It's Never Too Late

"Do you remember the book Late for School?"
my boy asked Saturday.
"No, did you read that at school?"
"No, at home," he said.
"When?" I asked.
"October 10, 2008."
"No I don't remember it."
"He changed the rule from 'Never be late for 
school' to 'Try your best to be on time.'"
With that, my son ran off.
Thanks to his description, I remembered 
the book and its hapless protagonist, a 
strictly punctual teacher on a Murphy's 
Law day. I recommend it for elementary
school tykes, especially those worried
about getting places on time.
Any time my older son initiates a topic I'm
all attention, trying to make a connection
and encourage the habit of conversation
without pushing him too far past his 
comfort zone.
This time he surprised me, because he 
seemed to be pursuing a train of thought
to address a feeling. He worries when we
may be late, but he has become much 
better than in the days when the thought
of lateness inevitably brought screams and
sobs. Now I wonder if he's been thinking  
of this book when we're a few minutes
behind our time. 
How wonderful if he is!
And what else can we read to soothe
his fears of getting the world wrong?
-Spectrum Mom