A Brand New Teancom for 2011

Teancom, way back when

Teancom has been my cuddly, cuddly boy who loves watching TV and eating crackers.  He's also been whiny and demanding and shy.  This last month, though, has been magic.  He's made a lot of changes.  And so it is with great pride that I introduce ...

Teancom: Version 2011!

* He says prayers without help.
* He sits still and listens when we read scriptures and say family prayer.  No bouncing, kicking, or whining. 
* He goes to church without a fight.  Sits quietly through Sacrament Meeting.  Doesn't lay on the floor throwing a fit.
* He loves his Sunday School teacher and goes to Primary without crying.  When I realized a few weeks ago that Tank was getting a new teacher at the start of the year, I almost cried.  2010 was a long, long year in Primary for Tank and he was just starting to not hate his teacher (who's an adorable and amazing person, by the way.  It's not like she's a deadbeat).  The first day with his new 2011 teacher, Bro. V., I went to pick Tank up and asked Bro. V. how Tank did.  To my complete surprise, he said Tank did great.  I didn't believe him.  Tank has since told us that he LIKES church.  What?!  Where did THAT come from?
* Tank tells us that he's excited for school in the Fall.  It still scares him a little, but he's starting to see that there could be advantages.
* He's showing interest in letters and writing.  He can now tell me the name and sound of most of the letters of the alphabet, and he shows great pride in getting them right.  Last week he wrote his name for the first time.

* He eats dinner.  Doesn't even throw a fit about it.
* He doesn't throw a fit when I tell him that he has to eat his food at the table.
* When he's frustrated, he comes up with solutions to his problems.  He might throw a small fit, but then he'll realize that's pointless and start proposing compromises.
* He's also now grown out of cuddling with me every morning.  That may or may not be an "improvement," but it is a sign that he's growing up.  In fact, in general, we cuddle about a fourth as much as we were cuddling even a few months ago.  He still wants to be near me sometimes, but often he'll just want to come sit BY me instead of on my lap.  Honestly, I miss my Teancom cuddle time, but I also know that it's wonderful that he's maturing.  I don't want him to stay little forever.

It now seems entirely possible to me that he'll eventually be a 5-year-old.  Just last month I was thinking to myself that I couldn't imagine Teancom being 5 and taking steps towards independence.  In so many ways he was refusing to grow up, and I was starting to worry that he wouldn't be ready for school or life in general.  But I can see it now.  I can imagine him getting on a bus that will take him to school.  I can imagine him sitting at school all day without crying.  I can imagine him actually eating lunch.  I can imagine him insisting to walk instead of being carried.  And it's a beautiful, wonderful vision.

But he'll always be my Baby Cakes.