preschool days, early nights

This poor little blog. Let me blow the dust off. 

Adjusting to an everyday schedule of going to school has been, well, an adjustment. The first week it felt fun and I was good about making myself go to bed early. Then I wasn't. I'm still working on it. I realize I sound like spoiled princess here, but going from dropping off Thomas between 8:30 and 9 to setting a 6 AM alarm has been harsh.

The super good news is that Thomas LOVES his new speech preschool class. Well, he loves riding the school bus most of all, but he seems just fine with all of it. This photo is from his first day of school and he got on that bus without looking back. He is totally fine with waking up earlier. He eats his breakfast and knows that as soon as I help him get dressed, it's school bus time! I can invoke the school bus for ANYTHING, especially going to bed, because "you have to wake up and get on the school bus!" 

His speech class is like normal preschool in every way. There's only one other kid in his class, so there is tons of one-on-one help. I feel so thankful for this class, and wish that other parents knew about this option. I feel a little guilty, that he rides the bus when I could easily take him to school myself, but hey! this is why we pay taxes, right? There are two days where the school bus takes him straight to his mother's morning out program that he's gone to for the last two years, where they know and love him. Getting used to a long day has been another story, but I think he handles it pretty well. Sometimes he needs a nap and falls asleep on the way home from his long days. Still, I think it's good practice for next year, where he will be gone ALL DAY and I will be super sad. 

 

We are already seeing a vast improvement in his speech. There is more eye contact. Now he answers me by saying 'yes', instead of just an agreeable silence or a rote 'no'. That is so amazing and revolutionary, I can't tell you. I just LOVE this development. Saying YES is so much more fun than NO! This past weekend, out of nowhere, he started reciting the days of the week. Last night, in the bathtub, he was singing something like, "what is the weather, the weather, today?" Obviously, circle time is making a big impression on my little dude. I love that he brings home a backpack full of art projects from his week on Fridays, and he became particularly attached to a "Thomas" he made. I hung it on his bedroom door, otherwise he was dragging it around the house. 

He's also thinking about letters and writing them on his own. I am not sure how much he is working on this at school but he does it when no one is looking at home. I just LOVE it. In the picture above, he wrote the letters before TRAIN, and when I asked him what it said he answered, "Choo-choo." Well of course it is. How could I not see something so apparent? 

He has decided he likes to stand in our neighbors' driveway instead of ours. Please don't ask me why. 

Stay tuned for my next post, which I promise solemnly, will not be a month later. I'll talk about how empty my house feels and what I'm doing while my kid is off riding the school bus and learning the days of the week. 

 

Comments

[Megsie]

Oh, Sam! This sounds wonderful! I am so happy to hear that Thomas (and you!) are adjusting to "school" life. I knew you would see vast improvements once he was going every day. Kids are amazing, how much they learn and it is just a privilege to witness the miracle of it all. Wow. Sorry. Teacher here, obviously. Plus....it is so great to hear from you! I have missed you terribly. xoxo

[Bethany]

Hooray! My girls wish they could ride the school bus too. (We're only a few blocks away, and school buses here operate on a case-by-case basis, so... sorry kiddos, you're walking.) :) Sounds like preschool is the best possible thing for Thomas. I'm looking forward to hearing how you fill the time; hopefully it can inspire some of my own home-without-the-kids mornings!

[Terri]

Oh wow! I know I've been mostly absent from blogland for awhile, but I didn't realize quite how long it's been till seeing this...Thomas, wearing his backpack, riding a school bus and everything! Growing into a big boy - though (I'm sure I don't have to tell you), he's still cute as a button. Love the 'choo choo' page. Happy almost autumn!

[Wendy Baker]

lol... he is sooo cute...