Second Week Smooth Sailing

At least thats what I am hoping for. It will be the the second full week of school for the kids, and last week it finally felt like we were getting into the swing of things. Good thing because it looks like I might be starting a new job this week if all goes well.

Philip has settled into school and now runs to the door each time I drop him off instead of clinging to my shirt. It didn't go so smoothly for him at our first Awana club of the year, but that he can take his time settling into. I won't push it too hard. I am glad to see that his confidence is growing and he is finding his way around in the big school. He goes through the lunch line on his own now, it may sound like a little thing, but believe me it's a big milestone. He rides the big, very full, bus home with Sadie, and doesn't even insist on sitting next to her. He has made some friends and seems very happy to be a big kindergarten boy.

Addie and Carter started their very busy schedule of all day school. They attend CTS in the morning with Teacher Kathy who they just love. In the afternoon they catch the bus and head to Sunnyland for the special needs preschool with Teacher Su who is amazing. There are 12 other kids in their morning class and 9 others in their afternoon class. That is 21 new kids for them to get know, and considering how long it takes both of them to warm up to other kids, I think they are doing great. However, it has become more apparent to me and the teachers as to why they are still enrolled in the special needs preschool. Sometimes it feels like they have caught up with other kids and outgrown all their quirks, symptoms and sensory issues, and other times they are so very visable. The past week would be the later. Addie has had no impulse control whatsoever. There have been messes, tantrums and dangerous decisions galore. Carter has been much more timid and fearful, as well as a little obsessive, compulsive and anxious.

Sadie is harder to read. I think she likes her teacher, I know she is glad to be back in class with her friends, but beyond that it's a toss up. She had an embarassing situation happen and that put her in a bit of a slump. Then she had somehow missed the homework papers for the week that the teacher handed out, so this weekend she got to pull a catch up session before going to play. She had a good attitude about it, but she seems a little down and I don't know if itis just start of school stress or something more serious. The teacher told me she has a focusing problem, that she frequently misses the directions and instructions and often looks like she is daydreaming. Nothing I didn't already know, but just confirms that it's time to talk to the doctors about it again.

Anyway all in all it is a great start to the year, but a little tiring adjusting to the new schedule. Transitions are not an easy process for any of my kids, but then again are they for anyone?