Nature School!

As of right now, we don't see ourselves as long term homeschoolers.  Because of this, we felt it important to do everything we could to prepare C for a possible switch to public school as soon as next fall.  And when I say we, I mean me.  Unless you count the fact that hubby doesn't want C to grow up to be "one of those creepy homeschooled kids" then it's safe to say that I pretty much told my husband that the Nature School would be a good idea.

C is such a smart boy and he's been handling our kindergarten curriculum very well.  But, I knew adding something extra would really benefit my little social butterfly.  He obviously agreed as he's been asking me for weeks when he starts his "real school."

I can't imagine how I would feel if I'd put him on a school bus to kindergarten this year instead of keeping him home.  Because sending him into a preschool for a few hours two days a week is about all this mama can handle.  

His excitement was so incredibly adorable on his first day!  I LOVED it!  As other parents hung around in the classroom while their child tentatively checked things out, hubby and I wondered what we were still doing there as C had bounded out of the car waving goodbye!  Unfortunately for him, I have to walk him to the door each day because there's this pesky sign in sheet I must take care of. ;)

His first day went great!  He talked all day about how he got to hold a real daddy long leg spider.  I was actually a little surprised that things had gone as well as they had.  For an only child who has pretty much had his mama's undivided attention for the past 5 years, I expected the adjustment to being "one of many" to be a little rough.

And it has been. :(  As made evident on the second day when I endured my first talk with the teacher.  We have since only had one more "talk."  So, that's two "rough days" (as they like to call them) and three days that went just fine.  We're still maintaining a winning average!

Miss Monica, his lead teacher, has that whole sandwich thing down to an art.  You know, the thing where they squeeze in the fact that your child was a holy terror in between several glowing compliments. :) 

Compliments like, "All the kids in the class love him.  They want to be his friend and are always trying to please him.  Like today, his friend Lucy was bringing him all the daddy long leg spiders she found.  He loves being out on the trails and he's a great helper."

I'm so glad he is getting along well with his peers and making friends.  (Also thankful he's not one of the children who must have prompted this notice "Now that the kiddies are settling in, students are eager to make friends and pal around with each other. Please talk to your child and help them understand that touching or pushing is upsetting to friends. It’s not okay to hit or shove!" in our weekly update.)

I've thought several times that I should have published this post right after that first day...because since then I've been hesitant to do it.  Because it's not all sunshine and rainbows anymore.  You know, it's tough being five.  And it's all brand new and it will take him some time to get the hang of the structure, the expectations, etc.  And as much as a part of me wants to tuck tail and run we're sticking it out. 

Reminding myself that my child's behavior is not a reflection of who I am, but rather just a kid sorting this world out.  Reminding C that everyone makes mistakes.  Sometimes we don't make good choices.  And there are obviously consequences for that (which now Miss Monica knows about because C begged her not to tell me he had a rough day because he didn't want an 'x' on his chart)  but that just because you made a bad choice today doesn't mean you can't turn things around tomorrow.  Yes, he will eventually learn that it's not the end of the world when things don't go his way, that screaming is not an appropriate way to express the fact that he's sad about ending an activity ;) and that gosh darnit that lady really is going to tell my mom every time I act all crazy.  Nature school will teach him those things.  And I'll teach him that forgiveness isn't just something I talk about, but something I do.  That there is never a shortage of grace and that no matter what he does, he will forever be loved.