Now Enrolling: Fall 2017

Short story:
After many tours and much deliberation, we enrolled Jonah and Elliott in a new school for next fall!

Long story:
We've started to have some misgivings about daycare.  Nothing serious, but it is becoming more and more clear that their bottom line comes first and the children second.  Education is a distant third.  Kids are constantly shuffled between rooms to make quota.  Our flexibility and perks have also been declining with the new administration - our sibling discount decreased and we were charged a boatload extra just for switching which 3 days the kids attended for one week.  During parent-teacher conferences, Jonah's teacher seemed particularly discontent with the way things are run.  Case-in-point: for BOTH kids' teacher conferences, we were double-booked with another family!  That gave us time to observe the 32 kids in Jonah's classroom and the chaotic play during the scheduled circle time.

In our town, preschools open enrollment for the following year in OCTOBER.  Yikes!  Add to that pre-enrollment for current families, and it starts to feel competitive to get one of the few remaining spots before they fill up!  We looked at Montessori, which I wanted so badly to love, but I couldn't see Jonah - a very social learner - working quietly by himself.  Elliott would fit right in, but what is the point in telling a toddler he can only play work with something in one particular way?  Apparently I value creativity more than I do the very beautiful and sophisticated math manipulatives.  So we found a preschool that offers play in the mud (Jonah's favorite past-time), field trips to the library (I've always thought that was a super cute way to teach responsibility), and a kindergarten curriculum.

Yes, we are those parents pushing Jonah into an academic program to challenge his little brain.  And so, at the age of 5, Jonah will start his first of two years of kindergarten, since he still won't qualify for first grade when he turns 6.  Elliott will go along for the ride to preschool when he turns 2.9 in October.  Oh, and school gets out at 2:30.  Mommy and Daddy are going to have to figure out the rest...

Discovery Preschool

Jonah graduated to Preschool this week!  His school offers "Discovery Preschool" as a transition between the toddler room and the preschool classroom.  We received a form letter citing that the teachers have observed his development and feel Jonah is ready, blah, blah, blah.  Really, this translates to: he meets the 2yr 4mo age requirement.  Jonah has been visiting a couple times and seems excited to join some of his friends that have already transitioned.  Some differences I have noticed:

- Drop offs are even harder now that Jonah sees that I am staying home with Elliott.  "No, I want to stay inside!" he screams in full trantrum (meaning he wants to stay home).

- The teacher already seems more observant.  Jonah brought home artwork captioned, "A choo-choo train, my goning on tracks it go to station."

- He comes home and tells me about playing with his friend James, puzzles and the fire truck.  (which is more information than I can usually extract)

Circle

Jonah's teacher was very excited to show Daddy Jonah's artwork.  She asked Jonah to tell Daddy what it is:

"J-O-N-A-H spells Jonah!" he announced proudly.  The teacher was dumbfounded.  She had expected him to tell Daddy that it was a circle.  News of Jonah's spelling is now talk of the toddler room!

Toddler Concert

There was a concert at Jonah's school this afternoon, so we went over after nap to participate.  Jonah cried through the first couple songs, ate snack through the next few, and then got up and joined right in the dancing!  I guess he just wasn't ready for the abrupt transition after nap.  It was great fun for me to see him flaunting his toddler moves with the best of them!  Of course, this didn't last long before the toddlers realized they were on the preschool playground, which is the forbidden fruit of the 2yr-old crowd.  So they spent the last half of a 45min concert playing with bark chips.

Jonah on The Theater

I took Mommy to the theater today.  She spends so much time in front of the computer working, she really needs to get out.  Keep in mind that as far as the kids at school are concerned, she was merely my personal driver and lap.  One must appear privileged while keeping a cool indifference in front of peers.  Melanie came over to flirt, and I was able to give the impression of disinterest while lavishly allowing her to share Mommy's knee for a short while.  Such generosity is not given lightly.

The play, artfully nameless, was performed by the world-acclaimed Pumpernickel Puppet company.  I'm certain a pile of Tonys are hiding behind that magical stage.  The story of a princess befriending an amicable dragon was both cliche and new.  I was completely engrossed.  The performance ended with a dance party attended by some distinguished guests, including a roller-skating martian and giant chicken.  I'm so glad I had practiced my knee-bend dance moves.  Bounce bounce bounce, baby!

Mommy's Lap

Admittedly, Jonah's been a little spoiled over the holidays.  I think with all the visits, family and travel he was a little overwhelmed.  In this regard, he's probably more like his Daddy, who would much prefer to stay home and relax.  He's been very fussy and demanding - always needing to be in Mommy's lap.  I can no longer move so much as an inch without setting off his radar and starting a full-on tantrum.  It's been rather tiring for me to be in such high demand!  Daddy reminds me that in a few short years, Jonah won't even want to be seen with me.  I'd not be so eager to give up our cuddles except I worry that my little Mama's boy is also going to be a spoiled brat.

