Jane is 8.
She is funny, clever, smart, thoughtful, kind, creative, a deep-thinker. She is quick to help and aware of the needs and feelings of those around her.
Early this spring we noticed a worrisome trend. Our happy-go-lucky girl had become Sad. More than sad. I began keeping track of the number of times she told me she was "bad" or "horrible". It was heart-breakingly often. Her typical response to a simple, kind reminder (Please chew with your mouth closed...) was to break down crying, "I'm such a bad girl. I'm a horrible bad girl."
I went to the school to watch, to see what I could see... and what I saw didn't surprise me a bit. Jane was cheerful! She was surrounded by friends, boys and girls. She was laughing, having fun, learning. But, she came home a different child.
Now, lots of kids have sad days, lots of kids go through things. We know that. In fact, just last night we had the "Why you go to public school" discussion with one of our kids. But this was different. This wasn't a specific bullying event, or a bad teacher (her teacher was amazing.) This was a slow deterioration of Jane's feelings of self worth. The child who used to bounce back was becoming slower and slower at picking up the pieces and carrying on.
The answer of how to help her came very clearly: We needed her home, to build her up.
Three months later: Jane is Jane again. We have found her! I feel like I have my daughter back. She is normal, some days are happy and sometimes she feels sad, but she doesn't stay sad for long, I think she is remembering how special she is. Here is a recent incident that told me we had done the right thing:
We walked into Wal-Mart. Typically I have been having Jane help me write the list and cross things off as we go. This morning though, we had rushed out the door without time to make a list. As we walked into the store I turned to her and said, "Ok Jane, What is on our list?" 3 months ago, she would have looked at me, stricken, and began to wimper then cry, "I didn't write a list, nobody told me to, I'm sorry!!!" Full on sadness would ensue and she would eventually tell me how bad she is.
This day though, she turned to me, with that sparkle in her eye that had been missing and said as quickly as if she was reading the list in her hand, "Ice cream-- and bubble gum."
And then it was my turn to cry in Wal-Mart.
Boy had I missed my Jane, and boy am I lucky to have her with me everyday.
I remember sitting at the dinner table with Jenny, Will and Amy and discussing who ate their corn left to right, round and round or totally random bites. The other night we were eating it and I realized I have one of each! Eve actually prefers hers in "corn strips" cut from the cob, she is missing too many front teeth this year. Henry always always always tries munching it while we are husking it, then he refuses to try it once it is cooked-- Silly Boy!
I'm pretty much too tired to type. Here is the quick week run-down. I spent today at Cub Scout Day Camp. I love little boys. What fun they are. Here is what I learned:
Other news: Evie read her first chapter book this week. A Magic Tree House book, she finished it in a day and a half! Hooray for readers. (and no, she doesn't have new glasses, both my girls WANT glasses so they'll wear anything just for looks!)
We started our Summer "Monday Mailday". Be watching for letters, we'll be writing and mailing every Monday... and watching our own mailbox... please respond. Please?
Oh, and in addition to having a major skunk smell in our basement for a week and getting a tad behind on my laundry (eww. stinky!) I've now decided I may never set foot in our "sunroom" (aka: the room where bugs go to die- but this one was alive.)
Isn't it awesome how I have kids with such different haircolors? I love that middle picture! Would you even guess they are related? Genetics crack me up! 
What a couple of corndogs!
Hooray! G&G C. are here visiting! We have spent time reading, tickling, chatting, and playing games! games! games!
We went to a cubscout picnic. If you look closely, you can see, big tree, boys inside of tree, boys bolting out of tree when someone shouted hotdogs! :)
We have had buckets of rain, but Friday the weather was perfect! We went to Annapolis and took a tour of the Statehouse. It is fascinting. We saw a cannon that was brought here in 1634. 1634!!! As we entered the statehouse we were greeted at the door by our Governor! We missed the photo op so posed in front of his portrait. He was very friendly! Michael sat in the chair that Obama sat in and had his shoes shined and we all stood in the spot where George Washington resigned his Commission as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Very Cool! Our tour guide was excellent. We had a picnic on the lawn and then enjoyed the charm of Annapolis. It is such a cute area!
On our way home we stopped at Ft. Mc Henry. This might be one of my favorite sights to see. It is easy to imagine yourself there, the British ships right in the harbor and the guns and cannons at the Fort. After a short film strip, they open the curtains to the Star Spangled Banner flying high above the fort and the sound of a Men's Chorus singing our national anthem. I'm pretty sure you'd have to be made of stone not to get chills. ;) We arrived in time for the changing of the flag and our kids were able to help catch and fold the enormous flag! Did you know the original flag that waved the morning Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner was 30 feet x 42 feet! Huge!
Extreme Makeover:
Someone asked me last week what Henry likes to play with... I couldn't come up with anything specific. Cars? Trains? Everything he isn't supposed to mess with? Then it hit me-- Sticks. This boy loves a stick. He swings it with all the energy of a Master Jedi.
He is in charge. When he isn't, say, someone tries to take the remote control or hose away, he lets us know he is unhappy!
He loves mud. The day I took this picture I opened the door and my girls literally pranced out of the house to the yard and danced around gathering flowers. He went straight to a mud puddle and plopped himself right down and started splashing!
