Teacher Conferences - Mommy Brag

Yesterday Josiah was off school because they had parent teacher conferences. I went early to talk with his teacher about how he was doing in his 3yo/4yo pre-school class and what we were going to do with him next year. His class is a combined 3 and 4 yo class so he will be in the same class for next year.
Josiah's teacher says he is very bright and has far exceded the work that he was required to do for the year. In fact, she said that he is far above many of the 4 year olds in her class getting ready for Kindergarten. She said that he is ready for Kindergarten, but is not allowed to be promoted because of his age. I was thankful for that since I don't think he is ready emotionally. We talked about how he is reading short basic stories at home on a fun website we found (thanks Jan). I also told her how he knows how to sound out complex words using the rules: 1. when two vowels go walking the first one does the talking, 2. silent e makes the first vowel say it's name and 3. the sh, ch and th sounds. She was shocked since he has not let on at school that he can do these things.
The plan for next year is to work more on reading and math with him and to send him to one of the kindergarten classes for a few hours a week. I think that is a good plan.

During quiet rest time yesterday Josiah came busting out of his room and said, "Hey, Mom come look what I did in my room!" Now for those of you that read often are probably thinking oh no what did he do now as was I. Josiah cleaned his whole room up all by himself, without being asked. Wow! what a nice surprise. He then said to me, "Mom, do you think you could lay with me a while? I'm tired and I need to sleep!" Another shock to my system. Of course, I said yes. He fell asleep right away. Boy was the day turning out to be a major praise for Josiah day.

I woke him up from his nap to get ready for a fun evening. We went to All About Kids to watch Josiah's friend Chad do Tae Kwon Do. After Chads class, Josiah got to do a trial class to see if this would be something he would like. He was scared and didn't want to go into the room. I went in with him and sat on the floor in the back for a few minutes. He had so much fun that he wants to go back today. We are still deciding if we are going to sign him up or let him play soccer instead. Any comments/suggestions on this would be appreciated.
I forgot to take my camera, but I will get copies of pictures from Chad's mom, Tamara, and post them later.

2 Weeks of School and Life is Great

Josiah has been in school 2 weeks now and boy, so many things have changed in that short of a time. We started with Mommy dropping him off in the classroom and him crying when I left. The second week we did the car pool line thing and his teacher got him out of the car.

Day one of car pool line Josiah was sobbing before we left the house. He cried all the way to school and was still crying when I pulled off. I picked him up at school that day and asked how his day was. He said, "That was fun, Mommy!" Next day he cried a little in the car. Third day nothing. Thursday that week (last day of school for the week) Josiah looks at me and says, "I am so sorry, Mommy, but I am going to have to say goodbye now." He gave me a kiss and jumped out the car. On Tuesday (Labor day) we began preparing him that he was going to school the next day. He said "I know. School is fun."

I like the change!

Other things that have change: While playing on the playground he will now recruit other kids to play with instead of just watching them.

He will sit for more than 2 seconds and finish an activity.

He helps clean up his toys more when he is told to (I should have sent him to school a long time ago!)

I find myself daily reflecting on the things that he used to need me to do for him and now he wants to do them himself. My little boy is growing up and changing before my eye. In some ways it is sad to see all the changes, but then again how boring life would be if we stayed the same. Soon Josiah will have a brother or a sister to love and to teach. I am afraid of what he will teach them, but positive that he will be a great big brother.

Goodbye green marker - Hello blue toothpaste

Yes this is really true! Can you believe it twice in one week. What is a Mom to do?
Early this morning (5am), Josiah came into the room to see if it was time to wake up yet. We have been trying to instill in him that he should stay in his room until the clock says seven, zero, zero.
Obviously it's not working.
Anyway, I sent him back to bed and told him it is not time to get up yet. He came back in about 3 minutes later and asked if he could get a drink of water in the bathroom and then play in his room. With one eye half open I said yes as long as it was quitely. I then rolled over and went back to sleep. Around 6:30 Greg got up and gave Josiah his milk at which time, as usual, Josiah climbed in bed with me. I rolled over and gave him a hug and put my hand in something very sticky. I jumped out of bed only to find that Josiah had an interesting mohawk held in place with blue toothpaste. I marched him off to the bathroom only to find the toothpaste everywhere along with foamy soap and hand sanitizer. Needless to say his milk had to be set on the counter and I sat him in the bathtub. All the while Josiah asking, "Are you going to spray me down?" He does not like to be showered off. Inside I was saying yes, yes, yes to the showering, but I was too groggy with sleep to even care. I washed him off , put some clothes on him and put him back in my bed with his milk.
At that time Josiah puts his arm around my neck and says, "You know Mommy, even when I am naughty, I still love you!" My heart melted and the day wasn't so bad afterall.
This week I think my life lesson is, it is all in the way you look at it!
I didn't take pctures of the mess this morning because quite honestly I just wasn't awake enough to think of it, so here are some pictures Josiah eating his lunch at Wendy's. We went there after school today.

"I learned Kid stuff"

Day 2 - "Mommy, please don't leave me!"

