two years, eleven months, one week

Dear Zachary,

I'm sorry for the huge delay since my last letter. It's been very busy around here as we were both starting a new school year.

I am happy to report that you are loving your new classroom and all of your new friends. Mommy and Daddy were a little nervous about the move from Toddler room to Early Childhood, as you are on the younger end of your peer group. But, you have adjusted wonderfully to the new routines in the Red room and look forward to going to school each day. Coming home isn't so easy, but it just reinforces for us how much you love school. I hope this continues for at least the next 15 years.

A couple weeks ago you came home from school stating, "I don't like crying Kai!" This, I'm sure you understand, worried me. I wondered why you didn't like a member of your class, since you've always referred to everyone as your 'friend' and stated how you love them. I wondered how I would teach an almost 3 year old compassion.

I asked, "Why don't you like crying Kai?"
"Because he cries a lot!"
"Why is he crying?"
"Because he wants something!"
"What does he want?"
"He wants his mommy!"

I couldn't believe that my loving little boy was annoyed with another child, a 3 year old, for missing his mommy. I worried that I would need to work harder to teach you compassion. I worried that I was failing at teaching you this important skill. 

Thank god I was wrong. Your "dislike" of "crying Kai" wasn't exactly a dislike of him. Rather, a discomfort with his upset. Seeing him upset and crying so often made you upset, too. We talked to your teachers and talked to you about how Kai needs a friend at school and different things you could do make Kai smile and not cry. The next day you went to school and colored with Kai. You read with him, worked with him and at lunch, though we hadn't talked about it, you sat next to him. 

We haven't heard you complain about crying Kai since. 

I'm so proud of you, my compassionate little man.

Much love, 

Mommy