Do Your Best

As I was sitting in Church, I observed two families. One with lots of kids all sitting reverently, the other wrestling their rambunctious kids. The thought came to me that each of the families was doing their best and that's all that matters. One "best" had a different result than the other "best" and it dawned on me that doing our best isn't about the end result, it's about our effort. I couldn't think of a better theme for the new school year, even though we're still just in preschool. Always trying your hardest and never giving up seem pretty important when it comes to education, no matter her age. It doesn't matter if she does her work better than everyone, has the most friends or can run the fastest. What matters is that she always does her best, gives her best effort and tries her hardest. Making this a habit now will help her later on as her education progresses. It's also a good reminder for me. As a rather critical person and a perfectionist, I need a constant reminder to focus on and acknowledge and praise the effort not the outcome. Doing our best is far more important than being the best.

We decided to have a little celebration before my anti-committal self is totally committed. (At this point, 3 days a week feels totally committed.) I actually think this is one tradition that I think I can manage continuing. Clara requested pizza (cheese and pesto) and a cake. I added a salad for nutrition and root beer for fun. We never have soda in our house (Izze and Martinelli's don't qualify as soda, right?) so Clara thought it was the coolest thing. Dan and Karen celebrated with us. Good thing because Clara would have been pretty bored with just Jason, Hazel and me.

After dinner, we had a quick FHE lesson on doing our best. Clara got her first "back to school" Father's blessing. My dad did that every year and I don't think I fully appreciated that special blessing at the time. It really did make a difference in each school year.

Then it was time for the cake. When I say cake, I mean THE cake.

I've been wanting to make a layered cake for a long time. But that's a really awful thing for a lazy person to want to do. I decided I'd give it a shot for our special celebration. It turned out lovely! It was not as much work as I expected. Not bad at all. I am not a frosting person so I didn't put much in between the layers, but still looked pretty. It didn't have the best taste (it was okay, just not the best) but I was so fascinated by my Rainbow Brite creation, I didn't mind. Plus, now we have all met our Red Dye 40 quota for the next year with all the food coloring consumed in just one piece.

Today was Clara's first day of school. The last few months I have been so glad I signed her up for preschool. Then last night, I started having a little panic attack. Leaving her at a stranger's house for 2 and a half hours suddenly sounded like a really horrible thing. Who came up with that idea anyway? If you really think about school, it's a little bit crazy. Just take your kids somewhere and leave them with people you've met once or twice with a bunch of other kids you've never met. Obviously I think about things too much, obviously she'll be safe and obviously this is an important step for both of us as we prepare for Kindergarten next year. I am glad she's in preschool, but still. It's hard for me to watch her grow up.

As Jason was leaving for work, he asked me what I was doing today. Pretty much my only goal was to get Clara to school on time. Success. And I even managed to make bacon (I cooked it in the oven... why haven't I been doing this for the last ten years??), eggs and toast too. When I dropped Clara off, she didn't say bye or give me a hug. She just got lost in the shuffle of the other kids and obediently went to the classroom. That's Clara. I know she loves me, but we have no attachment issues with her, that's for sure.

She had so much fun and had a huge smile on her face when I picked her up. Her favorite thing she did was eat snacks. She met three new friends: Courtney, Annie and Bobbi. She learned that "if there is anything in your nose that bothers you, you can use a tissue to get it out, then just wash your hands".

It's gonna be a fun year.