So Much Growth

I know it has been awhile since I have written anything.  Frankly, I've been really busy with work and then homework in the evenings.  I tend to spend my time with my husband and kids on the weekends, so blogging hasn't been high on the priority list. 

However, after how much growth my kids have gone through recently, I thought it was time for a post.  Thing 1 is doing very well in Kindergarten.  He is beginning to read and knows 16 words by sight.  He is really enjoying himself and has made a girlfriend (he always has a girlfriend!).  About two weeks ago he also started Sunday School classes and has been a big helper to his teacher.  When we picked him up from his class last week, the teacher had many positive things to say about him.

A couple weeks ago we decided to buy underpants for Thing 2 as we felt he may be getting close to potty training.  He decided to pick out Mickey Mouse underpants.  We kept them in the dresser in his room and would continue to prompt him to use the potty.  Some days he was more receptive than others.  Every once in awhile he would actually ask to go.  Well, today, he asked to go and I took him, sat him down on the little potty, and read him some books.  After the second book, I asked if he wanted another book or if he was ready to get up.  He said he wanted to get up.  When he got off of the toilet, we found that he had pooped and peed in the potty!  Thing 1 and I praised him and gave him hugs.  Thing 2 was excited and wanted his underpants.  So Thing 1 got Thing 2 a pair of the Mickey Mouse underpants and he has been wearing them ever since.  He did decide not to wear pants.  I'm guessing it's because then he can't see the Mickey Mouse design on his underpants!

I am very happy with how much my two boys have grown the past few weeks.  Not only are they getting taller, but they are learning so much.  I so love my boys!

Homework

Now that we are into the 4th week of school, Thing 1 is starting to come home with homework.  Really, the homework started last week.  He had homework in preschool so I was expecting this but I wasn't expecting quite this much.  In preschool he would come home once a week with a paper where he had to write the upper and lowercase letter 10 times each.  Toward the end of preschool, he would also be writing words 3 times each.  He had 2 days to do this homework before it was due.  I didn't feel much pressure as we would do it the first night that he brought it home unless there was some extenuating circumstance.

So last week on Monday, Thing 1 brought home his composition book and a poetry book.  There were also multiple notes attached letting the parents know what the children had to do throughout the week.  Let me start by saying part of the homework was exactly what he did in preschool - he would write each letter, upper and lowercase, 3 times (instead of 10).  That part did not overwhelm me.  What overwhelmed me is the fact that he not only wrote the letters but then drew a picture that started with the letter (he has 2-3 letters each week to write and 2-3 pictures to draw), has a short story where he has to highlight all of the letters in that story that he just wrote, has 2 poems to read throughout the week out of he poetry book, and has 8 sight words that he needs to know by the end of the week for his quiz.  To me, this sounds like a lot of work for a 5 year old.  Granted, he has all week to do all of this work but he has to practice his sight words and his poems every night in order to do well on his quiz on Fridays.  I'm not sure how long each evening a 5 year old should be doing homework as he is in school for 6 1/2 hours during the day as it is.  I'm thinking that he is still a kid and that he should have time to relax and do things he enjoys.  I also don't like the idea that kindergarten is the new first grade!

I think my biggest problem with the whole thing is that I feel that this is really a reflection on my parenting.  If my child does not get all of his sight words correct on Friday, I am afraid that may say that I am not working hard enough to help my child learn how to read.  I don't really think I can handle going into a parent-teacher conference where I am told that I need to work harder to teach my child how to read.  I think there is a lot of pressure on kids and this is the pressure I feel as a parent.  I work over 40 hours per week to direct 2 programs and when I come home in the evening I would like to spend time with my kids relaxing and having fun, not doing homework.  I didn't become a teacher for a reason - I'm no good at it and I get frustrated easily.  I'm not sure what the kindergarten curriculum is, but I thought that teaching a child to read was something that would be done in school and not something where I would have to quiz my child for at least 30 minutes every night.  Read a book with a my child, I will totally do.  Quizzing my kid on sight words is frustrating for me, so I know he is not enjoying it.  Am I the only one who feels this way about 5 year olds and homework?

