Todayland.

Lately I've been stuck in Tomorrowland.  Specifically, what will happen to RJC's world once June arrives?  Where will she spend her days?  Doing what and with whom?  Then I get that sick stomach feeling, can't sleep, and have visions of, well, nothing good.

Today, however, was one of those days where I not only recognized RJC's growth, but felt it.   I felt her making her wishes known.  I felt her presence.  It is not often that I manage to live in the present, especially when it comes to RJC.  Today was one of those special days.  It was all about living in Todayland.

It started off this morning when she announced her wish to go to synagogue.  We got ready and went for the last half hour of services.  She looked quite grown up in her black skirt and nice sweater.  Ok, we could have done without the sneakers but they were black and didn't look all that bad!  We arrived and she immediately went into the room with the toys and played a bit then we went and joined my hubby in the service.  She did a good job at being (relatively) quiet.  She sang along.  She was content.  There was lunch at synagogue and she waited patiently while others helped themselves.  When it was her turn she was quite independent in getting herself lunch.  She put her own cream cheese on her bagel and helped herself to some macaroni and cheese.  She used the correct utensil to eat, and used her napkin.  She threw out her garbage after lunch and sat with me while I chatted with some friends. 

Later in the day we went shopping.  Not one store, but two.  As this is the holiday season, both stores were quite crowded and we were not getting anything for her.  In Yesterdayland, this was risky business.  In Todayland, we walked in together with her arm wrapped in mine.  She saw some toys that caught her interest for a bit but didn't obsess over them.  She played with the CD player that customers can hear music on before they decide if they want to buy.  Again, it wasn't obsessive. She listened for a bit then moved on with me. 

We went to dinner.  She ordered for herself (ok, so I needed to do some translating).  She ate a good deal of her meal instead of playing with it.  There was no "Barney" talk (a victory indeed)!  My hubby and I chatted through dinner.  RJC looked like any other young gal in the restaurant.  Maybe even better behaved since she wasn't texting on a cell phone!  Lol!

When we came home she went right to her computer.  When it was time to light the Chanukah candles we called her to the kitchen.  We were skyping with her sister which she found interesting (if not a bit confusing) and she made an attempt to sing the prayers along with us.  She seemed to have an understanding that lighting the menorah was special and signficant.  She didn't make a move to blow out the candles.

A little later she showed off her most recent self-help skill and washed her own hair.  Since then she has been playing quietly on the computer and every once in a while I can hear her singing along.

There is something to be said for living in Todayland.