Even small shifts in Panda's life rock him to his little core, so Ladybug going off to kinder two days a week has been quite the adjustment, complete with hard days and nights. The first day of school The Duke accompanied us for the momentous occasion, proudly donning the rainbow necklace she had beaded him the day prior. (I think the whole family had all the feels!) Panda seemed to go along with everything just fine until the moment we walked out of Ladybug's classroom. The shock and betrayal on his face was evident, and he refused to make eye contact with The Duke or me for the rest of that day. For the rest of her school day he wouldn't eat and wanted only to play by himself. There was ice in the air between Mom and Panda that day. Things got real. When he was forced to interact with me, there was a lot of anger. I got to see a whole new side of our little Panda.
If you're thinking, "Didn't she go to preschool?" then you're thinking the exact same thoughts I was having that day. But alas, I have a feeling he may have to process his array of fears and feelings multiple times before he comes to terms with Ladybug being left at school. And then, behold, it will be his turn. Lord help us all!
Three days out of the week she is at home, and we are spending a considerable amount of time each day doing her curriculum. This has been another adjustment little Panda has had to make - either join in and learn or play quietly alone. Panda embodies the opposite of both of those words: quiet and alone. He is anything but quiet, and alone doesn't sit well with him. So basically all five days of the week he is working through some adjustments. However, there's another side to the coin - with the change of Ladybug's school comes new ideas and topics to learn. Music in particular has basically captured Panda's mind and taken over his imagination over the past four weeks.
Panda's love for all things music
Ladybug is going to a classical school, which means the music curriculum is for real, y'all. We (I say we because I am learning right along with her) are learning about the Baroque Period and about some of the main composers of that time. Now I will preface this next part with saying that I know absolutely nothing about classical music, so when I read through the music curriculum, my assumption was that my children would also be slightly bored with it. I had planned to skim over it quickly and rush to reading instruction. (my favorite)
However, the minute I pulled out the information page on the Baroque Period that the music teacher asked parents to read aloud, it was snatched out of my hands. Panda and Ladybug had one million questions about the men in the black and white pictures and had the composers' names memorized within minutes. Then Ladybug began to beg to listen to their music. I found Vivaldi's Four Seasons on YouTube (because I'm so resourceful) and thought, Sure! Watch a quick five minute video of some music and then we can move on with our day. Whoa, was I wrong! And I'm so grateful I was, too. First of all, Four Seasons is almost an hour long. And my kids want to watch every single minute of it. Over and over again. Panda begs for it the moment he wakes up in the morning and then if I am not quick enough to comply, he will bust out his own "violin" and belt out in his loudest toddler voice his interpretation of the complicated notes.
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| His face in this one is so intense it makes me laugh every time! |
And so we spend a good hour doing music every at-home school day, complete with history of the composer, education on their music/favorite instruments, and lots and lots of dancing! I am held quite accountable by my two little bosses to not try to skimp out on the music part of our day. It is their favorite part of school, and it will not be cut short!
In the afternoons when we are finally finishing Ladybug's other homework, Panda is waiting with baited breath to perform his prepared concert for me. The audience must sit on the couch while he takes the "stage" on the hearth. Side benefit: He may even turn around and watch himself in the reflection of the glass in the fireplace.
An hour later when this scene finally plays out, he switches to pretend play. He becomes Vivaldi, and we dare not call him by his actual name for the rest of the day. The poor soul who makes that mistake will be instantly and harshly admonished as he obviously isn't Panda anymore, but Vivaldi. Surrounded by amateurs...
I have begun to use the video on YouTube as an incentive. He may listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons all day long, but to watch it must be earned. (Because, hey, you use what you got!) Sometimes after a hardworking morning, I will "allow" the kids to watch it at lunch. And here's what cracks me up - Panda is so engrossed in watching it for the 53rd time that he forgets to eat. The kid is obsessed and craves the music.
Before you are too impressed, his other favorite YouTube is Llama Llama Red Pajama by Ludacris. He won't even allow me to read the book to him anymore. I have to rap it. Hey, the guy has a wide range of interests. He didn't want to get pigeonholed.
Panda has always had a knack for music. He instantly internalizes any song we teach him and can name any tune we hum without hesitation. He can clap to the beat and will dance until he drops. So this musical love is no surprise, just intensified as he has had more exposure through Ladybug's music curriculum. I sometimes wonder if it is his unique personality, genetic, or possibly making up for lost time...or all three.
Ladybug has always had a similar obsession with music and is constantly begging to watch orchestras and bands and old-timey musicals (think The Sound of Music and The Music Man). Both kids seem to find fascination and comfort in music of all sorts, so we decided to enroll them in an additional music class. Somewhere that they can learn and appreciate music with someone a little more educated in the musical aspect of life than their mom.
There is healing in music - there's just something about it. I am thankful that our little people have found an outlet and an interest that is completely unique to them. It's such a great reminder to me to not worry about being successful in a particular area of life, but to focus on appreciating it instead. Kids don't worry if they are good at dancing, singing, or playing their make-shift violin. It's about the joy. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in mastery vs. failure that I forget to sit back and enjoy the beauty. I hope you find a way to enjoy the beauty today and to just rest in the journey.
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