Pomp, Circumstance and Raspberries

Holden just graduated from pre-school, but you wouldn't know it. Lately, he's showing a level of rebelliousness I thought we would only see around his middle school graduation.

"Whatever," he's been telling us lately. Really? You're FIVE! You can't say that! But he can ... and he does. And he says it just like you'd expect to hear it from a 14-year-old mouth - full of disdain and defeat. "Holden, it's time to clean up and get ready for bed," we say. "Whatever," he replies while blatanly ignoring our direction to, you know, CLEAN UP THAT MESS.

Whatever.

It was still mostly a nice graduation ceremony from Southwood Pre-School, where our days are numbered. Dad, Grandma Bonnie, Grandpa Larry and Grandma Sheila made it out mid-week to cheer Holden on:

All around the school, there are these tiles. We didn't know that everyone gets to make them and were surprised to find the boys had their own. Riley's, though, feels more like a memorial plaque (more on that later, promise).

Before getting their diplomas, Holden's Red Room (in the back row) and the Blue Room said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang some cute songs:





Remember that part where I talked about Holden's new-found rebelliousness? Well, here it is again. All the kids practiced smiling nicely and waving at their parents while they walk to receive their diploma. And they all did. All, that is, except one. Shocking even his teachers, Holden did a little jig while blowing raspberries:
Later, we had a little talk about this act of defiance. He said he thought it was funny. I told him it wasn't. Luckily, some of that ol' eager-to-please Holden we know is still in there somewhere, cause he looked really sad about that and asked next: "Do you still love me?"



Holden with his teachers, Ms. Isabelle and Miss Myra:
Two of his bestest buddies at school, Tyler and Travis (they're fraternal twins, but I still couldn't tell you which is which):
Holden is looking forward to starting kindergarden at Washington Elementary School in the fall. He doesn't seem anxious or nervous, which is another sure sign that our usually timid kid is coming into his own.

Kevin and I both grew up in homes that encouraged independence. We both tell tales of doing laundry as soon as we were old enough to reach the dials and letting ourselves into our homes with keys tied around our necks in elementary school. We whole-heartedly encourage the same in the boys, but worried that Holden wouldn't find his own independence.

From his first days, he was in need of constant companionship and attention. He was the baby you couldn't put down lest he cry and the toddler who wouldn't play by himself even for just a few minutes. Even now, he's usually cajoling us or his brother to join him or, at the very least, he refuses to be alone in a room even if he's doing something that doesn't require others - like coloring or watching TV.

So here we are again, wandering around looking for that damn balance we so strive for. How do we ensure that the kid is independent enough to speak his own mind and spend some time alone ... yet obedient enough to follow our directions?

Sometimes, it feels like I'm kicking him out the door with my heel while pulling him back in by his collar