Day 22: Moses.

He's into ALL the superheroes these days.

Moses turned 5 last week.  With him, there have been days and weeks that felt like an eternity and yet it's hard to believe he's such a big boy already.  There have been so many challenging phases in his development, as there are with all children, but some of those phases have brought me to the point of utter exhaustion and despair.  However, as usual when we look back, we can see the way God has done a redeeming work in us and in our situations.  I just want to take a moment to process through some of these glorious things the Lord has done in my son's life, to celebrate him and to remind myself:

Moses can now sleep through the night in his own bed!!  I had seriously given up on this ever happening and wasn't even trying to work towards it.  For the last 4 years, he's started the night in his bed and either been brought to ours our come on his own at some point in the night.  Not anymore- hallelujah!!

Moses is attending school from 8:30-12:30 every day and (mostly) loving it!  The teacher says he is helpful and independent and plays with everyone.  We have definitely seen his fear ramp up in the last few weeks because of the transition, but he goes every day with his sisters into the campus, says good-bye and usually has a smile on his face.  This is a big deal, especially because it's still a challenge a lot of times to leave him at home with someone other than us.

He can empathize.  This might not sound like a huge deal, but it is.  Sometimes kids who have a trauma history don't quite make the connection between their behavior and the affect it can have on others.  I mean, even non-traumatized kids (and adults) can struggle with this!  So, when he sees one of his sisters hurting and he looks at her with concern on his face and gives her a hug- it gladdens my heart.

He can make good choices!  I've mentioned self-regulation on the blog before: the idea that we have certain skills that are naturally developed to help us control our emotions, behaviors and thoughts.  Again, this is an area all children have to mature in, but it is an especially difficult one to master when there is a trauma history. (Trauma history is about 100 blogs in and of itself and one that I'm still learning about.  There is so much brain science to come out in the last 10 years to help us understand what is happening neurologically in our children and if you're interested, I could try to summarize some of those ideas in another blog) Moses has learned how to delay gratification, accept when I have to say "no" to something he really wants, compromise so that we can both be happy and communicate with his sisters when they are doing something that bothers him.  Wow!!

Apart from developmental advances, we love what a funny and smart boy he is.  He loves to tell jokes and make us laugh.  He gets so excited about things and his joy is contagious.  He still loves to sit and read although he'd rather play Avengers with you.  He loves talking to God and often tells me when he gets scared at night, he tells God jokes.  He's sensitive and sweet and often informs me that I'm a good mommy (except when I'm "mean", which is also somewhat often) and that's I'm pretty.  He looooves having people over and showing them his stuff.

So, these are some of the big things.  What an incredible journey it's been learning how to understand our child and find effective ways to nurture him and equip him with the tools he needs to succeed.  I am truly grateful.