Week One

The first week of Kindergarten is now over.  Thing 1 did very well.  He enjoyed spending time with other children his own age and was happy to go to school each day.  The biggest problem I had is that at the end of the school day, around dinner time, he became very cranky!  He would refuse to do things that were asked of him and was just being rude.  I blame this on getting used to the routine and I am sure that within the next couple of weeks we won't have this issue so much anymore.  I also found that today, he is perfectly content sitting around relaxing.  I'm sure that is due to his exhaustion from his first week of school.  At least he has a three day weekend to recuperate before going back to school!  Although, based on our Labor Day plans, he may be tired!  We have big plans to attend the Renaissance Faire on Monday.  Pictures to come.  Huzzah!

1st Day of Kindergarten

No tears were shed by Thing 1 or The Mr.  I, however, did have tears in my eyes.  It's not for the reasons you may think.  Thing 2 was very upset to see Thing 1 leave the car to go into school.  He cried as soon as Thing 1 got out of the car and began calling his name.  The tears in my eyes were due to watching my youngest as he was upset to see his big brother and best friend go off for his first day of Kindergarten.

Thing 1 had a great first day and is excited to go back tomorrow.

Yet Another First

Tomorrow marks another first in the life of Thing 1.  He will start his first day of Kindergarten.  I have been stressed and worried about this day for weeks.  However, after the parent-teacher conference on Tuesday this past week, I have calmed down a lot.  Before my concerns were about my little 5 year old being in a school with big 5th graders, getting on a bus with a bunch of kids he doesn't know and a bus driver he doesn't know, and just all of the things I know can go on in a school.  On Tuesday evening, we decided that Thing 1 would not ride the bus.  We had multiple reasons for our decision but the biggest one for me was the time that the bus would drop him off in the afternoon.  He would be the last child dropped off and based on our work schedules that time could be a problem.  We drive by the school everyday to get pretty much anywhere we want to go so it is not an inconvenience to take him and pick him up.  Plus, Thing 1 said that he wanted Daddy to drive him to and from school so that just sealed the decision for me. 

Thing 1 is getting more and more excited about this new adventure in his life.  He keeps saying that he wants to sit by other 5 year olds and not next to a 2 year old anymore (poor Thing 2!).  He has been to his school twice in the past two weeks where he saw his classroom, met his teacher, turned in school supplies, and found his locker.  (Yes, my kindergartner has a locker!  Who knew?!)  Friday, we took him to dinner as that was the last time The Mr. would be around for a meal with us due to his work schedule and we took him to the bookstore to buy a new book since that is what he wanted to do.  Yesterday, I took him to buy a new outfit for his first day, take him for lunch and got him ice cream for dessert.  Today, our plan is to play games, read books, and bake cookies before dinner.  This evening we will start into our routine that we will have for the school year - bath, make lunch, and double check that all supplies are in his bookbag.  I have become very calm about him starting school.  He seems really happy and anxious to make friends and be around other kids his age.

Thing 2, on the other hand, is who I have become concerned about.  He has been around his big brother since the day he was born.  Thing 1 is the first one Thing 2 looks for in the morning when waking up and after taking a nap.  He follows his big brother around and idolizes him so much.  I'm just not sure what type of a day The Mr. will have tomorrow after taking Thing 1 to school.  I'm sure Thing 2 will be looking for his big brother throughout the day and may even feel a little lost.  I am just glad I will be at work and not have to see my baby sad while he is without his best friend for the day.

Kindergarten

Yesterday was a milestone for Thing 1. We attended kindergarten orientation! As we drove to the school, The Mr. and I were discussing who would go in with Thing 1 as one of us would need to stay with Thing 2. Both of us had questions and wanted to see the school but thought it would be best for all parties involved, particularly the ones that would be at the school that we did not know, to only have one of us go in instead of taking Thing 2 as well. I decided to go as I felt I wouldn't get a full story out of The Mr. on the events that occurred. I knew I would want to know what happened and who said what for each minute that he was in there.

