Adaptive. Resilient.

How many of us know someone who is adaptive and resilient?  Who comes to your mind when you hear those words?

My answer is easy...Lily. 

Getting ready for school and driving her to school the other day, I began thinking about how well she has adapted.  Not just to school, but to everything.  It's really amazing.  Had I been taken from everything I know and put into a situation with people who looked totally different and spoke a totally different language, I'm not so sure I would've done as well as her.

I had to take a picture of Lily's feet this day because those are her new big girl shoes!  Where's my little girl going???

Thinking back to her beginning school almost 5 months ago and where she is now is such a complete turn around.  In August, and for quite a while after, there were tears upon dropping off and again at picking up.  We found out that Lily has a difficult time with transitions - not a surprise given her background.  She would be OK with me and then I would leave so she would have to transition to her teachers.  Then once she got use to them, it was time to transition back to me when it was time to go home.  I use to not be able to tell Lily we were going to school until we actually got in the car or she would begin to be upset and worry.  I hid her backpack so she didn't see it and secretly packed her lunch. 

Ready for school!

Her teacher recommended watching an episode of Daniel Tiger.  The episode about how grown ups come back.  She mentioned this to me when I picked her up one day and she was upset.  Daniel who?  Tiger what?  I had no idea that was even a show! Her teacher (she's really the best!) also let Lily take a stuffed animal from the classroom home with her and we could bring it back and forth.  For a long time, she would carry it in to the room in the mornings and would be holding it when I picked her up.  

All dressed the other day for school.  Yes, she knew we were going.

Over time the tears stopped when I dropped her off because, duh, school was fun!  Then when I picked her up, she wouldn't be crying but would hold on to her teacher for a bit longer before I had to take her.  She was not that child who came running out calling, "Mommy, mommy".  I had to check my ego at the door after the first few times of pick up and witnessing other toddlers doing that.  I had to remind myself, Lily had quite a different background which has shaped her personality the way it is.  Sometimes I forget that because she adapts so very well to many things and I feel like we've had her forever. 

Lily with the stuffed porpoise from her class

Today it's a totally different story.  I don't have to hide her backpack and she can see me packing her lunch.  She knows when we get dressed where we are going and she is ok.  She eagerly goes into the classroom to see her teacher, wash her hands and begin playing.  I do tell her goodbye and that I love her but I'm not sure she notices that I'm leaving.  She's that engaged already in what she's doing!  When I go to pick her up and I see her walking down the hall with her teacher, she is now smiling.  She easily gives her teacher a hug goodbye and comes to me.   The stuffed porpoise from her teacher now just stays in her backpack.  She no longer has the need to carry it in her hands. And, the best things is, I now have memorized all seven seasons of Daniel Tiger and the songs that go with them!  You could say I'm an expert on Daniel Tiger.  

Thank you so much for all you have done Ms. Julie and Ms. Andrea!  We love you.

A little video on our way to school.  Funny how she turned around and was ready for a picture.  Yes, she had a caramel in her mouth.  I took all those cute pictures above so she got a little reward.  Breakfast of champions before heading to school. Way to go Mommy of the Year!! 

 The funny thing is, when I was teaching, I would have cringed had a parent given their child a caramel in the morning.  I mean, a caramel in the morning, before school? What were they thinking?  That's back before I had a child and I knew all the answers back then!  Now, it doesn't bother me at all.  Ironic how things change, huh?

 Lily:  adaptive and resilient