I Found the Best Thing for Zusha

I was browsing in a variety store and found a book about Elmo. Being that Zusha is somewhat obsessed with this creature, I bought two of these books (so both kids can read peacefully.)
Little did I realize how valuable this book will turn out to be.
In it, the little creatures all go to school for the first time. They make friends, play games, color, eat lunch... Zusha and Gedalya are both so into it.

But the best part is that Zusha's new motivation became these happy monsters. Now he tells me he will play nicely like all the Elmos, be happy like all the Elmos, sit at the table when the Rebbi says to like all the Elmos, have lots of fun like all the Elmos and not play with the door like all the Elmos.

When he tells me in the morning that he will cry in cheider, I ask, "You will be sad like all the Elmos?"
And he answers, "No, all the Elmos are happy!"
"So you will cry and be sad or you'll be happy like the Elmos?"

Of course, that's not a tough guess.

When I brought him today, the Rebbi greeted him warmly, which made us both feel good. As I was leaving, Zusha shot me an overly exaggerated smile... he was trying to overpower his feelings- because Elmos don't cry in cheider!

Oh, and yesterday Zusha finally sang for me a song from cheider. I kept asking him and he always refused. Yesterday he was playing on the floor. Suddenly he turned to me and said, "Zusha just sang a song from cheider for Mama."
I wasn't listening before, so I asked him to sing it again. He said, "No, I already did."
Later in the evening he sang it again...

הייב אויף רעכטע הענטעלע און לייג אויף די אויגעלעך

...which is what they sing before saying Shema. I should ask the Rebbi what they daven so I could do it with Zusha at home, too. He'd love it.