While stepping ever deeper into the water, Avery would pause every few steps to say "this water is cold! Really, REALLY cold!" She was the only one brave enough to get her feet wet for more than a second or two. She is definitely our water bug!
Alexander initiated play with a couple different groups of older kids on the beach. This is something we have gently worked on for a year or so (he would often want to go home from the park or the pool if new kids came along) and I wanted for him to acknowledge and praise this development in himself without making a big deal about it. I also wanted for him to know that he knew how to do it-- it wasn't just happening by accident or by help from me or from the initiation of other kids. So I said, "I notice you're not feeling so shy these days with new kids. I notice you're having fun making lots of friends these days at the park and museum and beach. That is great, Alexander! So, I was wondering. Sometimes I find that I feel a little shy when I meet new people. Do you have any advice for me on how to make friends when I meet someone new?" And he said quite confidently while carrying and pouring large bucketfuls of water, "Well, first you find someone you like. Then you watch them to see what they're doing. And then you find a way to join them. You can kind of like help them." I was absolutely floored. In just three sentences he boiled down, summarized, and absolutely owned everything we had been talking about for over a year. He is just blossoming in his relationships with others and I couldn't be more thrilled for him.
