and other older kids and will be able to model after them. At the moment he is in the world of toddler and his long-awaited leap to pre-school has finally come. This is good because intellectually, I think he was a little bored in the centre he's in now. Of course more challenge is good but it also brings with it the....

Bad News:
Franklin is persistent, Franklin is intelligent, Franklin has self-confidence and loves to smile and laugh. However, what Franklin seems to lack is that stage of insistence that all toddlers seem to go through at one point or another - the "Let-Me-Do-It-Myself!" stage. Of course, this passive quality has helped us immensely when we need to get somewhere quickly. Children are slow - at everything. However, a child that is willing to talk (and talk and talk and talk) while I slip on the shoes, the hat, the coat and the gloves is handy when time is short.

However, at preschool, this passive distraction is not an indulgence he can enjoy. Self-motivation and independence is key. It's a good lesson to learn; just not one I think he's actually ready for, unfortunately.
We're working on it though. Last night he took off all his clothes and put on his pajamas ALL BY HIMSELF!
This brought tears to my eyes, not just because of raging pre-menstrual hormones, but because watching him do all this without my help both scared and delighted me. We are raising a fully functioning human being!

Okay, the jury is still out on this, but I'm optimistic.

Why was it so easy last night and not this morning?
Let me tell you.

Franklin is in love with himself.
Of course, I love that he loves himself but the reason he was so willing to do everything on his own last night was because he was watching his reflection in the full length mirror throughout the entire process - with a little Mona Lisa smile the whole time. You could tell he was impressed with his capabilities but do you think he would remember this ability this morning?

No no nonononon.

This morning was full of "I can't dooooooo it" and "Mommmmmy, Heeeeeeeeeelp Meee" and "Nooooooo" and "Whaaaaa" and...
Okay I'll stop now; I'm stressing myself out all over again.

Cripes.
Give me strength.

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