Yeesh, it's been almost two months since I've posted last. Sorry, guys, it's been crazy busy! But I have been thinking about this whole school thing for awhile now, so I thought I'd post my thoughts and see what the wise blogger women had to say.
Ingrid is in K3 Montessori this year. She likes it. The K3 class stays until lunch, then most go home, but they do have an afternoon part they can stay at, with lunch, recess, a story, and resting time. Ingrid likes school so much she asked to stay for the afternoon. Which means she's in school from 9am until 3:30pm. Every day.
Part of me finds this just fine. She likes it, she never cries when I leave her, she never is upset when Otis and I walk out the door. She has friends at school, loves her teachers. I like that it doesn't interfere with Otis' nap time anymore, since he sleeps until 1-2pm. I also like not having to drop her off to school and then turning around a couple hours later to pick her up again.
But...
I feel like school has made her so sassy. And emotional. The past few weeks have been horrible, with temper tantrums and crying at the drop of a hat and not listening and lots of yelling. I was completely at a loss. Then we had off for the holidays. We got back into our routine of a slow morning with lots of play, coloring, puzzles, running errands, then resting time in the afternoon. Temper tantrums slowly faded, my happy girl was back, and I was so much more calm having her home.
She loves to pull out this bag of scrap fabric I have and play fabric store. Or play with her guys and her new castle she got for Christmas. And I love that she will do that for hours! Or read seventy books in a row if she feels like it. Otis is pretty much the same way, too, so instead of rush rush rush, put a screaming baby in the car seat, run into school, drive home, more screaming baby, back in the car, etc etc, we just hung out, didn't drive anywhere for a couple days at a time, everyone was happy.
School was supposed to start today, only I thought it was tomorrow. So we went to the library for story time, the kids had a blast, Ingrid was loving being with all the other kids. And I thought really, tomorrow we have to go back to the hustle and bustle of school time? I don't wanna!! Part of me just wants to keep her home until K4 starts next fall. She is happy at home, I'm happy with her at home (not one of those parents who loves the start of school, which I DO understand, but for us it's so much easier to be home!!) But what to do? Is it me being selfish because I just don't want to do the school run anymore and be rushed in the morning? Would it be teaching her something like you can quit if you don't like it? Is that a bad thing?
I think the main thing I'm learning is that school is SO not on my high priority list right now. If she has to miss a day, it totally does not bother me. Jesus, if she misses the next semester it wouldn't bother me! I could see her staying home until Otis goes to kindergarten, honestly. So if it's easier for me, I am game to keep her home. But, is that fair to her? She likes school. She likes home, too, but am I keeping her from something? We do story time and there's a kid's time at the Children's Museum, too, so we'd have our outings, and we always have play dates.
What to do??????
A New Path
1 year ago
5 comments:
My opinion? Take a break, or put her in only a few days a week, or even ONE day. She has her whole life to pull all-day school. She's a little kid, let her hang with you and play as long as you both need.
i agree with the above, at this young age there is no push for school really and if it's easier for you to have her home, do it! she has her whole life to do school. tru didn't start preschool until age 4 and he's doing 3 days of pre-k at 5, he goes until 12:30 and he's FIVE. i was really pressured to get him in school at age TWO because he had a speech delay, the speech teachers we had come to the house from the birth-3 program and our pediatrician all wanted me to get him in school or daycare to talk to other kids and i said no way and i stewed ad cried a LOT about it because i felt like i was holding him back or not being a good mom. guess what, it didn't matter and i was totally right....learned a lot on that one to trust my gut.
Sounds like staying home is good for her. You could just do half days and then rest in the afternoon if she will really miss school. She is already a smart and creative kid so don't worry about her missing some important learning by keeping her home.
Lorenzo goes to school from 9-1 three days a week and he is five too.
I say enjoy the downtime while you can get it! You have years of school ahead of you. And yes my kids are in school and I'm with you, it makes life WAY more hectic. Mike isn't game for homeschooling, though, and Johnny needs speech. I sure wish it weren't five days a week!
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