Petru's first kindergarten performance at Dallin

Petru's school is having a monthly celebration where each grade picks a theme and does a show. Then, at the end of the semester/year (?) they get to present the entire show.

We found out about this over the weekend. We saw Petru looking for youtube videos of "Imagine" sang in sign language, but thought that was another quirky Petru thing. It was not. It was part of the "home-fun". Then, on Monday Petru came home with a note from the teacher that he was chosen to write and read something about "being kind to ourselves". I worked with Petru that evening, and between threats of losing the screen time we got it done. Phew! Then yesterday we got a note to practice for today's performance. Petru read it pretty well as I pointed to each word, but had a hard time keeping his eyes on the words without my help. Lots of rewards and eventually (5 practices later) he got it done. Phew! More practice with Chris in the evening, and we were all happy.

This morning I was a nervous wreck. It is comical in retrospect. Few things make me nervous these days. Petru is a shy kid, and at the Thanksgiving parade he kept hiding and not wanting to participate. I had visions of him getting anxious and concerned. I was literally pacing, holding Chris's hand tight and making sure he saw that we were there. He enjoyed the show and sang and danced with the kids. Really beautiful celebration. At some point they had the song "True Colors" and each kids with a note stating "I am...". Petru said "brilliant", When his turn came Petru of course did a super job. Not anxiety, lots of comfort. He had a ball! Ahhh, is there any habituation to parenting related anxiety?

More pictures

Chess class

After haircut, smiling for mommy during his favorite activity: computer time

Apple picking with Buni and grandma
Popsicles at the Froggy playground with Buni and Mommy
McDonalds playground and shake


Birthday party at Jump On It. Another success


My cake for the 6th bday - per request
Cupcakes for school celebration - per request
Petru's art from 2011
Self portrait

Update

It has been a long time since the last post so will do a bullet point update and a photo dump thereafter.

Summer 2011:

Petru finished ACC including ACC camp. He really loved his time there and flourished in spite of my often dislike of the lack of structure and "do whatever you want philosophy". We got him evaluated and found out that he is super smart (95-98th percentile, in the superior average for all tests except some visual motors and spatial tests). We also found out that he has some anxiety and quirky behaviors which can get in the way to achieving to the level of his ability.

Petru had a very happy summer. His favorite activity was going to Watercountry in NH. He got more comfortable in the water, mostly because he wanted to be better than his friend Elliot. Yes, competitiveness and stubbornness are traits he inherited from his mom:)

We spent most of our evenings at the town Reservoir having nice dinners and swims.

We also took a trip camping at the Cape and had a blast. Petru was wonderful. We tried mini golfing which became a favorite of Petru's (he beat me, not a surprise).

Buni visited at the end of the summer. We took a trip together to Storyland which ended up being Petru's favorite summer activity. Buni had a blast, too.

Early fall:

Petru started kindergarten. He showed no anxiety beforehand except when we walked to school as a family and he abruptly turned around saying"I think I am going home now". It took a lot of sharing of my own first day of school experience where I cried and demanded that I get put in second grade with my brother. His first 2 weeks were smooth. However, the following 2 weeks he had a lot of trouble going to school; he has a great teacher who kept the communication open. He did a lot of arguing with the teacher, boundary testing, etc. He adjusted after that; the teacher has him on a behavioral checklist which has him get rewards for being polite (aka not arguing), being flexible (instead of doing what he wants) and being safe body (no pushing, etc). This system has helped Petru make huge strides social-emotionally. Academically he is doing very well, reading at 3.8 grade level, and being at 1.2-1.5 grade level for all activities except spelling, where he is at kindergarten level.

He grew up a lot. He is still blond, tall and skinny (Chris's body). He can be the nicest little boy but also can have mean behaviors at time. The nice moments are becoming more and more then norm.

Winter:

We had very little snow this winter, so very little sledding. Petru did chess at the library but graduated and we have not been able to continue that. He is doing swimming once/week and then we swim as a family once or twice a week. He uses a bubble but is much more comfortable in the water. I see myself often in his need for control. We are also in the process of signing him up for art classes (still loves drawing) and piano classes.

Likes: still trains with daddy, pizza and cupcakes with mommy, books, piano/music, playing with girls (bc they are more verbal and less rough). He is still partial to blondes.

When we played the game what you like about others/yourself and what you dislike he said: "I like my blond hair and I dislike that I lie sometimes".

He has imaginary friends "Hey guys" to which he tells stories including lots of lies about what he or we do.

He loves to make up songs.

"Girls whine, girls say,

Give me coffee every day"

(after an evening conversation when Sonia and I talked about how we had our husband make coffee for us for the past 10 years).

Funny things are: diapers, babies.

My favorite activities with him: snuggling (he is so affectionate), sleeping together, talking and playing get to know you games.

I am really happy with how he is developing including how he becomes more and more able to control his id, his impulses, and modulate his emotions.

New Year's celebration Boston Garden as a family, and fireworks below

Random pics - Petru and the gals next door got their hands on my phone and took lots of pics



Interesting conversation: me talking and Chris making really good eye contact and listening.