Resilient..............

If I had to choose one word to describe Ben it would definitely be Resilient. Since I can only imagine all of the things that he has seen and been through in his short life I know that it is his resiliency that makes him the boy he is.
We have only been with him for 4 1/2 months, home for 3 1/2, but he acts like he has been here all along. Of course that is how we act too because we forget that he hasn't been. Even Aiden, despite his struggles with having a brother attached to him, acts like Ben has always been here.
Their fights are over silly things, competitive boy things, brother things. Aiden is claiming his territory most of the time and Ben has a sense of entitlement that is somewhat surprising. He doesn't understand why he needs to take turns or why Aiden doesn't just give him the toy that he wants, even though Aiden has been playing with it undisturbed for the past 20 minutes. To be perfectly honest that one is a bit more that somewhat surprising. You would think that living with 2 other kids would help him understand the concept of sharing a bit more. But if that is the biggest struggle that we have then I am thankin" the LORD!
Homeschooling is going well, I am at a bit of a crossroad, whether or not to purchase a curriculum that puts Ben at one grade level. Right now we are working on some kindergarten stuff, some 1st grade and even 2nd in math. But pulling from lots of different resources gets to be a bit overwhelming and I am afraid I am doing more harm than good sometimes.
I'm also afraid that I am keeping Ben from experiencing a normal school atmosphere. I know Aiden misses that sometimes because he has voiced his opinion the past few days. Then again, I know that as soon as I sent him back to school he would be asking me if he could stay home. Our schedule is just so laid back right now, sleeping until 8 am rather than up at 6. (OK, I am holding on to that one more than they are!!) But in reality, I know how good we all have it with homeschool.
I maybe singing a different tune when I have a toddler home that wakes me up early and makes it more difficult to keep my older boys on task for school. I've never prayed harder for something that would inevitably make my life more difficult. I may be looking into schools this summer if I can make it that long with three kids at home all day! Kidding........kind of.
Life is good right now for us. I am thankful Jeff has a job, even if it keeps him away from us so often. I am happy to have Ben home, glad he is not still waiting on us to come get him. I am glad that our battles seem to be small right now, just enjoying that because I know that it doesn't last forever. I am thankful that Aiden is the child that he is; able to roll with the punches, laid back, and easygoing most of the time. I am just thankful for my life, that God gave it to me to live. I wouldn't trade it for anything!