What's been going on...
Sep. 7th, 2007 06:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lalicopaLaszlo started kindergarten on Tuesday and he did great. Since he's a walker, my mom came early so I could leave the girls with her and just walk him there myself. I was an emotional wreck. He was excited and fine.
...total ramble behind cut...
If you arrive at the school before 8:40, you have to wait in the enormous gym with all the other kids, all ages. We were in there for a few minutes and then they let us go to the classrooms. I don't think I want him there before the designated time because there are a ton of people buzzing around and it's a very unsettling way to start the day. So, we'll be getting there at 8:40 or waiting outside until then if we get there before...at least for now.
We walked down the kindergarten hallway and found his classroom. His teacher was by the door waiting for the new shipment of kids to arrive. She told each kid to put his/her backpack on the hook by their name and then sit down on the table by their name. All good.
Also, I found out the night before that one of Laszlo's best friends from school and camp was going to be in his class. Then when I got to the school, I saw another mother from last year's class and her son was in there too. I also recognized a few other faces from the neighborhood.
Laszlo sat at his table and the other two boys he was in school with sat together at the other table. That's where their names were. Then a girl from their class last year arrived and guess where her assigned seat was? Yep, with the other two boys. Laszlo was alone at the table then another girl came, then a boy. I was peeking in the class and was projecting, I know, but it seemed not right for the three of them to be high-fiving and giggling while Laszlo was with strangers a few feet away. So I did what I hate and I stuck my head in the classroom. The teacher nodded at me that she'd be there in a second, then Laszlo spotted me and said, "Mommy!" Busted. Then he pointed to the boy who sat across from him at the table. "Jason was in my camp group!" He was so excited. The teacher was already on her way over, so I said, "It's nothing, he's fine...I was just concerned because the three kids from last year's class are all together and he's over there." She nodded and said, "He's fine, bye," or something to that effect.
That was it. I left. I had a million things I wanted to do that day, but I couldn't do anything. I'm a school phobic, I used to go to the nurse's office every day to try and get sent home. When they wouldn't call my mother, I ran outside and went to my pediatrician's office, which happened to be across the street from my elementary. I had to see a therapist in first grade. This brings back a LOT of issues for me. I'm still not sure why I was so afraid. It started when we moved and I switched schools in the middle of first grade. Still not too good with change I guess.
I went to pick him up with Ella in the Ergo and Lily in her little car. Laszlo came out all happy and told me a little about his day. He said, "Kindergarten is great." When I pressed, he said, "Nobody, hit me...nobody smacked me..." I asked if he thought they would, he said no. He's a tad nuts, but we all know that already. He's all into the schedules and routines and he's fascinated with the older kids. He tells me every day that in fourth grade ("When I'm nine" after counting up from kindergarten and five on his fingers) I can be in band. And I can also be on the stage.
He had a piano lesson that afternoon that I thought he'd blow off, but he did great...best lesson in weeks.
The school implemented a six-day system instead of doing things on a M-F basis. So day 1 he has computers, day 2 is music, etc.
It's a great school. I was surprised how many parents I knew. I guess it's good to have a big mouth at the local parks to chat up all the other moms. I feel very social.
Problem is...I no longer have any time. I feel like my life is turned upside-down. I have to get the girls out, whether or not they are awake, and get them to the school to drop him off. So far I think carpooling is going to be just about impossible, but I'm not giving up hope. It's just that the people I know have three kids and no room in their cars. I've been walking, but in the winter I'm not going to, so I really want to find something else out. I'm used to staying in the house in the mornings, waiting for the kids to wake up on their own. I hate the idea of being woken up to get in the car or stroller when they're so tired. I'm a big fan of the warm, cozy bed in the mornings, and I am totally projecting (yet again) about how horrible it is to be pried out of cozy bed to get Laszlo to school, which only takes 5 minutes once I start driving there.
Ok, so I drop him off at 8:40, then come home...then give the girls breakfast and get everyone dressed. I joined the gym, so I'm trying to go a few times a week. Then I come back from the gym, clean up a bit, then do whatever errand has been hanging over my head, then it's time to pick him up again. He gets dismissed at 2:45. I can't believe how short six hours ends up being.
Lily's starting school MWF from 11-3:30 on Monday. I'm going to drop her off there at first, and she'll get the bus home. I have a feeling I'll be putting her on the bus both ways once she's all settled and I'm comfortable with her teachers and everything. I drove Laszlo to school his whole first year and half of his second, but Lily's not Laszlo and I have to remember that. Frankly, Laszlo would have been totally fine to go without me and I know she'll be just as fine, if not more so. Wednesdays I have Ella enrolled in Gymboree at 1, so I'll try to get to that class at least a few times a month. I'm not going to be anal about it, it's cheap enough that I don't mind missing some classes, and they have a very liberal make-up policy.
