Isaac Starts Preschool

This is our fourth year to attend our preschool (the first year for Isaac). At drop off over the last two weeks I have a lot of other moms stop me (people I have seen in the hallways everyday but don't necessarily know) and they are incredulous that Isaac is old enough to be here. I feel the same way! The last two years have certainly flown by.

Last year, Isaac and I would walk Jack to his preschool class and I would have to drag Isaac away because he really wanted to stay at school. So I was surprised when we took Isaac to his orientation day and he burst into tears and tried to run away. He didn't show interest in being there until we went out on the playground and he discovered the plethora of toy trucks he could play with.

On his first official day, we arrived at school and he refused to take off his backpack. We posed for a quick photo before Jack and I took the opportunity to sneak away while he was distracted by a gigantic stuffed bear. He burst into tears as soon as he realized we had made a hasty exit. Thankfully the crying only lasted about 5 minutes

The second day, he insisted we sit for a picture again (he is a creature of habit) and still would not take off his backpack. We did a similar dance where I snuck out as soon as he was with a teacher. And again he cried for a few minutes.

While week one was a phase-in week with shorter classes to acclimate to being at preschool, this past week was the real deal with lunch and activities like circle time.

On Monday I walked into class with him, and again he insisted on wearing his backpack instead of hanging it up. I helped wash his hands and then he took my hand and guided me to a table with blocks. We stacked blocks together and he knocked them down a couple of times before I gave him a quick kiss, told him I loved him, and left. He cried briefly, but Ms. Jenni had him sit down to work with play dough and he calmed down pretty quickly.

On Thursday, he marched into preschool like he owned the place. He let me hang up his backpack, he went straight to Ms. Jenni and didn't look back. It is bittersweet, but he needs this time in a classroom setting and it will give me some extra time, one-on-one with Jack for homeschool.

I know that he will love his time at preschool. It is just all new to him. I can already see his language improving, and the notes home say he is doing great and that he already knows how to sit for circle time – time at church has certainly helped train him in this arena.

When Isaac is not at preschool, he is participating in homeschool with Jack. That has posed some challenges as he realizes that my focus is longer solely on him.

Isaac enjoys active learning like baking with his big brother, but is not a fan when Jack and I need to sit down to work on Math or Reading and Writing (Isaac doesn't like when Jack and I sit down to do paperwork. He can do what he wants, but he wants us to be doing what he wants to do). The year is still young and we are still finding our homeschool rhythm!

Here is a little about Isaac at the start of Preschool 2017, 2s Class:

My teachers this year are: Mrs. Jenni, Mrs. Kathy and Mrs. Velvet

I am: 2 years old.

I am: 33.5 inches tall and weigh 30 pounds.

My best friend's name is: I'm pretty sure he thinks Jack is his best friend. He also likes playing with Quinn at the Y and on play dates.

My favorite thing to play is: Anything Jack is playing with.

My favorite book is: Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (He has parts memorized and we read it every night at bedtime)

My favorite TV show is: not interested in TV

My favorite food is: Spaghetti

Something I really like: Trucks, Bikes and Boats

Something I don't like: Sleeping in my own bed by myself. (Every night he wakes up and tries to sneak into Jack's room, waking everyone in the process).

My favorite word/phrase is: Uh-oh.

Even with the tears and general exhaustion from school days, I think the school year is off to a great start. We hope this year is a blessing to him and that our little rainbow baby brings the same joy to his teachers and classmates that he has brought to our family.

Start of Kindergarten and our Homeschool Journey, 2017

Jack Jack. My sweet, strong, funny first born is starting his formal education. With our family vacation right at the end of summer, our first day of school snuck up on me.

We actually did a soft start the week after vacation and before school officially started, but to be honest our first official day didn't go as I hoped. Hopefully Jack will forget the awkwardness of a mommy who has no idea what she is doing.

I shared the following on Instagram about our first day of Homeschool Kindergarten:

"We got off to a rough start with our upstairs A/C flooding and leaking through the ceiling in Isaac's room last night which meant a late bedtime for the kids followed by Isaac waking me and Jack at 2:30am. Isaac was awake for two hours so we had a lot of tears (his) and frustration (me). Jack had a really good day, even if we didn't get to everything."

My blog is way behind (we are actually two weeks into school now) but better late than never! I have a ton to share – about our fantastic summer, about life in general, and updates on homeschool. Hopefully I will get my act together and start posting regularly again (for my own benefit as much as anyone elses!).


Morning Time includes the Pledge of Allegiance, Weather, Calendar, Feelings, a Bible verse or story, and a Poem.

Here is a little about Jack at the start of Kindergarten 2017:

My teacher this year is: I forgot. I mean, you.

I am: Five-and-a-half

I am: 45 inches tall and weigh 45 pounds

My best friend's name is: The friend I love the most is Carter. Also Audrey, Charlotte, Sammy, Annabelle, and Wyatt.

My favorite thing to play is: Probably Ninjas

My favorite color is: Green

My favorite book is: Otis and the Tornado

My favorite TV show is: Voltron, Slugterra and Battle Blades

My favorite food is: Cheese Pizza

When I grow up, I want to be: I don't know... different jobs... I want to be a policeman, fireman, builder.

Something I really like: Watch TV. Ride my bike. 

Something I don't like: When Isaac wakes me up in the morning (Isaac is currently waking up everyone at 6am) 

My favorite thing about myself is: Having strong muscles. 

Something I want to do this year: Make my treehouse.

Try, Try Again from the Children's Book of Virtues was the first poem we memorized this year.

A Look Back:
Start of Preschool 2014, 2s Class
Start of Preschool 2015, 3s Class
Start of Preschool 2016, 4s Class

Start of Preschool 2016, Jack's 4s Class

Yesterday Jack started his last year of preschool. This mama was ready for him to go back, but I am also a little sad that this is his last year at preschool. We have been so blessed by the teachers and friends we have made here.

