Backlogged

Right before we left on vacation, Addie graduated from preschool.  Maybe it's because I am not pregnant like last year, maybe because it's I have realized that she is a big girl, maybe it's because the person running the graduation was completely void of emotion, but this year I did not get choked up.  Not when they played Pomp and Circumstance, not when she proudly marched down the aisle, not when she sang her song about Moms and Dads, and not when she proudly got her diploma.

Addie requested to wear her fanciest dress, the yellow one with the white polka dots.  She was excited to wear her yellow flats and begged to have her hair curled.  

She was up early, dressed and ready to go.  With the extra time we headed to Servatii's for a celebratory zebra donut to mark the occasion.

Now, a few weeks removed, I can't help but get a little misty.  At the end of this summer it's kindergarten and the yellow school bus and new friends.  And then after that....well, I can't quite think about all that yet.

12 Step Mornings

Step One:  Morning sweetie.  Did you sleep good last night?  What?  The pillow stealing monkies were in your room again?  Sure you can sit with me.  Let me see the weather - okay, one more minute and you can have a cartoon.  One cartoon today - we have to get ready for school.  What?  Yes I'll pause it while you go potty.  Babe please go back and flush and turn off the light.  Yes you can still sit with me - when this cartoon is over we need to have breakfast.

Step Two:  Don't forget to give Daddy his hugs and kisses.  Yes, I'll pause your cartoon.  Sure you can help Daddy out - don't forget shoes!  Okay, kiddo close the door.  Yep, he's gone.  I don't know why he didn't stop at the stop sign, ask him when he gets home.  Seriously, kiddo, close the door, it's almost time for breakfast.

Step Three:  Eat your breakfast.  No, babe please don't feed it to the cat, you need to eat your waffle.  Addie are you done yet?  Come on, you can finish one waffle.  Did you just dip your marker in your milk??  No, Addie, that's gross. No, milk does not taste better when it's purple.  Okay, two more bites and put your dishes in the sink.

Step Four:  Get dressed.  Really it's time to get dressed.  Please go upstairs and change - your pjs go on their hook and your dirty undies go in the dirty clothes bin.  Addie!  Upstairs now please, stop trying to pick up the cat.  The cat is FINE - clean. clothes. now.

Step Five:  Are those undies clean?  Good.  Why are your dirty undies and pjs on the floor.  Come on, kiddo, let's go.  Pjs on the hook and undies in the dirty clothes bin.  While you're at it can you please pick your clothes up off the floor from last night?  Our dirty clothes always go in the orange bin or down the laundry chute.  Yes, everytime.

Step Six:  What do you think is next?  Well what do we do every morning?  Right - brush your teeth. Yes, I'll help you with the toothpaste.  I don't know where your Ariel toothbrush is - just use your SnowWhite one.  SnowWhite if fine, Addie.  No, Ariel does not get your teeth cleaner.  Oh MY GOSH, just start brushing.  Up and down, front and back.  Okay, rinse and spit.  Wipe your face off too, please.  Addie!  Why is your toothbrush on the stairs?  Please put it where it belongs.

Step Seven:  Have you brushed your hair?  You did?  Good job, but I think we missed some spots, can I help? Do you want braids, pigtails or a headband this morning?  Pigtails?  Okay - SORRY sweetie, it's really tangled.  Pigtails done - you want what?  A bow in front for decoration?  Okay.

Step Eight:  Time to make your bed.  No, I made it for you yesterday, you can do it today. Okay, I'll help, but really you can do it on your own.  What do we do first?  No - we need to pull up the sheet and then the cover.  Okay, good job.  Put all the pillows up - yes you can add as many of your stuffed friends as you want.  I think 10 is more than enough - okay.  Yep, it looks beautiful.

Step Nine:  Do you have any other jobs that you should get done?  No?  There's nothing else you need to do each morning?  Can you hear the cat meowing?  Do you think there might be a reason?  Oh yeah, she needs to be fed.  Thank you.  Sweetie, only measure to the line on the cup - she doesn't need a full bowl.  Addie, please don't add food to her water, that's gross!