Man, I'm rambling.
I'm just struggling with the idea that my time is no longer my own, AT ALL. It used to be that I had some time every day to just decide what to do and where to go...without much time constraint. The bus always added a half hour or so to the day on either end. Thank goodness I still have the babysitter coming one day a week. And she's coming on days that Lily's not in school, so I can spend some time alone with her and also some time just alone.
I know this is an adjustment. I was totally spoiled by the preschool. I tried everything I could to get Laszlo bused to kindergarten, but there's no way to do it, even if we paid up. The preschool offers busing home from the elementary, but home isn't really my problem. On MWFs, I'll pick him up with just Ella, then come home and wait for Lily's bus.
I think the main problem I'm having here is that I'm finding it daunting that this is the easiest it's gonna get, and now there are going to be classes and more school and playdates and I feel like I'm never gonna stop running. Yesterday I dropped him at school, came home, got the girls in the car, went to the gym (thankfully they have babysitting there), came home, went to my friend Celeste's house for lunch for a playdate with the girls, then we all went to get the boys at school, then we all went to the park...then we came home and I cleaned the house and made dinner. And of course, the completely exhausted Lily fought sleep like the devil, and so did Laszlo, and they were both up several times through the night. I've been up since 5 and I was the one up with them when they all got up.
I have to get them to sleep earlier. Robert doesn't get home until at least 8 most nights and the kids don't go to sleep until 10, which I know is awful. And someone invariably ends up in our bed at some point. I think if they were asleep by a normal kid time, then I may feel a little better...but then I'd have to deal with Robert alone and hear about how miserable his job is, and I think that might just push me over the edge.
I think I'm going to try to make dinner most nights (a total change for me) and get the kids fed by 6/6:30 instead of 7/7:30.
So much for getting my business back up and running as soon as kindergarten started. And of course people have been inquiring and I've even been dumb enough to take some orders.
It's gonna get better, right? I mean, I'm going to adjust to this and not lose my mind, right? Anyone?
...total ramble behind cut...
If you arrive at the school before 8:40, you have to wait in the enormous gym with all the other kids, all ages. We were in there for a few minutes and then they let us go to the classrooms. I don't think I want him there before the designated time because there are a ton of people buzzing around and it's a very unsettling way to start the day. So, we'll be getting there at 8:40 or waiting outside until then if we get there before...at least for now.
We walked down the kindergarten hallway and found his classroom. His teacher was by the door waiting for the new shipment of kids to arrive. She told each kid to put his/her backpack on the hook by their name and then sit down on the table by their name. All good.
Also, I found out the night before that one of Laszlo's best friends from school and camp was going to be in his class. Then when I got to the school, I saw another mother from last year's class and her son was in there too. I also recognized a few other faces from the neighborhood.
Laszlo sat at his table and the other two boys he was in school with sat together at the other table. That's where their names were. Then a girl from their class last year arrived and guess where her assigned seat was? Yep, with the other two boys. Laszlo was alone at the table then another girl came, then a boy. I was peeking in the class and was projecting, I know, but it seemed not right for the three of them to be high-fiving and giggling while Laszlo was with strangers a few feet away. So I did what I hate and I stuck my head in the classroom. The teacher nodded at me that she'd be there in a second, then Laszlo spotted me and said, "Mommy!" Busted. Then he pointed to the boy who sat across from him at the table. "Jason was in my camp group!" He was so excited. The teacher was already on her way over, so I said, "It's nothing, he's fine...I was just concerned because the three kids from last year's class are all together and he's over there." She nodded and said, "He's fine, bye," or something to that effect.
That was it. I left. I had a million things I wanted to do that day, but I couldn't do anything. I'm a school phobic, I used to go to the nurse's office every day to try and get sent home. When they wouldn't call my mother, I ran outside and went to my pediatrician's office, which happened to be across the street from my elementary. I had to see a therapist in first grade. This brings back a LOT of issues for me. I'm still not sure why I was so afraid. It started when we moved and I switched schools in the middle of first grade. Still not too good with change I guess.
I went to pick him up with Ella in the Ergo and Lily in her little car. Laszlo came out all happy and told me a little about his day. He said, "Kindergarten is great." When I pressed, he said, "Nobody, hit me...nobody smacked me..." I asked if he thought they would, he said no. He's a tad nuts, but we all know that already. He's all into the schedules and routines and he's fascinated with the older kids. He tells me every day that in fourth grade ("When I'm nine" after counting up from kindergarten and five on his fingers) I can be in band. And I can also be on the stage.
