Poor Tyler is having a real problem with school so far this year. This morning he told me he did not want to go to school, that he doesn't like school, and that his teacher is really mean (and he said that she even knows she's mean). I just don't know what to do. I am trying to be encouraging and to find out why he thinks she is mean (in case I can explain that she is teasing), but he seems really insistent that school is not for him. I hate that and really want him to like and do well in school. I am going to try to hold out on talking to his teacher until our parent/teacher conference - but that isn't until November. I don't want to coddle him or her to feel like that is what I want, but I also don't want his early school years tainted by a bad experience that could be fixed with just a little explanation that my very literal little man doesn't "get" sarcasm and joking.
The good thing is that he really likes the extracurricular stuff involved with school - he loves his aftercare program, is really excited about being a cub scout (fishing rodeo this weekend), and is enjoying baseball so far, too (no games yet, though - just practice). If we can just get him to be more positive about what he is actually there for, all will be better. Katie seems to like her teacher and is doing pretty well - she hates homework though, which is very reading heavy (or maybe it is just for us - I am not sure if I am supposed to be making her read all of the stories and questions or if I am supposed to read it to her and ask her the questions - but having her read everything takes forever and she gets tired of it after about 30 minutes) and she has started saying that she hates reading and math. Apparently first grade (rather than Kindergarten) is the real testing ground and maybe signs are pointing to them repeating. They are doing okay academically, but maybe they need a repeat year to feel more confident and to have more positive feelings about school and school work. It is early so I of course am not making any big decisions now, but it is something to consider. If we did move, we may put them into first grade upon the move to a new county, but only if that is the best decision for both of them - hopefully things will improve to the point that those kinds of decisions aren't on the radar.
Big weekend planned! Fishing rodeo and scout activities on Saturday for Tyler (Katie gets to go along). He has practice that he will probably miss but he wants to try to go and then go back for more fishing. We are having a little birthday celebration for them on Sunday, will hopefully spend some time at the pool on Monday (last day they are open), and then Tuesday is their actual birthday! I can't believe my little ones are six years old - they, however, want to skip six and just tell everyone they are seven (like a lot of their classmates)!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Open House
We finally had our open house for K & T at school. I was anxious to meet the teachers since Tyler is very disenchanted with his, and Katie's seems a lot stricter based on the homework ("home fun") and graded sheets we have seen sent home. We thought it would be a true open house where we could both go to one class and then the other, but found out when we got there that they each had a presentation to last for most of the hour. So, I went to Katie's class and Lance went to Tyler's. Lance said he could definitely see why Tyler is having trouble warming up to his teacher - she is certainly not as sweet and nurturing as his Kindergarten teachers. Hopefully he will adapt and she will recognize the potential Tyler has despite his tendency to create his own entertainment in lieu of doing "boring" assignments. My primary concern is that he is such a perfectionist and seems so down on himself lately and I don't necessarily think she is the right compliment to that, but we are hoping for the best!
He is begging us to join Cub Scouts (and therefore Katie wants to do Girl Scouts). Between baseball, gymnastics, a ton of homework (already), and things that the adults enjoy like football games and tennis/golf - I have no clue how we will fit another activity in - but I have rarely seen Tyler as excited about anything as he is about the Cub Scouts itinerary, so we are going to let him sign up. When asked why he wanted to do it, Tyler said "fishing, canoeing, hiking, get to make cool cars for this derby thing, and friends." The last one sealed the deal since Tyler does not connect as well as Katie with other kids and doesn't seem to make friends very easily, but his favorite buddy from his class last year was the one telling him all about it and trying to convince him to join, and that makes me want to encourage that friendship and their shared excitement about rockets and caving. Tyler was pulling out all his persuasion techniques so it is obviously something he really wants to do - I will sign him up and I even have Lance on board to take him to the camp-out and help him build his Pinewood Derby car. Katie has a lot more work to do to convince me to let her join Girl Scouts, however - selling cookies is not how I want to spend my time! We will go to the preview thing coming up and in the meantime I will talk to her all about how much more fun gymnastics and tennis and soccer and anything else, are :)!
This weekend we had a first in a long while! On Friday night Lance and I went to a pre-party for a golf tournament he was in and the kids stayed with the grandparents. I am sure they stayed up a little late since they went out to dinner and the next day was jam-packed. We went to Target right after I picked them up (we swung by the toy aisles for them to "look at what they want for their birthday"), went swimming with a friend all day and then had a birthday party for So-So. It was a nice restaurant and the kids were encouraged to act like they did at the one we went to for our anniversary. They were good, and obviously exhausted, but I was very proud of them for not acting up since they were very tired five year-olds who were asked to sit patiently with no coloring books or anything for two hours. They were energized when they got in the car talking about their evening and how much fun they had at the "fancy" restaurant with So-So, but as we were talking and singing we suddenly realized that Tyler was suspiciously quiet - right before Katie decided just to "close her eyes for a minute." We can't get them to fall asleep like that on a school night, of course, but that is just a testament to what a fun day they had and one of the first times in a loooong time that they have fallen asleep in the car!
