SMILE!!!!!!!!!!

For the love of all that's good...PUH-LEEZE SMILE my sweet child!

As mentioned in a previous post my little girl had a great two days then we started having tears at drop off. We made it through week 1 but I went into week 2 expecting the worst. After being off for the weekend I know Monday's are tough on well...all of us. Sunday night the "belly aches, throat hurting, flippity-floppity tummy etc... began. I decided I have to be tougher (though it breaks my heart) on my pint-size drama queen. I do realize she's having some anxiety with school, that's completely natural. However, I told her I'll never know when she really is sick if she has all these ailments every.day. As we said our prayers we asked that God would rest her mind and calm her heart to enjoy school. She broke in and said "So mama, I just need to go with the flow, right?" Ha! Yes baby, that's what ya need to do.

Monday Morning (D day). During breakfast (though in a good mood) she complained a bit about her belly, I told her we need to only focus on the positive and having a great day. We sang and ran around as we got ready then I jogged beside her riding to school. As we walked to the doors she got quieter and the grip on my hand tighter. This week we have to leave the kiddos at the main doors so as we approached I saw the tears starting. Bless her tiny heart, I could tell she was really trying to hold them back and be brave. I felt a lump forming in my own throat and KNEW I had to be strong for her. We got to the doors and people...she lost it. Bawling, begging, pleading, arms and legs wrapped around me "please don't go mama! Take me with you!" Ughhh horrible. I made eye contact with a teacher and she quickly came over. Ava was white-knuckles at this point. I was about to cry myself so I gave her a tight hug & kiss, told her I loved her and the (now TWO) teachers peeled her off me. I bolted in the other direction wiping a few tears myself. I planned to go running so I headed to the trails, I didn't seem to notice the first mile or so as my mind was on Ava. I prayed for her to relax, enjoy school & all it offers.

At pick-up she was GREAT! Said she had so much fun and the teacher said it only lasted 10-15 minutes. She's getting a lot of rewards for participating and listening to the teacher which makes me so proud.

I know this too shall pass but in the meantime, I plan to do some bribing for SMILES! It is a quick little chart I made up on the fly but hopefully will work. *Her S-daddy has his own rewards each night for her when he gets home if there were no tears.
*I am proud to report that today, she worked so hard and didn't have any tears (at least that I saw) and she had a special note waiting for her at her desk. Last night was "Curriculum Night" and I sat in her seat. Afterwards, the parents all wrote a note for their kids to see in the morning. She either loved it or saw it and it made her cry... I saw no tears so Miss A will be putting a sticker on her chart this afternoon :)