Step Ten:  Okay, what do you need for school?  Do you have your coat?  Your bag?  I think they are on the hook or whereever you left them last.  Did you check your school bag - do you have the things you need?  Lunch?  Message bag?  Great, I think you're ready.

Step Eleven:  Okay let's head to the car (or carpool).  Yes you need your coat and bag.  Okay, that's enough cat kisses, let's go.  Hop up kiddo - you can buckle.  No, Addie, this is not the time to get out your markers, please get buckled.  Alright kiddo - have great day at school.  What?  No I don't think we can have a friend come over today.  Hmmmm?  Because, babe, we have things to do.  Okay, maybe next time.  You have a great day too, I love you!

Step Twelve:  Collapse into chair with bowl of cereal and decafe coffe. The day has just begun.

School Days

Last week I was the parent helper at preschool.  This job is one part heaven and one part sheer hell.  It's heaven, because I get to get a peek at what Addie is learning and spy on her playing with others.  She doesn't pay me a ton of extra attention while I am there and I feel like I get to be a fly on the wall watching her play, learn, problem solve and just be herself. 

It's a little bit of hell because a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds know the routine better than I do.  There also is inevtiably a child with mucus or tears or both cascading down their face, and that child always wants to hold my hand. Everything in a preschool, including the toilets, are very low to the ground - which, come on, is pure hell on any seven month pregnant lady.   Not to mention I sometimes struggling playing pretend with my own kid, let alone eleven other kids (who may or may not be covered in mucus).

However, being helper also lets me be a bit more thankful for my sweet daughter.  It's no secret that sometimes she pushes my buttons or that she knows exactly where to stand to be on my last nerve.   Sometimes I am convinced that she suffers from a hearing loss that blocks out the very sound of voice.  But being at school lets me see that my parenting is paying off - she shares, she takes turns, she asks good question and she listens, very well, to her teacher.  Being helper also let me see some other kids in action - which always makes me thankful for the kid I have.

On Addie's first day of school I asked her to learn the name of one new kid in her class (only two of her friends from last year are in this year's class).  When I picked her up from school she told me her new friend was __________ and that he was a boy.  I discovered last week that she may not have learned ________'s name by befriending him.  She may have simply learned it from hearing his name said over and over and over again.  Turns out __________ does not have listening ears.

Today I am not helper.  I am not even the driver.  Today I have a little over three hours all to myself.  I plan on doing exciting things like vacuuming and laundry.  I may run to Home Depot to buy paint for the littlest lady's room and get a mini blind cut to size.  I know - it's exciting stuff.  But at least I can do all these mundane errands and chores knowing that Miss Addie will be learning and engaging and listening - and, hopefully, not being that kid.  With any luck, she'll leave that up to __________.

Back to School

She told me she would listen to her teacher.

And eat her healthy food for lunch first.

She said she'd learn one new name.

And use her best manners.








She told me she couldn't wait to be a Frog.

And was so excited to ride to school with her best bud, Nicholas.

She told me she wouldn't miss me, but hoped I had a good day without her.

At least this time she turned around to say goodbye instead of just marching off through the doors to big girl school.

Meet the Teacher

Yesterday we went to Meet the Teacher at school.  Addie has moved from Miss Sue's Ducks class to Miss Cathy's Frogs class.  Addie loved school last year - loved Miss Sue and loved being a duck.  I was a little nervous that she may be apprehensive about the change of classroom and a new teacher - how silly of me.  On the way to school yesterday she declared that she already "loved Miss Cathy" and that she was so excited to be a frog - RIBBIT!   (Yes, she ribbited the entire way to school).

She had no problem walking right into her new classroom, introducing herself and giving Miss Cathy a lovely drawing that she made during breakfast.