Thing 1 and I walked into the school to get our name tags and then I went into the office to drop off paperwork to prove he had all of his immunizations and had been to the doctor for a check-up recently. We were then told that the kids would go into classrooms based on the color and animal of their name tag and the parents would go into the cafeteria. So I walked the long hallway with Thing 1 and one of the 5th graders who was showing us the way to the kindergarten classrooms where I proceeded to let go of his hand so he could sit on the carpet. I had a feeling of nervousness wash over me as I watched him go with the teacher and sit with all the other kids. I then, along with the other parents, walked back down the hallway to go to the cafeteria to learn some things about the school.

First, we met the principal who had just started at the school in February and replaced the principal who had been there for many years. She told us a little bit about herself and gave us some information about the school. We then met the nurse and health assistant. The guidance counselor spoke about her position in the school and how she visits each classroom twice each month and also runs various groups, including social skills and anger management. Finally we met the reading instructor who informed us that our children do not need to know how to read before starting school. They realize that children come in at various levels of reading and letter recognition but by the time kindergarten is over each child will know how to read. She said they start out with letter recognition and sounds and then move to small words and stories. After hearing from each of these individuals, the principal said that we would go back to the classrooms with our children to meet back in the cafeteria in approximately 40 minutes to get a bag of information to take home.

All the parents walked down to the kindergarten classrooms and dispersed ourselves into the 4 rooms where we left our children. I found Thing 1 at a table with another child who were learning about magnets. Thing 1 seemed pretty comfortable being there. The teacher encouraged the parents and the children to explore all areas of the classroom during our time there. We then went to the weight station to learn about what objects were heavier than others. We ended at the play dough station before the teacher called everyone back to the tables to complete a project. Thing 1 sat at a table and was given a piece of paper and animal cutouts to glue on it. The teacher asked the children to find and glue on each animal onto the paper (each animal had the names of the teachers on it). She then stated that this would be something each child could take home to remember the day. On our way out of the classroom, each child received a few letters written by the kindergartners in that classroom to read when we got home along with a pair of animal sunglasses.

We went back to the cafeteria to obtain our bag of goodies and then went on our way. Thing 1 didn't want to leave as he had areas of the classroom that he wanted to explore that he did not have time for. I thought this was a good sign as this would mean an easier transition for him. Thing 1 thrives on structure and schedules. He does not do well with changes to his routine. We have been talking to him about going to kindergarten for almost a year and have been taking about registration since January and the orientation since the beginning of April. I am very happy that he enjoyed himself and I am, hesitantly, looking forward to him starting school in the fall. It will be bittersweet as it's a huge milestone filled with adventure and learning but it is also sad as it means my baby is growing up and becoming more independent.

Firsts

There have been a couple of firsts in this house the past couple weeks. On March 27, we took the entire family to see a movie. It was the first time Thing 2 had been to a movie in the theater. We decided to see How To Train Your Dragon. Excellent movie, by the way! Thing 2 did extremely well. Before we went into the movie, The Mr. and I were discussing which one of us would leave the movie with Thing 2 if he became loud and rambunctious. We were both being overly polite as we both said we would leave the movie if needed. Luckily, the only time we had to leave the movie was to take Thing 1 to the bathroom and change Thing 2's diaper! As long as Thing 2 had full access to the popcorn, he was fine. He ate a piece at a time and drank the water we brought with us. He really seemed to enjoy the movie and would point at the dragons as they came across the screen. The movie did become a favorite in our house and everyone talked about purchasing it once it's released on DVD.

The next first that we encountered occurred yesterday. We took Thing 1 to sign up for kindergarten! It wasn't an emotional experience as I thought it might be. Mostly we just filled out paperwork. We only have one piece of paperwork left to bring before Thing 1 starts school in the fall and that is to prove that he has had a physical. (His annual check-up is at the end of the month.) We will be attending some sort of open house at the end of May so that we can learn about the kindergarten class and Thing 1 can see his new school. Very exciting! I am a little nervous and feel there should be a support group for parents of children who are about to enter kindergarten. I believe the kids will be fine, it's the parents who need some support!

I am sure we will have many more interesting things to discuss, with the boys birthdays this month and Thing 1 starting school in the fall.