When I picked him up, I asked, "Did you have a good day?" 

And he said... "No."

Not what I was expecting. It turns out, he did have a great day, but he got a stomach ache at lunch. By the time I got him home, he had a low-grade fever. Poor guy.

Did I mention that I had walked to pick him up and he felt all puny. Thankfully a good family friend was able to take him home, while I jogged the half mile home with Isaac. Not exactly how we expected to kick off our school year.

Evidently strep is going around our little community. I had Jack checked today and it seems that he just had a fluke 24-hour bug. Tummy ache and fever. Check. He was negative for strep so he can resume school tomorrow.

The last few weeks have been hard. The week before our vacation, Isaac had a case of roseola. Vacation was a much needed break, and then this week Isaac developed hand, foot and mouth. Poor guy is getting hammered with these early childhood illnesses and this mama is tired from being stuck at home. Hopefully the HFM will clear up soon and we can resume life as normal. I am thankful that Jack already had both roseola and HFM, I'm praying Isaac doesn't pick up whatever bug Jack just had and that this school year is a good one and relatively sickness free!
  

 
Here is a little about Jack at the start of Preschool 2016, 4s Class:

My teachers this year are: Mrs. Shelby and Mrs. Sarah

I am: 4.5 years old

I am: 42.5 inches tall and weigh 40 pounds.

My best friend's name is: Sully and Wyatt, also Drew and Theo and Audrey. All the friends are my best friends.

My favorite thing to play is: Playing on the big playground. I mean snorkeling. The Pumpkin Patch, but we don't do it every day.

My favorite color is: Green

My favorite book is: Robot Zot

My favorite TV show is: Noodle McDoodle

My favorite food is: Pizza. Burrito. Spaghetti.

When I grow up, I want to be: Leonardo, the Ninja Turtle.

Something I really like: Snorkeling

Something I don't like: People taking my toys.

My favorite thing about myself is: My Hands. Cause I can use them to pick stuff up.

Something I want to do this year: I can't wait to start school.

A Look Back:
Start of Preschool 2014, 2s Class
Start of Preschool 2015, 3s Class

Start of Preschool 2015, 3s Class

Last year, as I walked Jack to his first day of preschool, I had a big lump in my throat. It would be our first time apart for any appreciable amount of time during the day. I held back tears as he made this first transition of many that will prepare him for adulthood. My little social boy didn't bat an eye as he marched into his class with new friends and new teachers.

This year was a little different. We barely had time for a photo as I herded my sweet boy out the door and quickly buckled him and his little brother into the car. On the drive to school, we talked about the importance of not having a potty accident at school, and then in a flurry, I dropped him with a new teacher and new friends. I don't even think he stopped to hug me goodbye.

What a difference a year makes.

A month later, we are in less of a hurry. I am learning from my more experienced mom friends and packing lunches the night before, while also making a more concerted effort to not be late every.single.day. Jack is also taking a moment to pause and give me a hug and kiss before he runs off. Each morning at drop off, he also tells me that he will miss me. I love my sweet boy who is growing up too fast!

Here is a little about Jack at the start of Preschool 2015, 3s Class: 
(questions asked after one month of school, because I'm behind)

My teachers this year are: Mrs. Lisa and Mrs. Melinda.

I am: 3.5 years old.

I am: 40 inches tall and weigh 37 pounds.

My best friend's name is: Drew [I would be remiss to not include Audrey, Anya, Sammy and Roan, but he specifically said Drew when I asked]

My favorite thing to play is: Everything

My favorite color is: Every Color

My favorite book is: Madeline

My favorite TV show is: Rescue Bots

My favorite food is: Pizza

When I grow up, I want to be: A Fire Fighter Man

Something I really like: Playing with Drew at school

Something I don't like: Eating Food

My favorite thing about myself is: My Legs

Something I want to do this year: Go to Pumpkin Patch, the Fire House, Preschool and the Beach House.

A Look Back: Start of Preschool 2014, 2s Class

Jack's First Day of Preschool

Monday morning we woke to a wet, foggy day. I set my alarm to make sure we wouldn't oversleep and Jack wanted to know why it was so dark outside.

We hadn't talked a whole lot about preschool, just here and there – like when we drove by the school, but Jack was still excited. I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and we made pancakes together. Then he dressed himself, it was even appropriate to wear his rain boots since it was raining.

Our little guy is very independent (when we went to preschool orientation, Jack ran in to play and never looked back), so I expected the first day of preschool to be easy. And it was. 

I must admit that I got a little teary-eyed walking him in, but as soon as we were inside I was distracted by the dropoff. Actually I was distracted by all of the crying kids. Jack did not cry, he just ran in to play and I had to ask him to come back for a hug and then I left.

To treat myself to my first morning of freedom I went to the Olive Bean cafe for a latte. At pickup, Jack was a happy camper. He didn't want to leave because he was too busy playing. 

Day 2 of preschool went pretty much the same way (except it had stopped raining). I think Jack will love preschool. I have mixed feelings about how much he will actually learn since he is almost 3 and stuck in the 2 class because he has a November birthday, but I think he will have lots of fun and I will have a bit more time to get projects done.

Another thing we took care of this week was getting Jack a much overdue haircut. He was starting to look pretty shaggy. I kind of like him with longer hair, but it was getting in his eyes.

I think this is about the 6th haircut he has had and it was the best experience so far. We have been choosing to drive to Pigtails and Crewcuts in East Brainerd because they have toys to play with while you wait, the staff is professional and fast, and the kids get to pick to sit in an airplane, police car or firetruck.

This was a very successful week for Jack – preschool and a haircut with no tears invovled.