Christopher Reed starts preschool next Tuesday! And I'm so excited for it! It has truly been an answer to prayer for me. Since we have had Gwenn it has been such a struggle for me to maintain my normal daily activities (aka: perfectionism and obsessive compulsion) with sanity and peace. This whole role of, "Mother" (that I've always wanted and dreamed of, by the way) just never ends. My Mom told me and reminds me often, just don't expect to sleep for the next 18 (or more) years! No, this job does not offer break time, lunchtime, time off, evenings or weekends. It's amazing that after 3 years I'm still grasping that- like I keep thinking, dang this is a long work week- remembering back to when I worked outside of the home! I'm searching, looking and longing for - a break! Just ask Reed. Poor guy, I've been complaining, "I just need a break!" Then I get the advice, "to take time for yourself!" So I sit and attempt to write this......and I have a crying baby crawling all around me, who's just not content with the toys scattered all around her, or the other non-toys she's attempting to chew, like cd cases and books. All she wants is me to hold her! Here let me take a break...... from typing! This will be the "break" I take -the break from taking a break? that's the only kind that permits itself or really requires itself......does this make sense? So I've been struggling!! God keeps telling me to go to bed earlier. But, I continue to meet the demands that I put in place of and earlier bedtime. Like, cleaning up, sorting mail, making lunch, wiping up food stuck to the floor, chair or counter, or even staying up for time for myself, like reading and studying the word! Dear God help me!
And he does......thoughts of preschool enter my mind, so I looked into it! We were able to hold a spot for Christopher for a two-day preschool. Actually only 2 1/2 hours in the morning - 2-days a week! It's a Co-op, which means as a parent you teach in the class with all the other parents and have opportunity to serve on the board. The program offers a full time teacher + 3 other parents in a room with 16 kids. Not bad. We begin a slow start day this Tuesday the 14th. I will go in to school that day with CR to get acquainted with the room, schedule and teacher. By the way her name is Teacher Kim. I've had a couple of opportunities to talk with her. The first time she met Christopher she immediately got right down to his level and talked with him. She's friendly, kind, caring and loves her job. These things are so important~ I'm so excited for this new adventure for Christopher. It will mean good social skills for Christopher. It will mean quality time for Gwenn and I twice a week, a break from the "normal," at our house anyways, and new friends to meet. Also, I'll be trading childcare with a friend who's son is doing preschool his 2nd year. Since I have to work in the school at least 2 days a month I'll need someone to watch Gwenn. My friend was in the same boat with her daughter, so we'll just trade watching the kids while the other teaches.
This is good.....breathe....let go.......this is good!
Here's a shot of my baby preschooler and I when he was 10 weeks old!
2 comments:
Good luck with the preschool thing. As an ex-preschool teacher I have found that parents have a harder time letting go than their kids do. Once they're in there with all the kids and toys they are rip-roaring and ready to go. Except for the first couple of drop-offs, those are full of tears and whining. One little bit of advice though, don't hover once you've dropped him off. Give him a hug and let him go. You might think that it's cruel, but he'll transition much easier if you do. He's going to do great. This is such an exciting step for both of you!! Are you going to get him going full-time after a little while? You're going to do so good helping out in teh classroom too. Those kids are so much fun. I miss the little ones. The fourth graders I have now are not so easily amused or quick to love.
That is such a fun step to let go and let them out into the "big" world with other kids. Go Annie! He'll do great and so will you. :)
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