He had a piano lesson that afternoon that I thought he'd blow off, but he did great...best lesson in weeks.
The school implemented a six-day system instead of doing things on a M-F basis. So day 1 he has computers, day 2 is music, etc.
It's a great school. I was surprised how many parents I knew. I guess it's good to have a big mouth at the local parks to chat up all the other moms. I feel very social.
Problem is...I no longer have any time. I feel like my life is turned upside-down. I have to get the girls out, whether or not they are awake, and get them to the school to drop him off. So far I think carpooling is going to be just about impossible, but I'm not giving up hope. It's just that the people I know have three kids and no room in their cars. I've been walking, but in the winter I'm not going to, so I really want to find something else out. I'm used to staying in the house in the mornings, waiting for the kids to wake up on their own. I hate the idea of being woken up to get in the car or stroller when they're so tired. I'm a big fan of the warm, cozy bed in the mornings, and I am totally projecting (yet again) about how horrible it is to be pried out of cozy bed to get Laszlo to school, which only takes 5 minutes once I start driving there.
Ok, so I drop him off at 8:40, then come home...then give the girls breakfast and get everyone dressed. I joined the gym, so I'm trying to go a few times a week. Then I come back from the gym, clean up a bit, then do whatever errand has been hanging over my head, then it's time to pick him up again. He gets dismissed at 2:45. I can't believe how short six hours ends up being.
Lily's starting school MWF from 11-3:30 on Monday. I'm going to drop her off there at first, and she'll get the bus home. I have a feeling I'll be putting her on the bus both ways once she's all settled and I'm comfortable with her teachers and everything. I drove Laszlo to school his whole first year and half of his second, but Lily's not Laszlo and I have to remember that. Frankly, Laszlo would have been totally fine to go without me and I know she'll be just as fine, if not more so. Wednesdays I have Ella enrolled in Gymboree at 1, so I'll try to get to that class at least a few times a month. I'm not going to be anal about it, it's cheap enough that I don't mind missing some classes, and they have a very liberal make-up policy.
Man, I'm rambling.
I'm just struggling with the idea that my time is no longer my own, AT ALL. It used to be that I had some time every day to just decide what to do and where to go...without much time constraint. The bus always added a half hour or so to the day on either end. Thank goodness I still have the babysitter coming one day a week. And she's coming on days that Lily's not in school, so I can spend some time alone with her and also some time just alone.
I know this is an adjustment. I was totally spoiled by the preschool. I tried everything I could to get Laszlo bused to kindergarten, but there's no way to do it, even if we paid up. The preschool offers busing home from the elementary, but home isn't really my problem. On MWFs, I'll pick him up with just Ella, then come home and wait for Lily's bus.
I think the main problem I'm having here is that I'm finding it daunting that this is the easiest it's gonna get, and now there are going to be classes and more school and playdates and I feel like I'm never gonna stop running. Yesterday I dropped him at school, came home, got the girls in the car, went to the gym (thankfully they have babysitting there), came home, went to my friend Celeste's house for lunch for a playdate with the girls, then we all went to get the boys at school, then we all went to the park...then we came home and I cleaned the house and made dinner. And of course, the completely exhausted Lily fought sleep like the devil, and so did Laszlo, and they were both up several times through the night. I've been up since 5 and I was the one up with them when they all got up.
I have to get them to sleep earlier. Robert doesn't get home until at least 8 most nights and the kids don't go to sleep until 10, which I know is awful. And someone invariably ends up in our bed at some point. I think if they were asleep by a normal kid time, then I may feel a little better...but then I'd have to deal with Robert alone and hear about how miserable his job is, and I think that might just push me over the edge.
I think I'm going to try to make dinner most nights (a total change for me) and get the kids fed by 6/6:30 instead of 7/7:30.
So much for getting my business back up and running as soon as kindergarten started. And of course people have been inquiring and I've even been dumb enough to take some orders.
It's gonna get better, right? I mean, I'm going to adjust to this and not lose my mind, right? Anyone?
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no subject
Date: 2007-09-07 11:21 am (UTC)I am so glad he did so well in school, does he still have an IEP or he he totally mainstreamed now? He sounds like he is doing great, I need to see these kids soon!
We were up a lot last night too. Ugh.
Sophie doesnt start school till Monday, and boy is she needing routine now.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-07 11:29 am (UTC)How many days is Sophie going for?
no subject
Date: 2007-09-07 12:24 pm (UTC)Maybe we can meet up one afternoon? I can come over when Sophie is done with school or we can meet somewhere?
no subject
Date: 2007-09-07 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-07 05:42 pm (UTC)The getting up early every damn day thing would wear on me so fast.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-10 04:52 pm (UTC)probably you will find your groove.