Homeschool for a Day

Ever since Little Lewie was born, I entertained the idea of homeschool.  What if I could be a stay-at-home mom and be the one to teach Lewie everything I know?  There are many wonderful mommy bloggers that are doing just that, and I won't lie, their lives seem fun, rewarding, and fulfilled.  They don't have to worry about whether the new "common core curriculum" will help their children learn, whether their children are being bullied in class, or whether their teacher/s are successful at keeping their children's class under control.    They also don't have to worry about their children being held back or being kept from challenging themselves just because the rest of the class isn't at the same level.

As a parent, I worry about all these things and more when it comes to my child's education, and I especially worry as my son will be entering kindergarten next year.  Our town does not have a full-day kindergarten option for my son, and so I am faced with the dilemma of finding another "affordable" kindergarten that will provide a full-day experience; otherwise, he will go to school for two and a half hours and be placed in a "day-care" setting for the remaining four, which is hardly ideal.  This topic will be continued for sure...

Yesterday, Lewie woke up with a croup cough, and quickly my husband and I made arrangements to stay at home with our little boy.  I would take the morning off from work, and my husband would take the afternoon.  After Lewie and I finished breakfast, he piped in, "Mommy, can we play school today?  We can do a craft in the morning, have snack, and then read a book.  We'll have school at home." 

I loved this idea.  In fact, I had to pinch myself because I couldn't believe these words were coming out of my son's mouth instead of my own.  I quickly took out this train craft that I bought, and Lewie and I decorated the train by using scissors, glue, and, of course, his imagination. 

"Aren't I cre-tive?"  Lewie asked. 

"Yes, you are very cre-a-tive," I agreed.

It became a lesson in using our fine motor skills and creativity, and since the craft was all about creating his own train/engine, he couldn't be more attentive.  He was proud of his little train, asking if he could hang it up after it dried.  It was at that moment that I realized my son has never brought home a craft to me from daycare or preschool that he wanted to hang up.   Why was this craft so special to him?  Was it because it's a train, or was it because the two of us really took a lot of time and concentration to make it perfect? 

After his little craft, I prepared a fruit and yogurt parfait snack, and we read books.  It was the most perfect, unexpected morning I've had in a long time.  I think I could really love this homeschool thing...  If only I had the courage to leave my full-time job again...

Very meticulously choosing his train scheme. 

His masterpiece.  Perfect because it's exactly how he wanted to make it without any suggestions from Mommy!

Field Trip - A Small, But Meaningful Victory for Mommy

I won't lie.  Working full-time stinks.  Only a few short months ago, I had the chance to work three days a week and spend the other two with my son.  It was perfect.   I could earn some money to help pay for household expenses, spend valuable time with Lewie, and find some hours in-between for myself and my own well-being.

Working full-time, for me, has changed everything.  I have less time for Lewie, less time for myself, less time to clean the house, and just less time in general.  Everything has turned into a very tightly wound schedule--one that can unwind at a moment's notice if one detail falls out of sync.  Doctors appointments are strategically planned, personal days are requested months in advance, and weekly chores are prioritized on a level of 1 through 10.  Grocery shopping, of course, gets a # 1 rating; whereas, mopping the floors is a # 10.  (Mopping the floors never happens because I never have time to move past level # 5.) 

I find that with this type of schedule, I have to start rewarding myself for small victories.  Yay, I was able to put up Halloween decorations a week before the holiday, or yay, I was able to squeeze in a quick walk during my lunch hour at work!

This week's small victory was being able to go on my son's field trip.  After rearranging appointments at work and promising to make up my time by staying late during other nights of the week, I was able to spend three glorious hours with my son and his teachers and classmates. 

You see, ever since I started working full-time, Lewie has felt the effects of Mommy not being around as much.  As I drop him off from school, he usually begins his chorus of requests...

"Mommy can you stay at school today to read us a book?"

"Mommy, I wish you can work here."

"Mommy, can you pick me up early?  Can you pick me up after lunch time?"

The requests go on and on, and the mommy guilt presses on me like carrying a 350 pound bag of sand on my shoulders.  I know I'm not unique; many moms have to work and trade in treasured moments with their kids for banal hours with irritating coworkers and demanding customers.   I know I will eventually adjust...he will eventually adjust.  We're just not there yet.

So, in the meantime, I'm happy to share these prized pictures of Lewie's field trip.  It was a memorable day because it was a day where once...just once...I could say "yes" to one of Lewie's tender requests.  "Yes Lewie, I can stay with you at school today, and yes we will be able to have fun together." 

Lewie, me, and his little class on the hayride.  (Lewie found an interesting piece of hay...)

My little boy and I.  (Wish he was smiling...oh well.)

The view (right from over my little boy's head).

Cows coming toward us.  Evidently, the thrill of this hayride is that the cows get to eat...

Right from our wagon...  That's one of little Lewie's classmates feeding them.

Lunch!

Lewie preferred to watch the cows eat instead of feeding them himself.

Miss Nicole writing Lewie's name on his pumpkin.

Om my...what is Dennis the Menace up to now...?

Lewie's little Kokopelli preschool class.  They were all angels.  Honestly.

Driving through the muck to get back.

We were seriously going through two feet of water... I won't lie; I was nervous we were going to get stuck!

Made it!  Whew!

Goodbye Schreiber's Farm!  Time to return to our van.

A New Preschool...

Today my little boy will begin a new preschool for the summer. He had a little "end of the year" ceremony on Friday at the community college preschool that only stays open during the traditional fall and spring semester.

We did this shuffle last year. He went to a preschool called Teddy Bear Tree House, and although I liked the school and the teachers very much, it took Lewie nearly two months to get used to it. Then when he finally felt comfortable (a.k.a. he didn't cry anymore when I dropped him off), it was time for him to go back to the old school. Ugh!

This year my goal was to have him go back to Teddy Bear Tree House, but there was a wait list to get back in. Even though I called in February to reserve a spot for him, I was too late. I thought my luck had run out until I found a cute little place called Little Explorers that's only 12 minutes from my home. I immediately liked the preschool owner and Little Lewie's teacher, and his classroom was adorable. "Let me show you the animals," said Jackie, the owner.

"You have animals?" I asked.

"Yes, we have class pets! We have a pet guinea pig and a lizard." (I think there might have been another animal too.) "Whenever the little ones are having a bad day or feeling blue, we immediately bring them to the pet corner. It's amazing how much animals can make them feel better. It's so therapeutic."

I never thought about it before, but she was right. We don't have any pets at home (yet), but I knew Lewie enjoys seeing the cats and dogs over at my in-law's house every time he visits.

She showed me a black and white photography project the kids had been working on. Then on another visit, they showed me a quilt project they started. "We cook all the time here," the teacher told me. "Kids just love baking."

Little Lewie hasn't seen this new preschool in over a month, but he's been talking about the new school for a while. "He keeps saying his new school has a gate," his old teacher Miss Laura told me last week. "Does it have a gate?"

"I think it does," I answered. I knew there was a gate around the play area outside. Was there a gate in the room too? I couldn't remember, but since my little boy loves elevators and doors of all shapes and sizes, it didn't surprise me that the thing that impressed him the most was a gate. I hope he grows to love other things too.

So, today is a new beginning...at least for a little while until September arrives.  Last year my little guy didn't have an easy transition, but I hope today will be easier for him...

I know you're gonna do great Little Lewie. Just be yourself, and remember that your mama is very proud!