September 2008 Archives

Today was Maddie's first day of kindergarten.

You read that correctly. She started kindergarten today. Over the last couple of weeks Bill and I started to realize that Maddie was getting pretty bored with school. In fact, it was one of our concerns when we attended the first meet and greet and saw the workbooks she'd be using, but, being her first experience with Pre-K (and ours) we decided to wait and see how she fit into the class.

Our concerns became a little more last week when we found out the school didn't know Maddie could read, despite our having mentioned it at registration. A friend of mine was visiting the classroom and was talking about Maddie's reading skills. The teacher asked Maddie to read for her and was surprised to see how much she already knew. Her Pre-K class is learning the alphabet letters and their sounds, and Maddie is currently reading Berenstein Bear books.

Yesterday I got a call from the school director. She mentioned that the teacher had talked to her about Maddie. The director spent the morning observing Maddie and even took her aside to have her read some books. She then called me to talk about the possibility of moving Maddie up into kindergarten.

Bill and I had, in fact, already discussed this hypothetical option, but weren't sure it was even something allowed at the school. (Georgia public schools strictly prohibit any early entry into kindergarten, no matter what. You MUST be 5 years-old before September 1st or you can't be enrolled.) We weighed the options a little more last night. Before school this morning we met with the director and the kindergarten teacher. Maddie got a chance to see the classroom, and Bill and I got a chance to learn a little more about the class curriculum and the things on which they're currently working. We were very impressed with what we saw, and both agreed it is exactly what Maddie needs at this point. She would be fitting in really well, knowing some of the material, but having enough that she didn't know to challenge her and keep her attention.

Speaking of attention, way before Maddie even started school this year, Bill and I already suspected there might be some discipline problems if Maddie wasn't kept challenged. We already knew that any boredom on her part would only promote her little social butterfly tendencies. We were proved right when Maddie was reprimanded the 4th day of school for not staying in her seat, and for walking around the class trying to re-arrange the chairs. :)

Maddie came back from her first day today completely ecstatic and excited about all her new friends and the things they learned. Better yet, one of her good friends from her Pre-K class was also promoted to kindergarten last week, so they have each other as comfort in the new environment.

I've already had people ask me if I'm comfortable with Maddie in an environment with older kids. For one, her birthday is only a little over a month later than the youngest child in the class, so that's not much of a concern. And second, if you know Maddie then you know she has absolutely no problem meeting new people or asserting herself. We have no worries. In fact, the director told me this morning that Maddie walked right into the class, walked up to a group of kids, and asked if they wanted to play with her. By recess she was already organizing groups to play "kitty cat" and "cupcake store" with her.

So that's where we are. I have a kindergartner. It was odd enough for me to say I have a child in preschool, but now an actual kindergartner? It's all just setting in.

Well, Maddie wasn't even in school 2 days before she developed her first crush. Or, rather, I should say, before a crush was developed on her.

I mentioned before that a little boy from Maddie's old soccer team is in her class at school. He's an incredibly sweet little boy, and Bill and I got to know his parents during all the soccer games last spring. A few days ago I got an email from his mom. She wanted to know how Maddie liked her first few days of school. She also said that her son talked about Maddie all the time, and that she suspected he might have a crush on her. And, would we like to get together for lunch after school next week?

Later that day I asked Maddie about her friends and who she played with at recess. She named a couple of kids. I asked about Michael. Is he one of her friends?

Is he the boy from soccer?

That's right. Is he one of your friends too?

No, he doesn't play with me. He just follows me around all the time.

What do you mean he follows you around?

{at this point she very dramatically rolls her eyes}

He just follows me! He comes up to me every day and says, 'Hi. I love you.' He says that every day! 'Hi. I love you. Hi. I love you.'

Well, what do you say when he says that?

I say, Thank you! See, Mommy? I use my princess manners at school too.

The whole exchange had me laughing harder than I have in a long time. We're planning on meeting Michael and his mom for lunch after school on Tuesday. His mom and I will get a chance to catch up on things while the kids play. It will be interesting to see the interaction between them, firsthand.

Plus, it will give me the opportunity to explain to Michael what a convent is, and how Maddie will be joining it in the future.

Just kidding. (okay, not really)

She's not going to school, but it's still very necessary to wear a backpack.

One of the great things about Maddie being in school is that I get to spend some alone time with Josie, something she has never experienced in her life. It's not as if she's ever missed it, since she's never known it, but my mommy guilt really wants her to have some one on one time with me like Maddie did. This whole week was Josie's pick, so we did exactly what she wanted to do:

- visit the "big park where Maddie had her princess birthday party"
- go to the library
- play with Play-Doh and Barbies and Littlest Pet Shop and Polly Pocket
- paint and color pictures for Maddie and Daddy
- play "school"
- read and cuddle

We've also had fun playing with her baby dolls (feeding, burping them, changing their diapers -- though she always makes me do that!) and building tents. One day we built a "store." I had to go to her store and buy things, though she told me I didn't have to pay anything since it was a "free store." I hope she doesn't plan on being an entrepreneur. She's got a little bit to learn in that area.

