Baking an All-Nighter

A few months ago I wrote about my disappointment with Big Bro's preschool for not communicating to parents very well. The school has made good effort to improve communication, which is great. Only trouble now is, any lapses in information or tasks is now purely my own fault.

This week is a school bake sale to raise funds. About a week ago I signed up to bring something to the sale on Friday. 

It is my first time participating in a bake sale in at least two decades, and definitely my first one as a parent. I planned ahead and bought a brownie mix and even put a reminder in my phone's calendar to make it with Big Bro on Thursday afternoon.

But Grandma offered to take Big Bro and Lil Sis for a few hours on Thursday afternoon. The timer alerting me that it was time to bake brownies was promptly ignored as I leisurely puttered around the house.

Around 9:45 PM Dada of Ma'at called me on his way home from his boss's retirement party. We chatted about our days and he described the lovely dinner he enjoyed with his co-workers including a delectable dessert. 

Suddenly I realized I never made those dang brownies. 

So here I am in my pajamas and bathrobe in the kitchen at 10:15 PM waiting for the brownies to get out of the oven. At least now I won't feel like a kid who forgot to do her homework when I show up for preschool drop off in the morning. And this is only the beginning of  a 16 year career as the mother of school-aged kids.

Note the time on the oven clock.

"'Splode the School": Preschool Deliquents

Big Bro started preschool last fall. He is always reluctant to go. "Is today a school day?" he asks. If the answer is no he shouts "Yay!" If the answer is yes he cries "Nooo!" and flops to the floor and whines. He alternates between saying he doesn't like school, and saying he had an awesome dream about school and now he does like it.

All the reports from his teachers are that he has a good time while he is there. He participates and he has a best friend he talks about. We even went to her house for a playdate.

The social part is the hardest part for him and that's why I want him to go to preschool both when he is 3 and again next year when he is 4. He will benefit from having more time to work on the social piece. He can be rather shy. He likes staying home. He thinks the school day is long. He misses me while he is there. He likes playing with adults who will play how he wants them to play, rather than having to deal with other kids with their own ideas about how to play.

Lately he has been talking about more of his classmates, which seemed like a good sign. However, yesterday he talked about a boy named "John."  "John" told Big Bro that he "wishes he had something to 'splode the school and make the teacher sick."

Big Bro told me the story of what "John" said and sounded very excited by it. I replied by telling him it's not a nice thing to say, we don't talk like that, and we like his teachers (because he does!).

Then Nini came to visit that afternoon and he told her the same story. She reinforced the same message I had told him. Then Grandma visited and he repeated it yet again. Once again the message that we don't talk that way was reinforced.

How does a preschool aged boy even know such malicious thoughts? Why is he saying this in school?

Why is my son so attracted to this preschool delinquent?


Big Bro told me that he wants to play at "John's" house sometime. I told him no because I don't like the way "John" talks.

I am pretty sure that "John" is 4 so will be moving on to kindergarten next year, whereas Big Bro will have a another year of preschool. I know for a fact that "John" will be going to kindergarten in a neighboring town. Thank goodness. I will be glad to be done with him.

I know I can't shelter my son from bad behaviors and influences forever. All I can do is instill him with good values and trust that he will be able to use them and resist falling in with the "Johns" of the world.

Thank Goodness for Good Teachers

Our transition to preschool went so smoothly. I was so proud (and relieved) that it wasn't a big deal. But last week, on his 5th real day of school it changed a bit. When I went to pick him up his teacher said he had a "sad day." About 10 or 15 minutes after getting dropped off by his dad, he got teary during free play. Thankfully, his teacher, who is also a friend who has known him since he was a baby, noticed. She talked with him and cheered him up, but she also couldn't leave his side or he would tear up again. She stayed with him the whole morning. How happy I am that he has such a wonderful teacher who gave him such gentle care when he was feeling sad and missing his parents!

Back at home, he recovered quickly with me, his sister, the dog, and his toys. I was grateful that he had a day off before having to go back to school. The next school morning he slept later than usual. We had a nice leisurely conversation while still in our pjs before realizing we had to get going or he would be late for school. His dad took him to school as usual, then called me to say he was quiet when he arrived at school. We both worried that he was going to have another sad day.

When I went to pick him up he seemed much happier than the previous day. I ask his 2nd teacher how he had done. She said he had gotten sad and teary again, but they had sat together and read a book called, The Kissing Hand.

The book is about a little raccoon who was sad to go to school and be away from his mom. So she gave him a kiss on the hand, and whenever he needed it, he could press his hand to his face and feel his mother's love wherever he was.

"Chester loved his Kissing Hand. Now he knew his mother's love would go with him wherever he went. Even to school."

Reading The Kissing Hand with his teacher allowed him to move past his sadness more quickly, and enjoy the school day with friends. When we got home and his sister went down for her nap, he and I settled into our big bean bag chair in front of the tv to snuggle and watch Super Why! He sat on my lap and twirled his hair like he has since he was a toddler. He needed extra cuddles after another big day at school.

 

Preschool is a big step for him out into a bigger, wider world. I'm glad he still takes so much comfort in being with me and I treasure these moments. But I am also grateful for good teachers that will help guide him when I'm not there.

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Transition to Preschool

Last spring when my 3 year old was getting particularly challenging I couldn't wait until fall and the start of preschool. As it got closer my feelings changed a bit. I alternated between being excited for him to start school so I could have a little time to bond with just my daughter, and thinking maybe he should stay home and not start school until he is 4. Afterall, once he starts school he will be in it for the next 15-22 years. What's the rush? I should keep my baby boy at home as long as I can.

He was ready for school though, and in truth, I was too. There comes a time when children need a bit more than they can get at home from their parents. Preschool will teach him to be apart from me, listen to other adults, play and share with other kids.

His preschool orientation was on August 30th and went well. He settled happily into playing while his father and I filled out a plethora of paperwork. His first real day of school on the Wednesday after Labor Day was a bit surreal. We all went to drop him off, say hello to his teachers, and see his brand new cubby. Then we left and it was no big deal. No tears, no "Don't go Mommy/Daddy!" He just played with the other boys at the sandtable.

at his cubby

It was a gorgeous day so when I returned home I took my daughter for a long walk in the stroller with our dog. We walked down to the beach, then all the way to the local winery. She slept almost the whole time. It felt amazing to be out, just me, sleeping baby girl, and our dog. It's the same thing I used to do all the time when my son was a baby.

on our long walk

When we returned home baby girl wanted to play on our playset and ride her bike. It felt strange but wonderful to focus solely on her. I could help her climb and experience things instead of just supervise and keep her brother from knocking her over or stealing whatever she had acquired. By the time we went inside we still had 90 minutes before pick up time (we had been out for 2 hours already). 3.5 hours can really feel like a long time when developing a new routine.

bike riding/walking

At 11:15 I asked my daughter if she was ready to go get her brother at school. She did not give the excited response I was expecting. I think she enjoyed the solo time too! To be fair though, she was hungry and wanting lunch, not a car ride. Back at the preschool, my son didn't even notice when we arrived to pick him up. He was too busy playing in the sandbox.

"Did you have fun at school today?" I asked when I finally got his attention.

"Yes." he replied.

"Are you ready to come home?"

"No."

"Ok, how about a few more minutes and then we go home for lunch?"

"Ok."

He got an excellent report from his teachers on how well he settled into the routine and participated during "meeting time." Once we were in the car I got happy stories from him about what he did and what toys he played with, and then we called Daddy to give him the report too.

I think we are all going to enjoy this transition to preschool.

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