We started the day with extra hugs in bed again today. Josiah and I had breakfast together and then we got ready for school. He chose the blue shirt today. Apparently his new favorite color is green and he wishes his uniform had green in it. Sorry only red, white or navy! Before heading out the door we took more pictures by Joisah's request. I think he assumes that every school day is also picture day. I don't mind since we have gotten some very cute pictures the last 2 days and he has been cooperative too.

So, off to school we go. When we got there it was the same routine as before: backpack and lunch box in locker and find Josiah's name at a table. He had a new table today with new friends. One of their goals for the first week and 1/2 is to meet new friends. They are also working on the colors red and green for shapes it's a cirlce. Of course my brilliant child already knows these so I think he is concentrating on listening and making friends.
Josiah was a little weepy when I took him into the class today and just didn't want to let me go. I gave him a kiss and told him I would be back later to pick him up. At that the flood gates opened and huge tears rolled down his face. It broke my heart! I knew if I went back it would be all over, so I looked at his teacher and said, "I am going now.' I heard him all the way back down that long hall to the front of the school. While in the moment it was a very difficult thing to do, I knew that he would be OK if I left him and that he would probably be smiling when I picked him up.
12:30 arrived sooner than I had anticipated. It seems my list of things to get done at home is longer than the time I have to do them. Oh, well there's always tomorrow. Back at school at 12:30 to see that Josiah had a change of clothing, but did have the smile on his face. His teacher said that he had a little accident, but that he tried really hard to do the job himself. He made a good effort and I was OK with that. I didn't realise how traumatic that can be for a 3 year old. Josiah was very happy to see me. We gathered his things and as soon as we left the classroom the flood gate opened again. He was sad that he had the accident and wanted me to carry him to comfort him. It was a fairly long way back to the car and he is just too heavy these days to carry that far. I hugged him in the hall way for a long time and then coaxed him back to the car. He cried all the way home. He was a mess. We took off his school shirt since it was a little wet and put a dry shirt on. Some juice and cuddle time and all seemed better with his world. We ate lunch while reading books on the living room floor and then lay down for some quiet rest. He is asleep while I sit here reflecting once again on how amazing my little gift from God is. I love him so much.

My little boy is not so little anymore - First day at School

Today was the BIG day. We got up at our usual time and Josiah got to snuggle with Mommy for a little extra time today. He was so excited to be going to school. He even picked out his clothes to wear without any arguments. I can't believe he picked the red shirt over the blue shirt since anyone that knows Josiah knows that blue has been his favorite color forever. He had an unusual breakfast of chicken nuggets - his choice and then we got dressed and in the car to school. He wanted to carry his Spiderman backpack and his Shreck lunch box all by himself. Again another unusual thing for him. We got to school and I had my hands full and he was carry all his stuff so for the first time in as long as I can remember, I did not hold his hand in the parking lot. Boy, he is so sharp. Almost instantly he says, "I know I'm a big boy now because I don't have to hold your hand in the parking lot, Mommy!" What do you say to that? We stopped outside to take some more pictures and then proceeded to the office to sign in. We were just a little early like every other preschooler starting today so we had to wait until exactly 9:30am before we were allowed to go to the classroom. At 9:30am we all walked down the very long hall to his room. Out side the class was an apple tree with every child's name on an apple.

Josiah's teacher, Ms Knipp met us at the door. She invited everyone to find their names on their new locker and to put their backpacks and lunch boxes away. The kids were then instructed to find the desk that had their names on it and to sit and color while everyone got ready for the day. Josiah was happy to color for just a few minutes and then wanted to explore the room. I told him that he was going to have to listen to his teacher and do what she said. I took a few more pictures and then gave Josiah a big kiss and said I would be back later to get him. I thought he would do really well until right when I was leaving, Ms Knipp told him that it wasn't play time and that he was going to have to sit at his desk. At that he looked at me and said, "Mommy, I dan't want to go to school! I want to go home!" I think the thought of having to listen and obey his teacher hit home and he knew he had had it good at home. On the way out the building the janitor said that I didn't look sad enough to have just left my child. I was free for a couple of hours. don't get me wrong - I love my son and I love spending time with him, but the thought of grocery shopping all by myself was exilerating. Of course I didn't go to the grocery store. Instead I went to visit a friend for an hour and then went home to do the dishes - alone. At 12:30, I went back to the school to pick Josiah up. WhenI got there he was sitting on the mat packing his lunch bag into his backpack. I heard Ms. Knipp say, "Where is Josiah? Oh, he's on the mat doing exactly what I ask him to do!" That was a sweet moment for me.

He ran over to me, gave me a big kiss and said, "Hi Mommy." He told Ms. Knipp thank you and that he was coming back to play tomorrow. He had a grand time in school. Walking out to the car he said he was sad that he didn't get to play on the playground and that tomorrow he was going to ask when could they do that. I told him that was a good idea. We walked hand in hand to the car and came home for lunch. He is now worn out and sleeping in his bed. Praise the Lord for a wonderful day.