I made a lot of excuses when he wasn't feeling well or off his schedule, but today we (Daddy and I) were very happy to get back into our routine of work/school.  Jonah fussed all morning and all evening, as if to make up for the middle of the day when he was torn away from Mommy.  I expect he wasn't like that all day, and I like to imagine that school was a great way to give him back some autonomy, which seems to be forgotten when I'm around.  If I ignore him long enough, he does eventually give up and find something else to do on his own.

Parent-Teacher Conference

It is clear that the purpose of a parent-teacher conference at a private daycare is this: make the parents feel good about continuing to send their child (and money).  We knew this going in.  But it was still pleasant to share a 10-minute Jonah love-fest with his teachers!  They complimented Jonah on how well he transitioned, how hard it is to believe he just turns 12mo., what a good eater he is, how easily he goes down for nap, etc.  I could have listened to it all day.  :-)  They certainly met the objective and alleviated the uncertainty we had had with his infant teachers, most of whom didn't seem to like Jonah all that much.  We picked up a few tidbits that were nice for filling in the gaps of what Jonah does all day at school:

1. Jonah can find his own napping mat, lie down and put himself to sleep with just a verbal prompt.  His mat is next to the mirror and he likes to watch himself quietly or read a book when he wakes up.
2. Jonah gets excited for outdoor time and runs over to the hooks to get his own coat when it's time!
3. Jonah is given a spoon for lunch, but often eats with the other hand for efficiency.  After lunch this week he dumped his dirty plate into the trash can to help clean up!
4. Jonah and Melanie were caught hugging and kissing each other on the forehead.  :-)  Jonah is best buds with James and they are always together.  He also recognizes his friends and played with a little visitor he remembered from the infant room.
5. Jonah spends a lot of time in the art corner of the room with the paper and crayons.
6. Jonah loves circle time and dances along to the songs.  When the teachers sing his name he recognizes his turn and waves to all his classmates!
7. Jonah only cries for a minute after being dropped off (to make us feel guilty) and spends the rest of the day enjoying his independence and playing.

Halloween Party

Jonah's school had a Halloween party at the end of the day, so parents could participate (i.e. help).  I didn't want to miss out, so I left work early to arrive in time for the chaos.  Jonah was so happy to see me!  He was really confused and upset when instead of going home we dressed him in his fireman coat, hat (which was immediately rejected) and oversized boots (which we had to abort because he couldn't walk in them!)

Now that he had Mommy, he wasn't letting go for anything and insisted on being carried.  While fussing.  Thus we went room to room Trick-or-Treating through his school.  Smartly, many of the treats he collected were bags of goldfish (his favorite!) but we did manage to score some M&Ms for Daddy and Whoppers for Mommy.  (I am allowed to exploit my son for free candy, right?)  Jonah started to get the hang of grabbing a piece of candy from the bowl and dropping it in his little bag.

In one of the classrooms, he found a mini Koosh ball.  It was like hitting the Halloween jackpot!  Jonah was finished collecting new candy or putting things into his bag.  He carried the Koosh ball around, showing it off to everyone we saw.  It even kept Jonah distracted enough for me to put him down and get a picture... but the hat still didn't last more than 5 seconds.

Baby Sign Class

So we did the crazy over-achieving parent thing and signed Jonah up for a Sign Language class at school.  At first, I had inquired about the class, then dismissed it as silly.  After all, we can teach signs at home and Jonah hasn't been so interested lately, now that he can ask for food.  And wouldn't this be more effective as part of his regular day with his teachers?  On the other hand, Daddy thought it was a silly idea at first, then considered that it would provide Jonah some real curriculum.  After all, we've been sending him to school for 9 months and he still can't read or add.  So we signed up.

Ms. Jen teaches Jonah one-on-one for some undisclosed length of time twice a week.  Last week we received notes such as "Jonah just wanted to be held and talked to".  Okay, at least in the craziness of his day with the big kids, Jonah gets a little personal attention and cuddling.

This week the note was "we worked on the sign for play, please practice and reinforce this at home."  Okay, two things:
1.)  The sign for "play" involves sticking out your thumb and pinkie on both hands and then twisting both wrists.  (Yes, like "groovy".)  This is hard!  Jonah doesn't have the physical dexterity to do this with his hands, so when he waves both hands in the air, it is indistinguishable from "all done".
2.)  "Play" is a very abstract concept.  Maybe she is a genius in explaining this to a toddler, but to Jonah, what is the difference between play, work, learn, etc?  To him, play encompasses everything that isn't eating (while being told not to play!) and sleeping.  We could be signing play all day.

So I've lost some confidence that the teacher knows what she is doing.  In her defense, she might be trying to work on signs Jonah doesn't already know.  But he only knows 3.  At home we're working on simple things, like "ball" while holding or pointing to Jonah's favorite toy.  (Make a sphere with your fingers, separate your hands and then bring them together again, touching the fingertips together.  Repeat.)  Or "book".  So far he's attempted to sign ball, but only because he really wanted his ball.  Out of context, I would have thought he was asking for more because he was moving his hands together, but didn't position his fingers correctly. We'll keep practicing.  Perhaps he will continue to enjoy his quiet cuddle time with Ms. Jen.

