Kindergarten

Summer has now started her sixth week of Kindergarten. She's attending CCS (Continuous Curriculum School), and she goes full day: 7:45 to 2:15. Since the school bus would pick her up at about 6:30 in the morning, we opted to drive her. On Tuesdays through Fridays, Rhett gives her a ride, then he catches the bus to downtown where his office is. On Mondays, since it's late start at 9:15, I give her a ride. 

It's a good thing Rhett gives her a ride the majority of the time because when I take her, I still get a little emotional watching her place her backpack against the kindergarten wall, and then run off to the playground. 

As we drive away, Claire will say she misses Summer, or Pyper will say, "Want Nummer." It's pretty cute.

First day of Kindergarten

Kindergarten has been soooo good for Summer. Most of the other children her age here in Liberty Lake  go to the "Kindergarten Center." But that was only half day kindergarten, and I really felt Summer would do better at a full day school. When I picked her up from school on that first day, she said, "But mom! I thought it was all day kindergarten!" I told her "all day" meant until after lunch time, not right before bed time. 

One special memory for me was also on the first day of school when she came home. There was a different air about her. And every time she looked at me, or talked to me, there was like this feeling of, "Hey, mom. We're good, you and I. You trust me to go off to Kindergarten. And that's cool." 

I love hearing her stories about the things they are doing--whether it's PE day, library day, computer day, or music day. Or who's eating hot lunches and what the other kids are bringing for cold lunch. Or what letter they learned that day, or who got the golden ticket for the treasure box. It's been fun to watch her have ownership of her experiences, and to have them independently from her sisters. 

And since Claire and Pyper have started their preschools, our schedules are crazy, but worth it. Summer goes early in the morning, which gives Claire and I some one-on-one time while the younger two sleep, and then Claire and Pyper go to school at 12:15. Basil and I have one-on-one until I pick Summer up at 2:15, and then Summer and I get some time together until we pick Pyper and Claire up at 3:30. So it's a full day, but it's been good to get to spend some individual time with the girls.

It's a little bit scary sending her off to school, to be surrounded by the influences of the world. Of course, the first day was hard. We watched her line up with her class and follow their teacher into the classroom. And of course, we shed some tears, wondering if we'd done all we could to prepare her to enter the "world." But it's helped me realize just how important it is to teach our kids in the home the important things we want instilled in them, and to not leave it up to school. Summer will be influenced at school, but she will also be influencing others. I hope we've given her a good foundation for that.

Agreeing

At a loss for what to do when the girls fight over something, I decided to make them work on their negotiation skills.

I've done it a few times before, like when they would fight over who got the first drink of water at bedtime. I made them discuss it with each other and decide who would get it, or they would have to go without. They talked about it, and, with the coaxing of Summer, Claire decided to let her go first. That's how it usually ends.

This morning at breakfast, Summer and Claire were both fighting over the yellow chair. I told them to discuss it. Their fighting voices quieted as they tried to work it out.

It was fun to hear their reasonings ("But I need it." or "But it's my favorite chair.") and the ideas they were coming up with. But they still couldn't decide who would get it for the immediate meal.

"Claire, let's do a pattern. Me, then you, then me, then you."

"Okay. But I'm first."

"No, I'm first. Or I get it two times in a row."

"No!"

Every few minutes, I'd check back with them: "Are all in agreement on who gets the yellow chair?"

"Yes."

"Then, Claire, who gets it?"

"Me."

"And Summer, who gets it?"

"Me."

"Okay, keep discussing."

The "discussing" went a little long this morning, and Rhett and I were getting a little impatient. There was a threat of no one getting the yellow chair at all, but then I wanted to see if they were going to work it out so we rescinded.

Finally, I asked again, "Girls, are you in agreement of who gets the yellow chair?"

"Yes."

"Claire, who gets the yellow chair for breakfast?"

"Me."

"And Summer, who gets the yellow chair this morning?"

Summer paused. Her lip quivered. Quietly, she said, "Claire." Then she burst into tears. "But I do not agree! And I do not like it!"

I held her while she cried, and I told her I was proud of her giving up something she wanted so much so her sister could have it.

The meal is done, and it's forgotten, but I'm still feeling proud of how Summer let Claire have it.

Max

S: "There's a new boy in our class. His name is Max."
C: "Hey! There's a monkey named Max! In our game at home!"
S: "No. Max goes to school and he is not a monkey."

Silence.

S: "So what game is Max in at home?"
C: "Oh, I just made it up."