Cautiously Optimistic...

Scene: Arts & Crafts...Day 2. Mommy is nervous. She is remembering the last Arts & Crafts...and the last Music & Movement (bad...so very baaaaaad), and the last Tales for Tots. She is recalling the sweat dripping down her back as her daughter screamed. She is remembering the feeling of all eyes in the room burning into her back as she tried to diffuse the situation. She is feeling the nails dig into her arm as her daughter scratches her. She is anxious. Nervous. Full on freaking out.

Daughter is unaware that it is Arts & Crafts day. Mommy is keeping it to herself until the last...possible...second. When Mommy breaks the news, she nervously prepares her daughter with "No tears today" and "It's going to be so much fun" and reminds her that they have Circle Time and then and only then do they get to do some crafts.

They arrive at the Y and enter the room where it all went down. There are tables full of paper bags, glue sticks, scissors, crayons and glitter. But the little girl doesn't run over to the table and start screaming that she wants to do it NOW...instead, she follows her Mommy to where the other little ones are sitting. They talk...they drink some water...they play with another little girl.

Circle Time is announced...they arrive at the circle without incident. They start some songs and the daughter sings...she sings her little heart out! Mommy is becoming cautiously optimistic, but still tentative...they were barely 5 minutes in. Finally it's time for crafts. They find a seat at the table and start to make their Paper Bag puppets. The little girl finds joy in glue sticks and toddler scissors. Mommy's heart is still beating loudly, as things could fall apart at any moment. Puppets are complete and named (Dumbo & Puppet...and then later named Bumpadoo & Puppet)...the little girl laughs when Mommy puts the puppets on her hand and makes them talk. They go have a snack. After a break, they are back to Circle Time, and again...the little girl participates. She loves Hokey Pokey. She sings, she laughs, she shows how much she loves Arts & Crafts class.

Mommy is overjoyed...finally, she feels as though all is right with the world, and her little girl is enjoying something that is meant to be fun! They take their puppets home and put on a puppet show behind the living room chair. A good day was had by all. Whew.