12 Month Update

Gross Motor:  Jonah is now an independent walker and can get himself up and around just about anywhere.  He can stoop to pick up toys and then continue on his merry way.  He still falls down frequently, mostly because he likes to lean on people and objects and misjudges the stability or support,  He also prefers to be carried or hold a hand outside where the ground is uneven.  He can climb a full flight of stairs either crawling or holding a gown-up's hands.  He tries to go down, too, but refuses to go backward.

Growth:  30in, 21lb 8oz., size 12mo. shirts, but we prefer 9mo. pants so he can walk without tripping! sz 3.5 shoe, 8 teeth

Fine Motor:  He can doodle a bit with crayons, though he isn't interested for long.  He has mastered all the pull tabs in his books and can open 3/4 of the characters on his Sesame Street toy.  Sometimes he even gets a block into his shape-sorter correctly!

Communication:  Jonah hasn't been interested in adding to his baby signs, but is showing interest in trying to repeat sounds and words.  He says mamama and dadada regularly, and with greater discrimination than before.

Food:  Jonah is practicing using a spoon and can scoop into a bowl of applesauce or yogurt and bring it to his mouth with moderate success!  He takes bottles or sippy cups on his own without assistance.  Jonah breastfeeds first thing when he awakes and before bed, but we have transitioned him to whole milk during the day.  He took it well, though I've found that he will drink a whole 7oz bottle if it is warm, but spits and dribbles through only an ounce if served cold.

Sleep:  Jonah is still a great sleeper, about 11 hours straight 8pm-7am.  He has transitioned down to one nap, which is 12:3-2:30 in his new school schedule, so he often comes home exhausted and sleeps a bit longer at night.

Fun:  Jonah has upgraded from Peek-A-Boo to playing Hide-and-Seek with Daddy.  Jonah hides and than runs around the house looking for Daddy.  If it takes more than 30 seconds to find him, Jonah gets distracted by something and the game ends.  He also enjoys being attacked by Daddy's "tickle missiles" and counter-attacking by running at Daddy or Mommy's legs until we fall down.  Then he will throw himself over our chest while laughing and yelling his battle cry "aaaa!" He also enjoys any book with moving parts (flaps are good, pull tabs better).  He loves getting on and off his Little People ride-on bus and playing the accompanying music.  He can't really push it with his feet (which barely touch the ground) but is excited to be pushed around the house and crash into things.  Jonah loves to go outside and will swing for a little while, but then wants to pick a brown-eyed susan and carry it around with him.

School:  Jonah transitioned from infants to the toddler room at school.  This was supposed to take a week or two of slowly-lengthening visits, but I think he enjoyed the toddler rooms so much, he stayed full time by the second day.  He now has a set schedule of snacks and naps, which allow the teachers to plan activities and outdoor play.  I think the change will be very good for Jonah, who was bored with all the babies!

Infant Level: Passed

Jonah's teachers told us today that he is ready to graduate!  They have to keep him with infants until he turns 1, but then he'll be moving on to the toddler room.  (We were originally told the transition would occur at 15mo.)  While we like to think that our son is so far ahead of the curve that he is graduating early, some part of us wonders if the infant teachers are just eager to get rid of him!  It is quite possible he is terrorizing the smaller babies.  From what I've seen of him at playgroup and at family gatherings, Jonah isn't shy about taking his turn climbing a slide, even if another (older) child is already climbing up.  In one story we heard from his teachers, Jonah enjoyed going around the room and waking up the sleeping babies.  (These things are never put into the written record!)  Today, his daily report read that Jonah "enjoyed playing with his friends and then running away with toys in his hands."  Regardless of the reason, it is exciting that he is ready for the toddler room.  He will have to adjust to a rigorous schedule, but I think he will enjoy the new toys and older kids to play with!

Raising the What (Diaper) Flag

Much to the relief of Daddy (and all the teachers at daycare) we have switched to disposable diapers at school.  They were doing a miserable job of fitting, and I'd always find the diapers unsnapped to the largest setting, recommended for 23lb+.  Hence, every day Jonah would leak and go through 2-3 outfits.  And now that Jonah is eating foods, his messes are getting... well, messier.  We started using liners at home, but it seems like a good time to let the school off the hook.  I can't help feel a sense of failure, but it doesn't seem worth fighting for something they clearly regret agreeing to.

Our record at home has been much better (i.e. fewer than 2 leaks every day) but certainly not perfect.  After 6 months, I think we've about broken even on cost of the cloth vs. disposables, so long as I can keep myself from buying too many more!   I'm a little addicted to shopping for new brands and cute prints.  At this point, at least I know which diapers need to retire for leakiness and which are reliable.  I refuse to give up yet!