Oliver Update: 5.5 Years

Back in the fall, we didn't feel Oliver was ready for kindergarten emotionally, and with his late September birthday, Chris and I had no intention of making him one of the youngest in his class.  So we kept him in his preschool for a third year and have watched him flourish in so many ways.  However, Oliver has always been a strong-willed, stubborn kid (gets that from both his parents), and let's just say some of these characteristics have been, um, extra challenging in the last couple of months.  He's gotten bossy with his siblings, is always getting himself into trouble because he can't keep his hands to himself and still throws tantrums over seemingly inconsequential things.  Then it dawned on me that Oliver probably needs to go to kindergarten.  He's ready for the academic challenge of all-day school, five days a week, he could benefit from a break from his younger siblings and he could stand to be humbled by being the little guy on campus after ruling the roost over here at our house. 

This is the conundrum with fall babies.  They're not quite ready for one reason or another in the fall, but halfway through the year they are suddenly READY.  It's too bad we couldn't have sent him to school in January instead of having to wait for next September.

But that all means that come fall, Oliver will be really ready to go to school.  Just two years ago the thought of kindergarten literally made him cry.  Thinking about riding the bus or being away from home all day simply scared him.  He's grown so much since then.  He's become more confident and out-going, and just like his parents, he likes school and learning. 

Kindergarten readiness aside, there's so much Oliver can do.  He can take a Lego instruction booklet and build the Lego creation by himself, with just a bit of quality control from Dad.  While I pushed his three siblings in the stroller, Oliver rode his bike alongside me on the two-mile round trip to the grocery store.  He is mastering the monkey bars and no longer needs anyone to push him on the swings.  He's learned to dress himself and bursts into our bedroom with pride in the morning to show us that he's completely dressed. He knows (almost) all his letters and can write them in capital and lower-case.  Chris has been teaching him how to sound out words, so he's just learning how to spell words on his own and recognize words.  He has a journal at preschool and when it was sent home for us parents to look at, we discovered he has a fascination with robots.  In the first sign of independence, he runs next door by himself to ask our neighbor to play and he's asking for playdates with friends from school.  He just might even have his first crush, an athletic little girl from his preschool class.  

Oliver is still a fun-loving kid with a big imagination.  He's obsessed with Legos and if it weren't for three little siblings taking his pieces, he could probably sit quietly for way longer than we ever give him credit for and build.  He loves playing outside, climbing, riding his bike, digging in the dirt or sand and creating make-believe games with his friends.  He also likes cuddling in my lap and having a book read to him.  He likes coming up with craft projects and keeps a bag of odds and ends (empty cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, plastic containers, etc.) in case a new idea comes to mind.  He made lots of signs to welcome us home from China and crafted a birthday crown for Kiera nearly all by himself.  He and I designed St. Patrick's Day cards with a little brainstorming help from Pinterest, but otherwise, the project was directed by Oliver. 

For all his sweetness, there's always going to be a developmentally-appropriate phase that will drive us bonkers and right now it's the "I want to go first" phase.  Oliver must, must, must be first to do everything.  First to get in the car, first to get out of the car (even though he sits in the back row), first to brush his teeth (even though he does not particularly like brushing his teeth) or first to get a goodnight hug and kiss.  He competes to be first in things I never imagined could be competitive.  Kiera and Matteo are so far oblivious to the competition, but Soren too easily takes the bait and before we know it, they're crying over who gets to go first. We need to remind Oliver daily that he cannot knock over or push one of his siblings out of the way in order to be first and that being first isn't always best. Right now that concept is lost on him. When we read bedtime stories, he sometimes skips the last book so he can be the first in bed, where he then declares that the first in bed gets the first hug and kiss. 

Kiera and Matteo's entry into our family didn't affect birth order, but Oliver's role as oldest child in the family simply grew bigger.  I am so proud of how well he has embraced the changes in our family.  He's done so well that when you observe him with Kiera and Matteo, it's easy to forget that he's only been their big brother for two months.  He loves them unconditionally and in return, they adore him.