School

Overall, we were super excited about Z going to school, but one of the reasons I was sad about Z going to school was that he would lose his innocence.  Here, he is protected.  I know what he hears.  I know what he sees.  I can do damage control if something happens that I don't like.  I have chosen his friends and their parents based on how I parent, and the examples I want him to see.  Nate and I realize we would be doing him a disservice if we kept him totally sheltered and didn't let him see the world around him.  People are bad, people are ugly, people are hurtful...we live in a fallen world.  The best thing we can do for Z is teach him how to handle all of that yuck.  But still, it hurts. 

There is one kid in particular that we keep hearing about.  Z asked the other day, "Is D a bad word?  What about S?  Is F?"  Turns out he heard "the F word is a bad word" on the bus.  When referencing the length of a necklace (to his belly button), he said, "Hey, it goes to my weenie!!!" (a word we have NEVER used).  This same kid made fun of Z when he tooted in class (he FARTED!!! and tattled on him).  This resulted in me "teaching" Z how to hold it in (which yes, is hilarious!) or go to a bathroom.  He made fun of Z when his underwear was showing (which, honestly, happens more often than not).  He came home concerned about his pants, and wanted to pick a pair to wear the next day that wouldn't show his underwear. 

However, Z is still kind of intrigued by this kid.  He knows he is a "bad" kid, and he has been sent to the principal's office, and has had to be moved away from other kids because he was bothering them (so I am confident...I hope? that this he is being dealt with).  I am anxious to go back and help in his class this week so I can get a better grasp of him. 

It just makes me sad to have him see this stuff...to have him come home with this stuff.  In the grand scheme of things, is "weenie" a big deal?  NO.  I realize that.  But I feel like it is just the beginning of a lifetime of stuff he will be exposed to, and that just breaks my heart.  It has caused me to step up my prayers for him...for good and wise decision making, for us to give him good council, for good friends for him....

The first 2 weeks

Z has been in school for 2 weeks now.  He is really liking it...I think :)  At the end of the first full week he had a bit of a meltdown, I think from being tired.  One night I was tucking him in bed and told him that he would go to art the next day.  His face crumples up, and he sobs, "ART?  I don't wanna go to ART!" "Buddy, why?  You love art!" "But she'll make me PAINT.  And I don't like her paints.  I like ouuuuuuuur paaaaaaints!!!!" Um, yeah.  My crafty, art loving kid doesn't want to go? 

Tired.  And of course neglected by me, since I was in the middle of potty training.  I didn't really take into total account how tired he would be...he hasn't napped in years, but always has had a quiet time of about 45 minutes.  Now that time is full of 15 other boys and learning.  He has been sleeping fine, even sleeping in a few days (another benefit to pm kindergarten), but it is a lot all at once. 

He has sort of told us what is going on in class, as much as a 5 year old boy can.  That is the hardest part for me.  In preschool I had face time with the teacher and the kids, and could prompt him "I saw Evan had a skeleton shirt on too!".  Now, I've got nothing.  "So you sit by a boy?  Do you know his name?  Does anyone else like Legos?"  Boys (specifically my boy) give so much less info than girls do (so I've heard, anyway). 

His teacher has been great too.  One day he came home and we heard conflicting stories: He stayed inside at recess while the other kids went outside; no one went outside.  He was so adamant on both that I emailed her...I didn't want him to be allowed to be inside, that is ridiculous.  Turns out no one had recess, which I figured, but wanted to be sure.

She called us yesterday as a 2 week check-in (so nice!).  He is doing great academically (knows all the big letters, most of the little, a few words, and can write his name).  Behaviorally, he is great (sits well and listens and obeys).  Socially he is fine too (he is pretty quiet, but is coming out of his shell at recess).  Sounds about right on target for everything....pretty sure I could told her what she was going to tell me. 

It has been pretty nice having him gone in the afternoons...it sure is quiet...and fabulous.  In the near vicinity of time I'm going to need to reclaim that time and be useful, but I have been recouping from potty training and just getting my feet back on the ground the past week and a half. 
 

Kindergarten

I'm not really sure how my baby is old enough to go to school.  Honestly...wow, did those 5 years fly.

He got new shoes (my 5 year old wears size 3 shoes...ridiculous), some new clothes (Indiana Jones Lego shirt), and some new pants (size 7).  He got supplies (pencils and glue sticks were the only "school" ones, the others were kleenex, etc).  He got an earful of encouragement and excitement from everyone he ran across (kindergarten!  how fun!  you'll love it!).  And he was pumped. 

He has PM class, so he catches the bus a bit after noon and rides with only the other kids in his class (which, for the record, has 16 boys and 3 girls!). 

He climbed on (with a gentle push from me) and didn't look back.  He also went past all the kids and towards the back of the bus...but stopped about halfway.  I was a bit teary eyed, but not a ton.  Since it isn't in the morning, it feels kind of like he's just going to play somewhere...doesn't feel "school" like.  I am just more sad about him going "out into the world"...less protected, going to hear about and see stuff from other kids that I might not love, going to meet kids that I don't love...just kind of sad to send him out of his bubble. 
 

I followed the bus to see him get off (dork?), and all the 5th graders were there to cheer for them and welcome them. 

He climbed off minus his backpack. As I'm taking pictures, I say "Z! Get your backpack!"

He retrieved it and was back on track :)

When we picked him up from school I made him take a pic out front.  He was not thrilled.  One of us will always pick him up, at least this year...I'm not quite ready for him to ride with all the big kids. 