 We dove right into the class scavenger hunt - locating the calendar, the helper board and where the toys are.  She quickly found a froggy print out with her name on it and went on to decorate it.  She declared, on her worksheet, that her favorite color is pink, but proudly made her frog rainbow colored.

Once her coloring was done Miss Cathy hung Addie's frog on the classroom door.  Addie very proudly and very excitedly showed me her masterpiece.  She was so comfortable.  So confident.  So totally at ease in her polka dot and stripes displaying her colorful frog.

And yet again, I was momentarily sobered at the realization that she is growing so fast.  My mind raced: school three days a week this year and then on the bus and off to kindergarten next year.  She is tall and self assured and brave - willing to try anything.  It never crosses her mind to be nervous in a new situation, instead she flings herself into the middle of the action.  Soon she'll be a big sister, and maybe not want to snuggle on my lap or hold my hand just to hold.  I got a little misty eyed - and then I saw this picture:

Turns out now matter how very big she seems to me, she is still, really, just a little girl.   Thank heavens.

Preschool Review

As I am sure you guessed - she loved big girl school. She loved the Sensory Center (the water table). She loved the Pretend Center (dress up and tea parties). She loved the creative center (paints and markers). She loved Story Time and Sharing Time and Miss Sue's earrings and her heart shaped peanut butter sandwich.
She told me about the big girl potty and the water fountain and playing outside. She said she made new friends, but she doesn't know any of their names. She said she loved her school bag and her hook and the story about the little owl. She said she thought big girl school was super cool.

And then she said, as she gripped my hand, on our way to the car : Mama? I cried a little bit. I cried on the climbing wall when I got stuck. Miss Sue helped me and I was okay.

And Mama? I cried a little bit in the duck room too. I cried because I missed you Mama.

The first scenario I believe completely.

The second scenario I think was total a lie - not that I didn't appreciate it.

Big Girl School

This morning:

7:15 a.m. Mama! The sun's awake, it's time to get going! I got my big girl school today!!

7:21 a.m. Mom? Is it time to go yet? I'm ready to rumble! I can't waita my big girl school.

7:49 a.m. Mom! Mom! I want a waffle - but don't forget my peanut butter sandwhich. I want it shaped like a heart and I wanta keep it in my princess lunch box and I wanta eat it at big girl school.

8:39 a.m. Mmmm. Mmmmm. Mom? I think I wanta wear my purple leggins. Yeah. Purple. NO! No, I wanta my pink leggins Mama. Pink leggins be perfect for big girl school.

8:51 a.m. Mom?! Let's go outside and get some pictures. I no stand in the sun and I smile at the camera for big girl school. I bring my school bag and lunch box to take pictures?

9:12 a.m. Mom? It's timeta go to my big girl school. It finally time. You ready to rumble, Mama?

In the car:

9:16 a.m. Mama? This the way to my big girl school? Miss Sue be there? She wears duckie earrings.

9:18 a.m. Mom you no stay with me at big girl school, right? I go all by myself? You not going to be there, right?

9:22 a.m. Mommy? Are we almost there yet? Almost to my big girl school?

9:25 a.m. I use my manners today. I play with new friends and use the potty and drink from the water foutain and I agonna listen, Mama.

9:28 a.m. Mom why we waiting in this line? Is this the line to go into school? I go in all by myself right? You no stay, I do it by myself.

9:31 a.m. Bye Mom! I see you soon! Love you! Bye Mom!!

9:32 a.m. Away she walks. Tote bag over one shoulder, almost as big as her. I watched her in the mirror as I drove out of the parking lot. Off she walked toward class, and then she paused for a second, looked over her shoulder, found me, shrugged, waved and marched off to school. Without a second thought.

And then, at 9:33 a.m. I found myself alone and crying. Yet again.

*Catch the cat in the background of the last picture? In every first day of school picture I have, from six years old on, my mutt, Chemo, was faithfully watching through the front door. You know seeing our silly cat do the same struck a cord with me...