Maker of Memories.
Friday, January 31, 2014
A Little Blog Makeover
I decided it was time to shake things up a bit before the weekend. It was time for a change. I felt like I was stuck in a rut so a few clicks here and copy and paste there ... VOILA! Something a little different. I've also been struggling with what to write lately, as you have probably noticed the lack of posts. Is there anything you would like to see here? More of something? Less of something? Feel free to let me know. Mommy bloggers love feedback, so please leave comments in the comments section. Thanks!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
The Great School Debate.
It's not a secret that our wonderful 4 year old wants nothing to do with school. It was a problem we didn't anticipate last summer. He spoke endlessly about going to school with his big sister. He proudly picked out his dinosaur lunch pail and transformer back pack and he was on his way. He couldn't wait to get there. He was up at 6:30 am his first day. Just look at that face. He was so excited but somewhere along the way that excitement turned to anxiety and school is now a battle.
The battle now starts the night before school with the question, "Do I have school tomorrow?" . If the answer is yes a full blown panic attack ensues. Have you ever witnessed a 4 year old panicking? It's heartbreaking. I can't take it. It makes me feel like the world's worst mother. I mean the kid is 4, a babe really. He still mixes up words and sleeps with a bed full of stuffies, ummm when he isn't sleeping wedged between Daddy, Harmony, and Mommy in our much too small queen size bed. The mommy guilt is unbearable.
I find myself conflicted and asking myself a million and one questions. Is it worth it? Is Junior Kindergarten worth making him hate school forever? If he hates school already, how am I going to get him out the door everyday for the next 18 years or more? What if he just is not ready yet? Should I force him and put on my mean mommy face? If I pull him this year will I give him the message that quitting is OK? What if it validates his feelings and he learns there are other ways to learn? Can I manage homeschooling him with 4? Can I keep him adequately socialized at home? Will he be the weird kid when he integrates back to school at some point? Ugh, so many questions without any answers.
Right now we manage to force him to go once a week. The school promised he would love it by January (well the teachers not the actual building, if the actual school spoke I bet he would love it there). He doesn't and in fact goes less then he did before Christmas. We've promised him that we would explore the Home School option. Bah, My head hurts from thinking about it and my heart is broken every day I force him sobbing on the bus. What to do? What to do? Well if it were solely up to me I would keep him home forever and ever because he is my baby boy and I love him fiercely. I also know as a parent it is my job to prepare him for life but isn't 4 just a little young to be leaving the nest?
Well this busy mama is going to go ponder those questions while cuddling my little ones and perhaps baking. I would love to hear from others on the issue though. Questions, comments, concerns and advice all welcome and in fact encouraged. I can't wait to hear what others have to say on the issue.
The battle now starts the night before school with the question, "Do I have school tomorrow?" . If the answer is yes a full blown panic attack ensues. Have you ever witnessed a 4 year old panicking? It's heartbreaking. I can't take it. It makes me feel like the world's worst mother. I mean the kid is 4, a babe really. He still mixes up words and sleeps with a bed full of stuffies, ummm when he isn't sleeping wedged between Daddy, Harmony, and Mommy in our much too small queen size bed. The mommy guilt is unbearable.
I find myself conflicted and asking myself a million and one questions. Is it worth it? Is Junior Kindergarten worth making him hate school forever? If he hates school already, how am I going to get him out the door everyday for the next 18 years or more? What if he just is not ready yet? Should I force him and put on my mean mommy face? If I pull him this year will I give him the message that quitting is OK? What if it validates his feelings and he learns there are other ways to learn? Can I manage homeschooling him with 4? Can I keep him adequately socialized at home? Will he be the weird kid when he integrates back to school at some point? Ugh, so many questions without any answers.
Right now we manage to force him to go once a week. The school promised he would love it by January (well the teachers not the actual building, if the actual school spoke I bet he would love it there). He doesn't and in fact goes less then he did before Christmas. We've promised him that we would explore the Home School option. Bah, My head hurts from thinking about it and my heart is broken every day I force him sobbing on the bus. What to do? What to do? Well if it were solely up to me I would keep him home forever and ever because he is my baby boy and I love him fiercely. I also know as a parent it is my job to prepare him for life but isn't 4 just a little young to be leaving the nest?
Well this busy mama is going to go ponder those questions while cuddling my little ones and perhaps baking. I would love to hear from others on the issue though. Questions, comments, concerns and advice all welcome and in fact encouraged. I can't wait to hear what others have to say on the issue.
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