One Show Only

Somehow, despite being mostly mute for his evaluation to confirm he was "typically-abled", Timmy earned a spot in the new integrated pre-school program at our elementary school this year. Katie started in this program as a 3yo for speech delay and I was eager to get Tim into such a well-structured program. When we found out they would allow kids without delays or special needs to enroll this year, I was ecstatic.

It sounds like he's already making a name for himself. Although, I had to laugh when the head teacher (like an assistant principal) told me a few weeks into school, that yes, she knew my youngest had started in pre-k this year. She knew Katie as a preschooler and has been extremely helpful to our family over the years. She told me, "Oh, I saw him get off the bus the first day and instantly recognized that face. I knew he must be a Bouf."

But that face is where the similarities end. Timmy is the opposite of Katie in so many ways. He's naturally athletic (with speed and coordination). He's also naturally shy and quiet in new situations. He takes a while to warm up to new people, but once he does he's loyal and loves to play with his friends. He's quiet about what he knows, often just telling us, "Ahh, I don't know". Even though he does. He carries a tune well and loves to parrot back every commercial and one-liner he hears on tv, but refuses to perform on command. All of a sudden he turns into Mr. Bashful.

But he's been loving school. And lately when I ask him what sound a letter makes, instead of getting the canned "I don't know" response, I get the exaggerated sound, complete with body animation. So today, I just so happened to have written an e-mail to his teacher. I told her how amazed I am with how much he has learned in just one month of school and how excited he is to share things with us. (I also had to ask if Thor's hammer would be considered a "weapon" per the Halloween parade no weapon ban. And yes it is; so is Wolverine's costume.)

Maybe she enjoyed the e-mail and told Timmy to give his mom a break tonight and just sing the alligator song for her. Because, not only did he sing the alligator song he's been talking about since the beginning of September...but he was enthusiastic about me recording it. I'll get him there...he's already telling me he'd rather go to NYC to see Wicked (since I told him we can't see Jack in Newsies AGAIN) instead of his much requested Disney vacation. He belts out Defying Gravity, Just One Day, King of New York or Santa Fe, depending on the CD playing at the moment, on almost every car ride. Good luck getting him to sing them for you. But for one show only...here's the alligator song!!!

Read more...

New Beginnings

Last Tuesday was the day, the day that Katie looked forward to all summer! In all of her excitement, she forgot to throw a fit over her clothes and jumped on the "wants to look pretty for her teacher" bandwagon. I even got her to wear the shoes I had picked out...for 5 minutes. At least before she changed them I snapped a few pictures. Later in the evening she had her first dance/gymnastics class of the season so many of her school day poses consist of her attempting a ballet or gymnastics position.

Since she is in the afternoon session this year, we were ready many minutes early. She picked how she wanted to wear her hair and was very enthusiastic to wear ALL of the new barrettes I had bought.

We finally moved the party outside. The bus pickup time was 12:50, but an eager Katie cajoled me outside at 12:35. Comfortably changed into her old sneaker Mary Janes (which incidentally I'm not sure HOW they can be comfy since they are size 11 and she is now wearing 12 1/2W), she wanted many pictures with her new Tinkerbell backpack.

And we waited and we waited. Things got a little silly. We took walks back and forth on the sidewalk around our house to calm a getting sleepy Timmy. Demands for more pictures were followed by interesting poses a la the Karate Kid - although I believe Katie was pretending to be posing on a balance beam.

And then, FINALLY, at 1:30 (yes, really) the bus finally arrived. Katie didn't care that class was supposed to have begun a half hour ago; she was ready, without a glance back at mom. Of course I had to shriek for her to stop and turn around for a picture. I didn't care that the bus was 40 minutes late already.

Katie had a few suprises for me when she came home that day. She was in a NEW classroom, with new toys and new books. I wondered why they had moved rooms. I had been told at my June IEP meeting that she would be in the exact same class, with the same teacher and the same kids - just switching from morning to afternoon. After questioning Katie and a frantic call to her new teacher I got a call back the following day. I found out that there were too many children in the afternoon session and that they had created a new class. They put the kids new to the program in this class and then rounded it out by taking one or two children from each of the other classes. So Katie was moved. I was very very sad for her because I had been telling her all summer about going back in to see Miss N and even more exciting for her, seeing all of her classmates that she has become such friends with. I am furious that I wasn't imformed of the change before class started. Suprisingly though, Katie didn't seem to mind at all. Her one friend from her old class also moved with her and that was very exciting to her. Possibly too exciting. I haven't received any notes home, but Katie has been telling me stories that lead me to believe that the two girls are getting into a little bit of trouble together.

I'm not sure that arguing the switch would make any difference anyway, but since Katie seems happy I will see how it goes. I think she thinks she got a new teacher because she is in a class for bigger kids now - so that makes her happy. It is definately nicer that she will be gettting to know even more kids. Her old group would have been broken up for kindergarten next year anyway so now she may potentially know even more kids next year. I'm a little sad because I enjoyed the birthday parties and class events with her old classmates' moms...but oh yeah, it's not about ME, is it ;)

At first I was also bummed about the switch from morning to afternoon session. I loved that she would get home at 11:30am last year and that we then had the entire day to do whatever we wanted. It was a great time to visit the zoo, which closes at 5pm. Now, she is gone from 12:50 to 3:35. It kind of ruins the day. However, I am loving the casual morning routine: no jumping out of bed to get her fed, dressed, and on the bus; no first thing in the morning battles over clothes.

Tonight is back to school night and I am very excited to meet her new teacher and see her new classroom. I'm also eager to hear what she's been doing and how she's been behaving. Hmm, it's almost like it's MY first day of school.

Although I was oddly emotional to have the school year begin again, the time to myself (yay, school coincides with at least part of Tim's afternoon nap), Katie's excitement, and looking forward to some "mom" time tonight Makes My Monday.

Read more...