Looking Ahead.

The past several weeks have found us doing lots and lots and lots of this.

See how focused he is?  He's even choosing to sit there at the table.  Begged for 'colors, paper', even. He'll color like this for a good 30 to 45 minutes (as opposed to 30-45 seconds...).  He'll even tell us what to draw, so he can color it.  

This is a miracle, to be honest. 

Carter and table work have been like oil & water.  And we haven't pushed it.  We knew that someday, when he was ready, he'd find enjoyment in things like this.

It's someday.  

I don't know what has changed in him.

Maybe he sees his friends at school enjoying themselves as they color and write and draw.  Maybe he spends so much time working on it at school that something clicked within him, and he realizes that creating is fun.  Maybe his hands and words have finally caught up with his incredible, soaring, wild  imagination.

Maybe I don't really care why.  I'm just so, so grateful that our little boy is starting to enjoy little boy things.

Every little boy should love spending a sunny winters day at the table, creating.  Imagining.  Laughing when dad draws a motorcycle, or when mom draws a bath tub.

These pictures do my heart so much good.  There were many times that I thought he'd never want to do this.  I thought it would always, always, always be a battle.  I thought he'd always have to be bribed to sit at the table to do work.  I wondered how a kid who hated table work could ever enjoy school.

And then, Carter surprised us.  It's really what he does best.

Story of our lives.

So let this post be a reminder to Carter's Mama: Carter CAN.

Just you wait and see, Mama - that thing you're so frustrated with right now will one day be a distant memory.  That skill you are praying he picks up - that habit you wish he'd stop doing already - that one thing that keeps you up at night and brings tears to your eyes while you're in the shower....it will all be fine.  Carter will show you what he can do, when he feels like it.

This is Carter's way.

You and Carter's Daddy will look at each other one day, jaws dropped, eyes glassy, and you'll say "Look! Look at what he's doing! Oh my gosh!" and you'll remember again that everything will always turn out fine.

It always, always, always turns out fine.

And why do we sweat it?  Take a cue from Carter and just relax.

Advocate?  Yes.
Prepare him for life?  Absolutely.
Help him in every single way possible?  Of course.
But worry?  Stress?  Freak your freak?  No, no, no.

That's not Carter's way.

One Thing I Know For Sure: Carter CAN.  Duh.