The last month of preschool, Jack kept talking about how his class was going to have a pool party to celebrate the end of school. Jack is really good about telling the truth, but this felt like such a strange claim, that I didn't quite believe him.
He kept telling me the same story for weeks, even though I had no confirmation from the school. I checked with friends parents and everyone was getting the same story, but still no invite to said pool party.
The last week of school, I tried to prep Jack for the fact that this pool party probably wasn't going to happen. We had the year end party at a local park and I finally had a chance to bring it up with his teachers.
The corroborated the story, half apologizing since one of the teachers had built a new house with a pool and had hoped for the pool to be ready for the end of school. But she again promised the kids would have a party some time that summer, as soon as the pool was ready.
Summer passed and still no party. Jack would talk about it periodically and I tried my best to prepare him for the fact that it might not happen and sometimes we have to experience disappointment in life.
School started, still no pool party. Then mid September a group text went out. The party was on. Nevermind that it was 50-something degrees the morning of the party. (This was the weekend of Hurricane Irma, and our cousins were staying with us from Florida!).
We went to football that morning bundled up, but Ms. Shelby said her pool was heated, so we went to the party after lunch.
Thankfully the sun warmed everything up (I was still in a sweater). It was fun getting together with his preschool class one last time. Everyone had moved on to either pre-K, one of the two public schools on the mountain for kindergarten, or homeschool.
The kids had a blast and didn't seem to mind that the party was several months late! I was impressed that Jack was able to jump off the diving board and slide down the slide (after he worked up the courage) without a life jacket.
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.
Preschool is over. How can that be? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was dropping our floppy-haired boy off in Ms. Kathy's 2s class? Restraining tears and concerns about the days he would be away from me?
And now that season is complete. If I'm being honest, it takes my breath away.
First
day of preschool (for the last time). Jack is starting the 4s class
today. I'm so ready for school to start but drop off still made me a
little sad. Isaac is yelling "Da" his word for Jack. I think he may miss
him the most. #firstdayofschool#jackjack#lifewithapreschooler#mohaus2016
When Jack first started preschool, I worried that he wasn't learning enough. The things they were learning were things he already knew. I worried that it was a waste. But I was wrong.
Friends convinced me to relax into this time. To allow him to learn new things through play, and to just enjoy being little. Maybe they weren't book things, but they were still important things.
Over the last three years, my thinking has changed. Jack still learned a ton. Some from school, a lot from us. I gained confidence in what he was learning at home and felt a pull in a new direction as I realized that teaching him is something we do naturally, and will continue to do whether he is in a school environment or at home like we plan for kindergarten.
Preschool has served a great purpose for us. It gave me time to breathe through these early years of motherhood, it helped me ease into life with two kids, and it provided a place for Jack to make several really good friends.
It warms my heart to look back at photos from those early years and see what those friendships have turned into, even at the tender age of five. I look forward to watching these friendships blossom further.
Jack was so blessed by his year in Ms. Shelby and Ms. Sarah's class.
He went in knowing all of his classmates, many had been in previous
classes with him. He enjoyed the layed back approach of being there
three times a week.
He will always say that his favorite thing about preschool was play
bunch, but I know he especially loved the building centers, time spent
with friends, and all of the special days that preschool provides.
The 4s Classes at Jack's preschool enjoyed several special experiences, as seen throughout this post. Including the Teddy Bear Picnic and Parade, Daddy's Night, a Halloween Party, birthday's celebrated at school, a Thanksgiving Feast, a
Christmas party, a field trip to the Post Office, a Valentine's party,
Easter party, Mommy's Night, a Spring Music Program, a special Chapel about Zaccheus, and finally
their special Moving Up ceremony and end of year party.
All of this,
and so much more, packed into one fantastic year.
Today
is his last full day of preschool. I can't believe this phase is
already coming to a close. Tomorrow is his moving up ceremony and class
party. 😭😭😭#lifewithapreschooler#jackjack#mohaus2017
A glimpse at Jack's 2016-17 school year in the three-day 4-year-old's class with Ms. Shelby and Ms. Sarah.
And just like that. Three years is over. Preschool graduation is done. Jack has officially moved up. He's bigger, older, wiser. We are so proud of him and looking forward to the future, even if we are sad that this phase is already complete.
Adventurous, bright, industrious and independent. #jackjack #preschoolgraduation
I'm bigger now, take a look at me. I learned my colors and my ABCs. I'm wiser now, take a look at me... Kindergarten here I come! #jackjack #preschoolgraduation
