Teacher's Pet

Dude! What happened? It has been almost an entire month since I blogged. I bet the two people who actually read this blog are no longer following it! But, it is officially time for an update if I can remember how to write.

Well, this post is an update on the oldest and more time consuming child. The child who is a complete mirror image of me. Scary!

Annabelle has changed so much in the last year. She has really grown up, and she is no longer my little girl. It is truly bitter sweet, but maybe a bit more bitter as I truly do love the very early years so much, they just say the funniest things. Now her comments are much more well thought out and serious. She is much more self-sufficient, which is wonderful, but it is obvious that she doesn't need me as much from a more affectionate point of view as well.

I think these differences are more obvious to me when I compare her to her peers. Since Annabelle was born in October, and she has a late birthday according to the school calendar year, I can usually note differences between her and her peers almost instantly. I can definitely distinguish the three year olds from the four year olds.

As for my Annabelle, she is very mature for even a four year old, in my opinion. My once shy, never leave Mommy's side, two year old has transformed into a beautiful and outgoing four year old. I see myself so much in her though, and I actually found myself getting a little embarrassed at choir practice the other day because Annabelle was the one answering all of the questions correctly, following directions (for the most part) and singing like a champ! She knows all of the words, and it isn't because we recite them at home. Well, we do, but it isn't because I remember the words. She'll start singing the song, and she wants me to sing along with her. I usually have to get her to remind me of the words even though I've sat in on almost every choir practice with her.

Please don't get me wrong! I love Annabelle dearly, and I want her to succeed. But, I was always the one who got straight A's in school. Even though I would have been completely devastated if I had gotten a B or even an A-, I tried to steer clear of the "Teacher's Pet" title. I was even a bit heart broken when a colleague of mine at my current place of employment told me that others referred to me as the "Partner's Pet" many years ago. Of course, being your bosses "pet" probably isn't such a bad thing, huh? But, the gossip and title placed on my name seemed a bit childish to me for 30 and 40 something year olds in the workplace.

So, my heart beams and I smile genuinely when Annabelle sings all of the songs correctly, but I am sure that my cheeks are blushing because some of the other parents are present that are members of our Sunday School class. It is then that I'm not sure I want the overachiever because for once in my life I want to be "cool," and let's face it, I will never be cool as I am quite the dork!

I'm the person that people rarely even remember. The nurse at my OBGYN's office actually remembered me months after Sophia's birth. Why? Because I'm the dork who brought a notebook with me to almost every prenatal visit to record my weight, blood pressure and answers to any pertinent questions I had. Now, don't get me wrong, I do love my dorky self!

As for Annabelle, she is following in my footsteps. I just hope that she's okay with being the teacher's pet as the choir director said just last Thursday, "Annabelle is one of my best singers."

And I'm never sure how to take this question from other parents with children Annabelle's age: "Does she attend preschool anywhere?" Why do I not know how to take it? Because the mom who asked it had to have known that Annabelle did not attend preschool anywhere (because we've talked about it in the past). Ironically enough, Annabelle had a crush on this mother's son. And, my never preschooled Annabelle can sit more still and follow directions better than any other child in her choir. Of course, she is older than most of them, but certainly not all of them.