He is begging us to join Cub Scouts (and therefore Katie wants to do Girl Scouts). Between baseball, gymnastics, a ton of homework (already), and things that the adults enjoy like football games and tennis/golf - I have no clue how we will fit another activity in - but I have rarely seen Tyler as excited about anything as he is about the Cub Scouts itinerary, so we are going to let him sign up. When asked why he wanted to do it, Tyler said "fishing, canoeing, hiking, get to make cool cars for this derby thing, and friends." The last one sealed the deal since Tyler does not connect as well as Katie with other kids and doesn't seem to make friends very easily, but his favorite buddy from his class last year was the one telling him all about it and trying to convince him to join, and that makes me want to encourage that friendship and their shared excitement about rockets and caving. Tyler was pulling out all his persuasion techniques so it is obviously something he really wants to do - I will sign him up and I even have Lance on board to take him to the camp-out and help him build his Pinewood Derby car. Katie has a lot more work to do to convince me to let her join Girl Scouts, however - selling cookies is not how I want to spend my time! We will go to the preview thing coming up and in the meantime I will talk to her all about how much more fun gymnastics and tennis and soccer and anything else, are :)!
This weekend we had a first in a long while! On Friday night Lance and I went to a pre-party for a golf tournament he was in and the kids stayed with the grandparents. I am sure they stayed up a little late since they went out to dinner and the next day was jam-packed. We went to Target right after I picked them up (we swung by the toy aisles for them to "look at what they want for their birthday"), went swimming with a friend all day and then had a birthday party for So-So. It was a nice restaurant and the kids were encouraged to act like they did at the one we went to for our anniversary. They were good, and obviously exhausted, but I was very proud of them for not acting up since they were very tired five year-olds who were asked to sit patiently with no coloring books or anything for two hours. They were energized when they got in the car talking about their evening and how much fun they had at the "fancy" restaurant with So-So, but as we were talking and singing we suddenly realized that Tyler was suspiciously quiet - right before Katie decided just to "close her eyes for a minute." We can't get them to fall asleep like that on a school night, of course, but that is just a testament to what a fun day they had and one of the first times in a loooong time that they have fallen asleep in the car!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Good Times and Rainbows
Today is our anniversary (13 years) and we decided to take the kids with us to our anniversary dinner. It was a bit daunting since we opted to go to a nicer restaurant, but we were pretty confident that the kids could behave and they didn't disappoint! The waiter said that they were some of the most well-behaved children he had ever served, and when we told him we were concerned before deciding to dine there, he said "you can take them anywhere." They were very good and we were able to enjoy a special meal - great celebration! On the way to the restaurant we saw a rainbow and my sweet boy said "God must have made it for your anniversary." He went on to say "so that's why God made it rain today - so he could bless us with a special rainbow." That boy can be super sweet and so insightful, but he can also be incredibly frustrating. He is so analytical about EVERY thing, slow as molasses getting out the door, and he is so easily distracted, that getting used to the school routine again has been kind of torturous.
The school year is going pretty well so far, though, even if we are only two and half days in - ha. The kids seem to like their teachers and have a couple of classmates that they enjoy being with. Tyler is very hesitant about school - his perfectionism is really at an all time high right now - so we will see if the enjoyment lasts even when homework begins. He keeps saying that he wants to go back to kindergarten. When pressed he doesn't really want to, but he is definitely scared that 1st grade will be "too hard." They love Fun Company (the YMCA aftercare) and have so far thought I was too early picking them up everyday (after 5:00). They have been pretty worn out and I love that they get a couple of hours just to play and have fun - we'll see if I have the same attitude about it all when we have homework and projects to complete once we all get home!
We are lucky that the aftercare program is less expensive than the cost of just three days of the sitter last year, but of course the kids are begging to participate in activities that will easily get us back up to paying daycare-like weekly fees. We have relented, though, and Tyler will soon start t-ball/baseball and Katie will be back in gymnastics. Katie really wanted to play soccer, but we just couldn't commit to another Saturday thing this Fall. We will have whatever football games we can manage to make it to, Tyler will have games, I have tennis in the Fall, and there are always random things on weekends once school starts - that means that adding in a soccer game, too, would be crazy since she is equally excited about gymnastics (and those classes happen on weeknights). I think it will be worth the expense - hopefully Tyler likes baseball and I know Katie will like the tumbling class and learning how to do things that will scare me to watch!
