Andrew's Heart

As any parent knows, children seem to have multiple personalities.  At 5.5, Andrew can be all kinds of obnoxious and self-centered, but he can also show compassion to make any heart melt and is extremely thoughtful at often unexpected times.

He wrote this during church today.  I think it's pretty "Osum" for a Kindergartner who's learning about sounding out words.

During dinner the night before Christmas break, he explained that Orande in his class usually asked to borrow a glove on the playground.  After some carefully chosen questions, I learned that Orande never had a hat or gloves for school and didn't have a hood on his coat.  In between bites of chicken, Andrew nonchalantly asked if we could get Orande a hat and gloves for a Christmas present.  I agreed that was a perfect idea and set the idea in motion.  Thanks to Emily being in town, I was able to make a run to the store after bedtime and provide the warm clothes to their teacher the next day (after ensuring that this plan was okay and wouldn't accidentally send the wrong message if perhaps the situation was not as relayed by a 5-yr-old.)  Andrew seemed proud to be able to give his friend the clothes the next day. 

Last night, the Westminster College, PA choir performed at our church.  I took Andrew for some 1-on-1 time and music education.  He loved it and engaged the whole time.  (After 45 minutes, which happened to be bedtime, he laid down in my lap and I said it would be just fine for us to go home.)  On the way out, I told him it was so special for me to be able to do things like this with him.  He sweetly agreed and then continued, "I will do anything for you, Mom.".   Uh, I think we'll be going to more choir concerts in the future!!

Andrew has a birthday party next week at a really cool indoor water park.  He went to a party there last winter and loved it.  But he's saying that he doesn't want to go because Margaret can't go and that would make her sad.  Truth be told, the only reason Margaret isn't going is because it's during nap time.  Of course what we said is that it's 6-year-olds only, and boys only (both of which are actually true). How to explain that while his thoughtfulness is sweet, it's unnecessary in this case??

And then there are the thoughtful questions that never cease to amaze me.  "So one of the ten commandments is not to kill, right, unless you're in the army?"