Welcome to Josie's (free) Store

We've also been very busy talking to her friend, Jesse, on the phone. For those of you that don't know, Jesse is Josie's imaginary friend. She talks to her on the phone all the time. Usually, Jesse is busy and can't come over to play. Oddly enough, though, Jesse always seems to go to the same places we do. Every time we're in the car on our way somewhere, Josie will tell us that Jesse is going there too.

"That's her in the car right over there! That's Jesse's car! It's the red/green/white/blue one!"

Today I took Josie to the women's restroom while we were in the mall. Afterwards, while we were washing our hands, Josie grabs my arm, very excitedly, and yells,

"Mommy, that's Jesse's mom!!!!!"

and points to the woman washing her hands a few sinks away from ours. The woman never noticed, but I couldn't help but laugh. I asked Josie if Jesse might be at the mall too. Perhaps she should go over and ask Jesse's mom.

"No, Mommy. I haven't gone to Jesse's house to play yet. And she hasn't come to our house. Her mommy doesn't know me!"

I am constantly amazed by Josie, who, quietly and behind the scenes, has such an active imagination and talents of her own. At any time, she'll break out into an original song and serenade you. She LOVES to draw, and could spend most of her day with a box of crayons and a coloring book or some paper.

One of my goals these next few weeks is to get active in another playgroup for kids Josie's age. Up until now, she and Maddie have always shared the same friends (usually kids Maddie's age, and Josie tags along.) Now, though, we're getting to the point where Maddie alone is being invited to friends' houses and parties. The first time it happened, it nearly broke my heart to see the look on Josie's face, asking me why she couldn't go and play too. So, my goal is to give Josie some opportunities to make friends of her own, her own age, without Maddie. It may sound like I'm over-thinking things, but now that Maddie's in school she'll have even more of her own friends who don't even know Josie. I want Josie to be able to be independent and learn to play with other kids on her own, without needing to tag along behind Maddie. We'll see how things go in the coming weeks.

I've had such a wonderful week with my youngest, and I look forward to more times together. And, of course, more opportunities to meet Jesse...

Maddie started her first day of Pre-K last week. The week before, she got a chance to attend a meet and greet at her school. She met her teachers and her fellow classmates, and got a chance to see her classroom and "cubbie" with her name on it. We had trouble finding the room at first, so we walked in a little late. As soon as we walked in, we heard someone yell out, "Hey, it's Maddie!!" It was a little boy who was in the playgroup that Maddie and Josie were in a few years ago. Another of her playgroup friends is also in the class. In addition to that, one of her friends from her soccer team last spring is also in her class. He kept pointing and whispering, "That's Maddie!" It's nice that she already knows some people and feels comfortable in the class.

Backpack on and ready to go.

So her first day was last Tuesday. After a long weekend with Daddy (Bill was home both Friday and Monday as well) we all went out for dinner at IHOP on Monday evening. It was Maddie's chance to pick, so she chose her favorite restaurant. After an early dinner we headed home to get the girls to bed early -- or at least early by our standards. Our kids have always gone to bed later, and slept in later in the mornings, so this is a huge transition for everyone.

The newest member of the Tigers Pre-K Class.

Tuesday morning, we all piled into the car to take Maddie to school. Bill rode with us too, before he had to leave for work. Maddie's school has very little parking, so they use a carpool line where the teachers get the kids from your car, and bring them back in the afternoon. I never even leave the car or turn it off.

What are we waiting for?

So we pull up and one of the teachers comes out and takes Maddie out of her carseat and walks her into the school. At this point, I look over at Bill to see that I'm not the only one with, ahem, watery eyes. I didn't cry... It just tugged at my heart to see her walking away with her little backpack, looking so old all of a sudden. She, of course, was completely excited and didn't even look back. "See ya, Mom and Dad and Jo!"

Off she goes.

Only three and half hours later (though it seemed like a lifetime) we went back to pick up Maddie. Again, I got teary-eyed just seeing her walking towards the car. Again, she looked so old. What happened to my baby?

I asked Maddie how her first day of school went. Of course, as if she's preparing to be a teenager, she replied, "Fine."

What did you do in your class today? "Nothing."

Really? Nothing? Did you have circle time or reading time or play outside? "Yes."

Did you meet any new friends? "Yes, I met one friend. A girl with yellow hair."

What's her name? "I don't remember."

{most importantly} Do you want to go back tomorrow? "YES YES YES!"

It turns out Maddie's class really did do something after all. She brought us home our very own "kissing hand" with her hand print on it. It's based on this book, which we'd been reading all the previous week too. For a couple of weeks now, the girls have been going up to us or each other, spreading open our hands, and giving us kisses on our palms. So sweet.

Just in case we miss her while she's gone.

So, it looks like school has been a success with Maddie. So far. I fully expect the honeymoon period to end in a few weeks, when she's tired of getting up early, or when she starts to suspect that Josie and I might be having fun too. Or... she may continue loving it. Being the social butterfly that she is, I also suspect that she'll wish she could stay and play with her friends all day long, and not come home at all.

**One very good result of this week is that each day of school has made Maddie famished. For a kid that never eats, it's so great to have her come home and devour lunch, and even ask for more.