The kid's birthday is fast approaching and we still have no plans. We will probably go to Dave & Busters (the kids are obsessed ever since our visit at the beach) with us and whatever family can make it - the kids will initially be disappointed that they aren't having a "party," but once we start bowling and playing games I think they will be fine. Tyler has birthday present requests that are reasonable - Katie on the otherhand wants an American Girl doll (have been trying to hold out until they build the one in Franklin). Luckily, Tyler told her that she should just ask Santa for that and not us - ha! Life is definitely getting busier, but watching them in these activities is fun for us, too and the kids really are just plain fun to be around these days (most of the time)!
The school year is going pretty well so far, though, even if we are only two and half days in - ha. The kids seem to like their teachers and have a couple of classmates that they enjoy being with. Tyler is very hesitant about school - his perfectionism is really at an all time high right now - so we will see if the enjoyment lasts even when homework begins. He keeps saying that he wants to go back to kindergarten. When pressed he doesn't really want to, but he is definitely scared that 1st grade will be "too hard." They love Fun Company (the YMCA aftercare) and have so far thought I was too early picking them up everyday (after 5:00). They have been pretty worn out and I love that they get a couple of hours just to play and have fun - we'll see if I have the same attitude about it all when we have homework and projects to complete once we all get home!
We are lucky that the aftercare program is less expensive than the cost of just three days of the sitter last year, but of course the kids are begging to participate in activities that will easily get us back up to paying daycare-like weekly fees. We have relented, though, and Tyler will soon start t-ball/baseball and Katie will be back in gymnastics. Katie really wanted to play soccer, but we just couldn't commit to another Saturday thing this Fall. We will have whatever football games we can manage to make it to, Tyler will have games, I have tennis in the Fall, and there are always random things on weekends once school starts - that means that adding in a soccer game, too, would be crazy since she is equally excited about gymnastics (and those classes happen on weeknights). I think it will be worth the expense - hopefully Tyler likes baseball and I know Katie will like the tumbling class and learning how to do things that will scare me to watch!
The kid's birthday is fast approaching and we still have no plans. We will probably go to Dave & Busters (the kids are obsessed ever since our visit at the beach) with us and whatever family can make it - the kids will initially be disappointed that they aren't having a "party," but once we start bowling and playing games I think they will be fine. Tyler has birthday present requests that are reasonable - Katie on the otherhand wants an American Girl doll (have been trying to hold out until they build the one in Franklin). Luckily, Tyler told her that she should just ask Santa for that and not us - ha! Life is definitely getting busier, but watching them in these activities is fun for us, too and the kids really are just plain fun to be around these days (most of the time)!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
First Grade!
Well, yesterday was the kiddos first day of First Grade! Apparently, we are already in the age/stage of limited answers because all I really got from them at the end of the day was that the teachers were nice, they had friends in their class and aftercare is fun! It was a half day with not much going on "school-wise" so we will see what Friday brings (they are inexplicably out of school today).
We got back from our quickie beach trip on Tuesday and I brought a summer cold with me so I didn't manage to take the kids to get shoes or last minute supplies like I intended. Feeling a bit better today, but may wait until the weekend to finish up back to school errands. Our anniversary is Monday, but we have no plans - the beach trip was awesome though and will make up for our lack of celebration on the actual day. The water was perfect - clear and calm, the weather was cool, and we spent hours on the beach just playing and relaxing. The kids had a lot of fun collecting shells, sand dollars, baby jellyfish, and even fish and crabs. It was perfect weather for sea creature hunting, and we rented a kayak for a bit that was pretty awesome too!
We got back from our quickie beach trip on Tuesday and I brought a summer cold with me so I didn't manage to take the kids to get shoes or last minute supplies like I intended. Feeling a bit better today, but may wait until the weekend to finish up back to school errands. Our anniversary is Monday, but we have no plans - the beach trip was awesome though and will make up for our lack of celebration on the actual day. The water was perfect - clear and calm, the weather was cool, and we spent hours on the beach just playing and relaxing. The kids had a lot of fun collecting shells, sand dollars, baby jellyfish, and even fish and crabs. It was perfect weather for sea creature hunting, and we rented a kayak for a bit that was pretty awesome too!
Don't let their expressions fool you - they loved those slimy, gross things!
Katie loved kayaking, but wanted more waves!
We had fabulous meals (even the night we got pizza and seafood pasta instead of venturing out), even though the kiddos were beyond exhausted. There were a ton of people at the beach and the kids had a lot of other kids to play with which meant they were go, go, go the whole day. 8:00 PM and beyond dinners meant we got this zombie look more often, but the kids were great and really enjoy crab claws and shrimp nowadays.
Now that the school year has begun, and football, tennis, T-ball (for Tyler) and gymnastics are starting up, too - it will be a hectic few months so it was wonderful to have a fun beach trip to end the summer!
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