We decided on a first day of school tradition:  ice cream for dinner.  We all went out and got ice cream and talked about the first day. 

Z really did give me a lot of information about his class...it wasn't just one word answers (although there were a lot of those too). 

On Friday (the 3rd day) he got in and told us about his day.  He was talking about some of the other kids always asking to go outside and how he didn't like that and/or do that.  Then he said, "Mrs. G says I always make wonderful choices!"  We figure that she must have asked them to do something, kids said they wanted to go outside, Z obeyed, and she made that comment.  Regardless of the circumstances, we could NOT be prouder of him!

When I first found out he had PM kindergarten I was kind of bummed...I am used to having 2 mornings with just the little boys.  I still think it will be quite a transition to have him every morning, but the payoff is looking awesome:  we get Z on the bus, we go inside and read books, the littles take naps for 2 hours, then we get up, play for a few minutes, then go get Z and/or Daddy is home.  That means 2-2.5 hours of TOTAL me time.  Of course I have stuff to do, but I don't have someone talking to me and distracting me...oh, the quiet is fabulous! 

So off we go to a new world...

Fire Station

Z's class went on a field trip to the local fire station and we were all invited to tag along.  So I loaded up the little boys into the wagon and off we went.  Z listened intently, and asked about the axes and when they would use them.  He informed me he did not want to be a fireman though.  The little boys did pretty well.  It took them about 10 minutes to warm up to the place, and for them to be content to not be latched on to my legs or in my arms.  But after that they did great.  I loved all the kids in their hats.  So cute!  After the tour we walked back to school and stopped at a playground for a little while. 

Tea with Mom

Z had a Dad's with Donuts day in March, and a Tea with Mom day last week.  They sang us a few songs, we ate dirt cake that they made, drank tea, and read a story about mommies.  Dorothy was in town to watch the little boys. 

Z is NOT a performer in any way (but then again, neither are his parents).  He was in the back row, barely moving his mouth, turned about two thirds of the way around.  Ah, whatever.  That's my kid.  We went to Dad's church this past weekend to watch them ring bells, and there was a kids choir performing, and I asked Z if he would like to be in a choir like those kids, and he said NO and looked at me like I was crazy!  

We loved his school. He started with a mom's day out program right when the boys were born, so he has been there for 2 1/2 years. His last day was yesterday, and I can't believe he will be going to kindergarten next year! We will miss this school next year, but the little boys will be going there the year after (when they are 3).  This is a picture of him on the first day, and then on the last day with his teacher (who, sad for us, is retiring, so the boys won't ever have her). 



First Day of Preschool

Z had his first day of his second year of preschool today!  He is going to the same school he was at last year, so he (and I) am very familiar with it, and we already both knew the teacher.  He is only going 2 days a week again this year.  Z was pretty excited after our orientation last Thursday, where he got homework.  (Not worksheets, much to his dismay.)  His assignment was to decorate this blank "body" however he wanted to.  He was pretty pumped, so we came home and completed it Thursday afternoon. 

In his words, "I have a pig nose", and when asked why he had black hair, he first answered "That'll look GOOD!" but later said it was because there was no blond hair (um, we have a ton of yellow pipecleaners!).  We found pictures online of things that represented his favorite things:  arachnids (spiders and scorpions), lego people, pipe cleaners, dragons, a skeleton made of googly eyes (killing 2 birds with one stone!), and carved pumpkins.  He also added a random piece of lace.  I love it.  And he did it all himself.  My big boy :)   

He chose his monster shirt because he thought it might scare his friends, which is a good thing! 

He was mad at me for making him take another picture :)

Outside his classroom. 

Dropping off his backpack at his cubby (in front of the bathroom). 

He settled right in to the Lego table...big surprise! 

After dinner we went out for ice cream to celebrate the first day of school. 

So here is to an awesome year for my big boy...his last year before he starts "real" school! 

A snapshot

Z had Show and Share day at school today.  He found out last week it was his day, and he has been all about it for the past week.  He decided everthing he wanted to bring...his skeleton, his shark car, his crococile, his king cobra, and some bugs.  Other kids brought T-Ball hats, Barbies, and a sword.  And Z has chosen his biggest toys...and many of them. 
So I suggested we ask Mrs. S how many things he could bring. 

Here was the conversation: 

Z:  I'm bringing my skeleton, my shark car, my crococile, my king cobra, and some bugs!

Mrs. S:  Wow, Z!

K:  Z, remember what you were going to ASK Mrs. S?  How many things can I bring for Show and Share day? 

Z:  head hanging, pouting.  He knows the answer. 
K:  Z, can you ask Mrs. S? 
Z:  How many can I bring, Mrs. S? 
Mrs. S:  Well, Z, you can bring one to show all of your friends at circle time. 
Z:  his face dropped. 
Mrs. S:  BUT, you can bring whatever you would like to show ME.  I would love to see it all!  (God love you, Mrs. S!)
Z:  perked up, moving on. 

So today was the big day.  He decided that he would show his friends the (life size, glow in the dark) skeleton, but would just bring the crocodile and king cobra in his backpack (wish I had had my camera on me when we walked into school, with him lugging it all in).  He decided what he would tell his friends, and apparently it all worked out. 

I did take a picture of him before we left, with all of his treasures beside him.  I love this, because it really shows what he is about, where he is at, right now.  The skeleton, snake, and crocodile.  The bugs were already in his backpack, and of course he is wearing one of his favorite bug shirts.  Love this kid.