Zach and his morning...

It's got to be rough to be a kindergartner. One day your on top of the world... your growing up fast- and life is moving along smoothly. Then the next day, the world crumbles down upon you- all because you didn't take care of business before you left the house.

Zach has been moving by leaps and bounds the last few weeks. He decided to ride his bike without training wheels, he has picked out which clothes to wear- and puts them on by himself. He also decided he didn't need his goodnight diaper at night... and he has slept two nights without even a small accident!

He's sounding out words... and reading them on his own. He even sent a few text messages on his Uncle Joey's phone!

I've been bragging on him...

Then this morning I took him to school, and as he got out of the van he announced he needed to go #2. I told him to hurry to the bathroom, and don't forget to wipe good and wash his hands. I got back in the van, and watched him run across the playground towards the bathroom.

I pulled into traffic and then heard a little voice in my head- it was telling me to park the van. I pulled into the parking lot and looked across the playground... and seen Zach coming out of the bathroom. He was far enough away that I couldn't see his face- but I could tell the way a couple of the boys walked up to him that something was wrong.

I grabbed Kyle and we walked across the playground. I hollered at him from the bathroom door- but he was hysterical and wouldn't say anything clear enough I could understand. I went into the little boys bathroom (hoping a play yard lady wouldn't blow her whistle at me) and discovered him sitting on the toilet, crying... and the door locked.

He wouldn't get up to unlock it, and I didn't know what was the matter. I finally had Kyle crawl under to unlock the door, and once I got in there I discovered a little boy that was trying his best to be a big boy.

For whatever reason, Zach has always been afraid to go to the bathroom in public places. I guess it's the acoustics of them, or that it's unfamiliar territory. It might have just been a bad morning, but the thought of him doing his business in the school bathroom was just too much to handle.

And the poor little fellow fell apart.

We got him cleaned up, and went outside to cuddle for a few minutes before the bell rang. His teachers came over to check on him- they had been unaware of the drama unfolding in the bathroom I guess.

I walked him to class, and he was still hanging on to me tightly. It occurred to me, that he must be in such a scary place. He's growing up, and becoming more independent each day. He's discovering there is a big world out there, and Mom isn't there all the time. It's hard for a child that is just learning his problem solving skills are going to be all that's going to help him some days.

I don't know what went through his mind this morning, but I am so thankful my radar went off.

I think this afternoon I am going to pack some crayons and coloring books... and we'll spend the afternoon being kids for a while. I'll let him decide whether to stay in the lines or venture outside of them...