“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: Last night when we drove by the elementary school (for grades 5-8) you told me, “I can’t wait to go to the big school…but, I’m also a little scared.” I feel like this perfectly summarizes where you are in your life right now. I so clearly remember the feeling of wanting to grow up, and yet not feeling confident that I’d be very good at it. Most of the time, I still feel like I’m faking it!

Zane: Well, this week has been challenging. You’ve developed a not-so-awesome habit of throwing things and hitting when you’re mad — 100% developmentally appropriate, but still incredibly frustrating. Having already raised one toddler, I know that this is just a phase and pretty soon you’ll probably (hopefully?) stop. Still, I think I’m going to put all breakables under lock and key and perhaps invest in full body armor for the time being!

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: This week you are really starting to understand your math work. It was so awesome to watch you tackle that long division paper without a single moan, groan, or tear. You’re the kind of person who really thrives on success, and conquering something difficult often creates a positive feedback loop for you and gives you the boost you need to take on more challenges.

Zane: There are no major injuries to report this week (thankfully), but you’ve been having a heckuva time falling asleep at night. I’m still working on finding the right combo of naps & sleep that will work for us. On a less challenging note, you really enjoyed that ONE warm day we had (curse you, weather!). You got to splash in all the puddles and watch the water pouring down the storm drain. I have fond memories of doing the same thing when I was little — I hope that remembering these small pleasures will bring you happiness, too.

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: This week you discovered the Minecraft PVP servers. You’ve spent a lot of your free time killing other kids Hunger Games-style, in the form of block people with block weapons. I struggle to accept this, but you don’t seem very bothered and enjoy the adrenaline rush. Someone has undoubtedly published a peer-reviewed journal article proclaiming the cognitive benefits of PVP games for kids, which will instantly put my mind at ease…I hope. This is actually a double portrait — you’re the rainbow colored character, too.

Zane: This week you mildly electrocuted yourself (my fault for not replacing that light bulb sooner) and I caught you eating more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, though not much more, thankfully. You’re a cat with nine lives and I know it’s only going to get worse the older you get. The upside of your sensory seeking personality is that your life will probably be full of adventure; the downside is that we will probably take more trips to the ER than is desirable (ideal number being zero).

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: As I was attempting to finish this post, you were having an epic meltdown about your sneakers. Your unbridled passion is both your biggest strength and your biggest weakness. What drives you to master the things you love, like drawing, is also the thing that causes you to fall apart at the seams. Your biggest challenge in life is going to be learning when to freak out, and when to keep your cool.

Zane: I can tell that you have cabin fever. It has been so cold around here that we haven’t been able to go outside much. I try to keep you busy, but there’s only so many “jobs” I can create for you in a day! Your need to be physically active is difficult to meet indoors. I’m seriously considering installing a jungle gym in the basement.

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: It’s school vacation week and you’ve spent most of your time drawing. Yesterday, on the way home from dance class, we talked about college art programs. You really want to go to Keene State (I think so you’re close to home, which is endearing), but I think you’ll change your mind when the time comes.

Zane: You’re up, you’re down, you’re all around — undeterred, as your father says. When we went to the store last night, you saw a little boy about your age in the art supplies aisle. You asked me, “Can I hug him?” I told you that some kids (and grown-ups, too) are a little scared of people they don’t know, and you seemed to understand. You just gave him a friendly wave, instead.