Jonah's First Job Application

Fourth-graders at Loring Elementary can apply for school patrol duty. The orange vests and traffic flags have captured Jonah's interest and he decided he would really like to be chosen for patrol duty. Here is his first-ever job application. He is hopeful . . .

Double Digits!

Happy birthday, Jonah! Turning ten is a milestone!! You have informed us that 10 marks the beginning of your "pre-teen" years; I have started to see glimpses of your coming teenage years; sometimes you are pure child and at other times, I am surprised to see some complexity and maturity emerge.

How do I describe my ten-year-old Jonah? You are still active and agile: you've added skateboarding and roller-blading to your favorite activities this summer. You are happiest when you're in motion outside: flipping on the trampoline, swimming and especially diving from the high dive, riding your bike, climbing a tree...

Your other big love is reading and if I'm looking for you, I usually need to look no further than your room where I can find you curling up with a good book. You are still my sensitive introvert and reading has provided a great way to relax and unwind.

It has been fun to watch your piano playing over this past year: you find a great deal of happiness sitting down and playing and you've learned some really fun music lately. You surprised us this spring when you announced that you would play piano in the school talent show: this performing is a new side of your personality, and your self-confidence has grown immensely through piano.

Soccer continued to be your big sport this past year. This spring and summer you decided to play traveling soccer which opened up a whole new world of sports to our family. Your first experience with traveling soccer was so positive that you opted to sign up for a fall team as well.

You have grown immensely over the past year. Third grade was challenging for you and with the help of an amazing teacher who believed in you and refused to listen to excuses, you have developed some positive work habits and pride in your accomplishments.

You've challenged your parents greatly this year. You and I clash far too much and you have a stubborn streak (where ever did you pick THAT up?!) In those rare moments when I can keep a cool head, I see that much of the conflict you and I experience stems from our similarities.

I enjoy watching you interact with others: you are friendly and social with adults, and you make friends easily with other kids. It is fun to see you with younger kids: you have a gentle way about you and your fun-loving nature is a magnet.

You have started developing your own friendships and I've enjoyed this development as well. You just celebrated your birthday by having your 3 closest buddies and your cousin at our house for an overnight (NOT a sleepover, since sleep was such a small part of the night). Observing the social interactions of a group of 9- and 10-year-olds was instructive and gave me a glimpse into the next few years.

I love you, Jonah, and I hope this marks the beginning of a fantastic year for you!

Summer days. . .

School started for teachers last week, and while Ken went back to work, I took a week off to enjoy a bit of summer with the boys. Here is how we spent our time during that week: bike rides to the park ... school-supply shopping ... baking ... swim lessons ... canoeing ... birthday planning ... sleeping in .... Added to that the boys' trampoline-jumping ... skateboarding ... legos. We also went out for lunch twice ... read the first half of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" ... hung out at three different pools ... watched Harry Potter 4 ... (and for some of us, "Godzilla") ... shopped for new school shoes ... and spent time in our backyard. What a great way to spend some of the last days of summer!