A Few Things

After 30 very long, very emotional days at Montessouri we decided to switch schools.  The school was great it just wasn't the right fit for Jordan so he is now at Merryhill Elementary.  So far, so good.  And the transition went easier than I had anticipated.  He has a small class, only 13 kids and his teacher is very structured. Exactly what he needs. 

 Also, I cut off Jordan's mohawk.  It was killing me.  I kept prepping him and when we got to the barber he refused to let it go.  But once they started I asked him if it was ok and he said yes.  So they did it quickly.  Before they were finished he looked in the mirror and had a complete meltdown.  Who knew a five year old was that attached to their hair.  Maybe we need to switch it up a little more so it isn't so traumatic. 

 

I think it turned out nicely. :)

 

We are very slowly counting down the days until Graduation.  Dj has a slight case of senioritis but can you blame him?  5 weeks left of the semester.  I am very proud.  It's been a loooong ride but he is one step closer to his goal.  Ok, well one step closer to three more years of school, but we try not to look at it that way.  And yes. That's a picture of a Glee Graduation... what?

 

 

Hmmm well I thought I had more interesting things to write about.  Guess not. Wow.  Or maybe it's because its 7 am and I am now thinking I want to go back to bed.  







It's weird.

Why is it that I have 7 hours of uninterrupted me time, a list as long as your arm of things to do and all I can concentrate on is the clock and watch the minutes pass slowly until I can pick up my boy?  Funny how it seems like there are never enough hours in the day, yet when you have them it is a slow and painful process watching the clock tick slowly. I need a hobby.

Kindergarten.

Wow. Kindergarten. Yes, I cried on the first day. And yes, we laid out the first-day-of-school-outfit the night before. And yes, we took our blanket on the car ride with us on the first day just for a little bit more comfort.  And yes, we/I survived.  I can't believe this boy is in Kindergarten.

The first week was a little rough. I think more than anything Jordan sensed my apprehension and sadness with the big change and maybe we had to do the "peel and run" technique everyday, but today, today he said to me, "Mommy hurry, I wanna get to school so I can play with the Legos.  You are taking forever."  And that was all it took for me to relax just a little bit more and not anticipate the whole drive there if I was going to leave him staring out the window with his sad little brown eyes.  Today was better.  He is loving his new school more and more, and even though I really wanted him to only go 1/2 day, this full day thing has been okay, so far I am loving Springstone Montessouri, and I am grateful that we live somewhere that has more than one option for education. And with that said, I'm going to get my eyebrows waxed. ha!



 

Confession: Punisments and Priorities

"Next time you dish out punishments over speakerphone, think about who's actually being punished. Me or him!"

That's the message I sent my husband this evening after he had verbally disciplined our son on the drive home via speakerphone (no movie/leapster/computer) after having a less than stellar first day at his new school.  And by that I mean, completely unacceptable, resulting in not one but two incident reports and a conference with the teacher. 

I kept thinking to myself :

"Is this really how his school years are going to be?"

And then I took a strool down memory lane. Reminded myself that it was just the "first day jitters," and that Jordan has never done well with change/transition.

Case in point #1.

After being potty trained Jordan had to move up a class at daycare.  His first day in his new environment he managed to push over a bookcase and hit a little girl in the nose and then the very next day pulled the fire alarm. 

Case in point #2

Again, after growing out of his daycare class he had to transition yet again to a new teacher and new kids.  The first day he dumped water onto someones lunch and smacked some else across the face.

I don't tell these stories to get sympathy, empathy, or pity but to be honest.  Be real.  Is this a first of many visits for us to the office, probably.  Do I hope and pray it's not, absolutely.  Am I the only one that has these moments. No. I have honestly come to realize that the way I parent is not the way you may parent or even the way I was parented (word?) but I know my son, and I know what works for him, what makes him tick, and what way he may react.  
I try really hard not to be the mom at the park scanning the playground with accusing eyes wondering who's child is running wild banshee style screaming, flicking woodchips and nearly grazing everyone with a flailing appendage as he makes his way to the slide. I've been there. I know the looks, and I've gotten the stares.  There is a fine line between aggression and play with Jordan and we teeter it quite often but I do know deep down at the core right next to his heart is my sweet boy.  The sweet little boy who asks to hold my hand before falling asleep at night, and the boy who tells me repeatedly that he loves me, he has a sincere little soul and he may not translate his sweet side effortlessly but with a little patience (and even a few punishments) he is a genuine, tenderhearted boy.  

So tonight while we are on "punishment" I'll soak up these last little moments of his innocence and remind myself what my parenting priorities are: love, respect, and honesty.  Oh, and we'll write apology letters. ;)

 

The things I've learned from preschool.

That's right. The things I'VE learned from preschool. Jordan was chosen to be the "Star of the Week" this week. He got to make a poster about himself, as well as share his favorite book and snack. Not too complicated. No math required. Easy right? Except for the fact that it wasn't. I know now it will not be me helping with science projects, reflection contests, or school election campaigns.  I did not do well. My patience was tried, as well as my extreme  slight need for perfection.  Maybe every parent experiences this, maybe not, but I COULD NOT let my child go to PRESCHOOL with a poster that was actually created by a four year old! I mean, what would the other parents say?!? "Poor Jordan, his mom doesn't go to church. He thinks Jesus and Lady Gaga are the same person. tisk tisk" Oh wait, does that scenario apply here? Answer: Yes.  I was feeling the pressure, and guilt which I fully blame on growing up in Utah as well as Pinterest. As for the snack for tomorrow, it almost put me over.  First, I was trying to focus on a theme....  Transformers? Cars? No there are girls in his class.... Ok, maybe I should do a color? No, that's boring.  I was stressing out!  I was talking (ok, complaining) to Danny about what to do.  So he looks at me and says, "Ask Jordan what snack he wants to take."  Can you believe that?! Why would I ask Jordan? I mean we all know Star of the Week isn't about the 4 year old, it's about the mom and how well she can perform and mass produce the cutest, craftiest, most extravagant snack.  So very reluctantly I ask Jordan what snack he wants to share with his friends.  He said, "Granola Bars and Fruit Snacks." Yeah. Freakin, Right. I can not, under any circumstances, show up with PREPACKAGED food, that has ingredients like corn syrup, and blue1.  Translation: not homemade, not healthy. So I did what any self-respecting mom would do. I swallowed that pill and  I actually listened to my Star of the Week.  I let him make his own poster.  Place the letters wherever he wanted, draw what made him happy so that when he went to school it was something he was proud of.  I learned that teaching my child to be happy, confident and proud of what he can accomplish was far more important than the opinions of others.  I above all want him to be content with who he is and if sending a perfectly imperfect poster to school helps mold his confidence, so be it. And that my friends, is what preschool has taught me.So here is what we ended up with:

 thank goodness it was a regular size poster board! we had to squeeze his name(s) on.

 Just as requested. Granola Bars and Scooby-Doo fruit snacks. Best part, I didn't even have to go to the store to get them! Thank you Jesus/Lady Gaga!