Saturday, October 10, 2009

Preschool Update - October

Bridget has been in preschool for a month. If I didn't know better, I'd think it had been at least a year. She gets her backpack ("pack pack") on in the morning (she grabs it and brings it to me). She gets her shoes and stands by the front door. She says "BYE!" and blows kisses. This is all at least 20 minutes before her bus comes :).

The funny thing is that we didn't start any of our other kids in preschool until they were almost four. Bridget was barely three when she began. She is going three hours a day, four days a week--where the other kids went two and 1/2 hours, two days a week at about her age. I wasn't sure she was ready, but it turns out that I wasn't ready. She is thriving. She's such a big girl and she is loving school.

She rides the bus, walks into school by herself & hangs up her book bag. She is learning (and learning to say) the names of her classmates, enjoying free play at school (especially in the housekeeping area--not a surprise), and is energetic when she gets home. (I remember that Kyle, especially, was often asleep in the corner when I came to pick him up during his first year of preschool.)

I wait for Bridget's bus to arrive every day after school, and as it pulls around the corner toward our house, I think about how much I have missed my little girl. Her sweet face in the window is priceless. I can see her mouthing "MOM!" as soon as the bus stops at the end of our driveway. Bridget jumps into my arms, turns to wave good-bye to the bus driver and bus aide, then takes my hand and bounds up the driveway, blowing me kisses and telling me along the way if she wants me to stop, or jump :) or whatever else. She has become a bit of a D-I-V-A, telling people where to walk, how fast to walk, when to "STOP" and when to "GO". (She must be picking this up in school, but I don't know all the details yet. I am sure I will hear about it, though.)

When we come inside, she kicks off her shoes and puts her book bag on the bench in our mudroom. She immediately heads to the powder room to grab the step stool and wash her hands, then asks to "EAT! EAT! EAT!". After lunch, she wants to watch an episode of Dora or Max & Ruby, followed by a nap. Sounds like the life, doesn't it?

More on preschool tomorrow...

10 comments:

  1. That is so exciting to hear! I think as our kids get verbal they try on all kinds of interesting behaviors:)
    I know for my girl, being an only child, pre-school was like a light from above!

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  2. Lisa, I loved reading this...and can relate so much! I did not put Luke into preschool until he was 4....but for Reid it is so different. I actually saw it as such a celebration for him that he could go...such a celebration that he is "walking" and "trying" to go potty by himself, and that he engages with the other children. I knew he would thrive there....and I knew the "speech models" of the other kids would be so good for him, and they are... he is starting to blossom speech wise. Reid calls his back pack "pack, pack" too...so cute! I think these two would have so much fun playing together...even if she bossed him around a bit (LOL)!!

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  3. What a wonderful glimpse of the not so distant future! I love reading about this. Can you tell me more about the actual preschool? I'm curious what type of program it is and if we have something like it in our neck of the woods. I'm starting to panic a little about what the future will look like as far as school goes. Gifts 2 actually awakened me to the possible challenges that lie ahead just in fighting for the right schooling for our kids.

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  4. Here is some basic information about her program: http://bridgets-light.blogspot.com/2009/09/preschool-scoop.html

    What else would be helpful to know?

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  5. Sounds like the life to me!

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  6. You are such a gifted writer, an inspiration. My sweet little girl (21 months) has different challenges, but I still receive great info here. She has 2 older brothers (ages 7 & 5) who adore her. What do you do to ensure that all of your kids feel special? We are not having any problems right now, but I want to foster a great relationship between everyone so that we don't have any resentment of Mom and Dad spending quite a bit of time with their sister. Your kids seem very well adjusted. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...

    Blessings to you and your lovely family!!

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  7. Glad you are finding some valuable information here. I'll do a post sometime this month on siblings!

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  8. I could have written this myself regarding my Molly. I was the one that wasn't ready as well for preschool. She is developing by leaps and bounds in preschool! I love how she is becoming such a little lady, just like Bridget! They seem to be a lot a like (and the same age)
    I am glad that I found you (first on facebook!) so I can watch our girls grow up together in blog land!

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  9. I can feel your happiness! When my own children thrive in school(or in any setting away from mom)it shows me that although there will always be challenges, I know that they can do it! This feeling will be even stronger when Sylas goes to school. How wonderful! I am elated for Bridget!

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  10. Love it! Glad Bridget is enjoying school. It's always such a relief.

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