Signs of Spring

Molly and I have spent a lot of time the past week looking for the signs of Spring.  Yesterday was hot by Savage North standards, so we took the dog on a walk.  We played at the park and looked for signs of spring along our way through the woods.  We saw that the pond has iced out, there are buds on several trees, robins have returned, birds of all sorts are building nests, bugs have returned (bees, flies and butterfly/moths have returned).  But the biggest sign of all might be the change in attitude of everyone in our house! 

Warm weather brings a spring to your step and a smile to your face.  We rejoice that we made it through another winter in the Savage North.  But it seems our Zachary did not get the memo that spring equals happy.  It turns out that his acceptance into SAGE Academy has left him feeling like he needs a bit more independence.  He is almost a third grader, you know....and a smart third grader at that.  So, Zach is trying hard to stretch his wings and prove just how big he really is.  Instead of finding spring a time for rejoicing, Zach has landed himself in "the worst time of his life."  He has decided to try getting his way by screaming, name calling, wall kicking, and continuous begging.  He has tried to get out of his consequences by manipulating the sympathies and feelings of those who love him most.  He has yet to learn that he has a better chance of never seeing the sunshine again with this behavior than he does of convincing me of his innocence.  He has yet to learn that I have 30 years of stubborn on him.

Thankfully he choose to start this stage the minute I opened the windows to welcome the new season.  All the neighborhood will get to live through this stage with us.  He is not a quiet fit thrower nor is he quick to accept his consequences.  It could be a nice long spring in the Savage North.  But, Colin informed me there is only 67 days left of school before summer vacation...67 school days means 86 actual days until we change seasons again.