Kindergarten, and more...

So last year (2010-2011 school year) Eddie started Kindergarten as a five-year-old and although we really liked his teachers, we felt like, after several weeks of school, things just weren't right.  Something wasn't right.  I can't tell you specifically which incident weighed more heavily than another, but overall, my boy was not happy.  Not that children have to be "happy" all the time, but he was miserable.  Crying before he even got on the bus, crying when he got off the bus, seemingly "in trouble" at school because he talked to his classmates, fidgeted in line, at his desk, and while at lunch, too.

Sounds like a five-year-old to me.

So, after a snap decision many in-depth discussions about the pros and cons of Kindergarten we decided to pull Eddie out of school and let him stay home one more year to "just be a little boy."  Although the State of North Carolina law says that a young male does not have to attend school until the age of 7, you would have thought that we were breaking the law the way some people reacted.  My loving family supported our decision, although (we won't name names) there were still some that had reservation in their voices when they said, "Oh, you're keeping him home this year?".....

While friends and neighbors minded their own business and understood our motives gave us "those looks" and  said things like, "aren't your concerned that he won't be able to socialize," and "what if he's the oldest one in his class?" we shrugged them off as well-intentioners and followed our hearts for our child.

I am so glad we did.

This last August, (2011-2012 school year) when Eddie started Kindergarten (again) he was with his same teacher, Mrs. J and while the first few days were an adjustment, after a couple weeks into the school year, he started coming home saying things like, "Mommy, we learned about "W" today," and, "Daddy, what does "B-U-S spell?" telling us that he was ready to start learning.

Now he's asking me to read multiple books to him every night, attempting to recognize words, read along, point to the words as I read, and I am just ecstatic!  He comes home from school and as he exits the bus, he is smiling.  This is such a change from just a year ago.  He is really maturing and having that last year at home to "just be" really enabled him to be more secure I believe.

Equally charming as it is annoying, he now hones in on every single piece of scrap paper, junk mail, sticky note and sometimes, bills *gasp* to write on and ask about spelling.  He writes his name on everything!!  He talks of learning how to recognize and write numbers (make an "S", don't be late, go back up and close the gate - this makes an 8 - so cute!) as he does this little "sing-song" rhyme that helps him to memorize letters and numbers.

Yeah, he is well-socialized, he's older than most of the kids in his class and he's doing great.  We'll try to keep from him the fact that he'll be able to write his own absence excuse notes the majority of his Senior year of high school.  I'm pretty sure he'll be ok with being the first one to drive in his Sophomore year.

I think it's important that while some parents use school as a daycare, for the rest of us to realize that we only get one chance to rear our children.  One chance to let them "be a kid" and only one chance at not making mistakes that will affect them negatively for life.  Not that we should or shouldn't do things for fear of being summoned to the Jerry Spring or Oprah Show (not to be compared, but just as examples) but we should listen to our hearts when something "isn't right" and explore, for the child's sake, what the options are.

So, that's it.  No pictures, just a happy mom on her soap box.  Feel free to borrow it anytime you like.

Amen.

Dear Eddie

Dear Eddie,

You are five years, 9 months, and 6 days old.  Don't ask me to count the hours, minutes and seconds just because I just got an "A" on my math final, I can't do it.  Well, that's not true, I can; but I don't want to.

I'd rather tell you that you are a very special young child and that I love you so much I can scarcely breathe sometimes.  Right now you are interested in all things "Daddy".  Tools, motorcycles, four-wheelers, and basically anything with a motor.  You know the difference between a flat-head and Phillips screwdriver and also know the "lefty-loosey, righty-tighty" trick, too.

You don't drink soda.  You would eat candy for breakfast if we'd let you and while you love the outdoors, and riding your bike, you also love to watch movies.  You're getting past the point of wanting Mommy to read books to you, which I miss terribly, but I also understand that you're spreading your wings a bit and exploring different things.  Anytime you want me to read you a book, I will, okay?  Even when you're 'too old' for it.

Sometimes it probably seems as if your father and I are hard on you - expecting you to behave and be respectful as you learn to navigate this sometimes rocky path of life - but we love you more than anything and want only to teach you everything we can so that you can make the best choices possible as you get older.

Every once in a while we get reminded that you're only five.  So if we seem impatient or in a hurry, please know that you are the best thing in our world.  We love you.

Love, forever and ever,

Mommy