The importance of being Jedi

Two days ago, we received confirmation of Jed's pre-school place & a starting date, which is scarily close - January 19th! This means that in just a few short weeks, I will be without the little monster for two mornings every week. I can't deny that having a break from Jed will be a welcomed relief, but today I have realised that I am actually going to miss the little fella more than I expected.

Jed came along very soon after Zach. Initially, the 15-month-gap was horrendously difficult, and I was hit like a tonne of bricks upon Jed's arrival into the world. Over the past 2-and-a-half years, I have thought many times What the hell have I done?! and I often wondered how much easier my life would be without the little boy we know as "The Master of Disaster" (a title very aptly chosen by Nick) Jed was a difficult baby; he was more clingy than a tree frog, he cried a lot, he didn't sleep well, and he was generally very demanding. He was not the contented little baby that Zach had been, and that came as quite a shock to me. Jed stopped being a baby very quickly when he started walking at just 9 months, and within days, walking became a thing of the past when he learned that running was better, even if it meant falling over every 10 seconds. Since then, Jed has been a tornado of energy, rushing around everywhere and hurting himself countless times every day through his speedy clumsiness.

Lately, through observing Zach & Jed together, it has come to my attention that perhaps we were blessed with Jed for a very good reason. The bond between the boys is precious, and I think that Zach would be lonely without his little bro. In spite of the many fights and squabbles they get themselves into, they love playing together and they genuinely miss each other when they are apart. They are both talking very well now, and so they are conversing with each other which brings many moments of hilarity to our home. The dynamics of our family would be completely different without Jed, and I can confidently say that I would not change him for the world. A 15 month gap may be hard, but the benefits will reign over that difficulty for the rest of the boys' lives, and I am pleased that God blessed us with Jed when he did.

Now, who knows how I will occupy myself for the two mornings that Jed will be at pre-school? I will only have one child to take care of, and that will feel quite alien to me after 29 months of always having at least two kids with me at any given time. I have gotten very used to spending week day mornings in Town with Jed. Our trips to Starbucks have become so frequent that the staff know him by name. This morning, Jed & I sat in Starbucks together while Blake napped in the buggy, and as I sat watching him stick his fingers in his babycino, it hit me that our intimate coffee mornings will soon be a thing of the past. He will only be gone for two mornings at first, but those sessions will gradually increase until he is gone for all 5 weekday mornings, and I think I will miss him. I guess now it will be time for me and Blake to spend some quality time together, while Jed causes havoc at pre-school.