Six months ago I started asking Tanner if he wanted to go to preschool. He always said "no." I pushed the idea at first but then backed off, realizing that I don't want to spend the money (It's $300 a month now, but was significantly less when my big kids did it), but especially that I don't even want him gone yet. This was affirmed to me last week when someone I respect more than almost anyone asked me if Tanner was in preschool and when I said "no" said, "Good. Little kids need their moms." I have thought about that a lot, and it is probably more true for some than for others, but it is TRUE for Tanner. He needs me a lot. And I am in an position to make this work, unlike a lot of other people.
So. We are doing "mommy preschool," and it is just the two of us. We aim to go for about 45 minutes a day, from 12-12:45 as Sadie naps. We have now done 5 days of it and I must say I LOVE it. I found a great curriculum to help me out (We are doing a Letter of the Week program) and it's awesome because I can pick and choose but there is PLENTY of material. Tanner is also doing two play dates a week so that he is getting to be with his friends. I thought I would worry more about him being apprehensive about kindergarten next year but I have come to realize that I as his mom can prepare him better for that than a teacher and a class full of other children would.
I kid you not, he did these two white boards one right after the other, yet the progress from the 1st to the 2nd is staggering. Once we got him going he has eaten it up.
A was last week. A is for Alligator. Here is last week's project:
Tanner's favorite part of the day is when he hears me tell Sadie it's time for bed. He get so giddy, and I am thrilled we decided to go this route. In just a week he has made such enormous progress and I am getting over the mom-guilt of him being the 3rd, neglected child. :)
I also bought a zoo pass for the first time in 4 years and we will start going there once a week as a field trip in place of all the writing and boring "work." Can't wait!
5 comments:
good for you! Just yesterday a mom in my class told me how much her son loved coming to mommy & me, and how he asks for it every day, so she wondered if I thought she should consider enrolling him in preschool instead, so he could go every day. I don't preach...unless they ask me. But she asked, so I told her how strongly I feel that children are being deprived of their mother's influence far to young, and are away from their moms for far too much time at too young of an age. You will NEVER get this time back. And no one can fill them like their moms! It certainly wasn't the answer she expected me to give, but she loved having someone validate her. So then she asked what she could/should be doing with him at home. Oh, I did the happy dance inside seeing her own that. So again, good job mom!
Good for you! Just yesterday a mom in my class told me how much her son loved coming to mommy & me, and how he asks for it every day, so she wondered if I thought she should consider enrolling him in preschool instead, so he could go every day. (he's 2 years, 2 momths!) I don't preach...unless they ask me. But she asked, so I told her how strongly I feel that children are being deprived of their mother's influence far too young, and are away from their moms for far too much time at too young of an age. You will NEVER get this time back. And no one can fill them like their moms! It certainly wasn't the answer she expected me to give, but she loved having someone validate her. So then she asked what she could/should be doing with him at home. Oh, I did the happy dance inside seeing her own that. So again, good job mom!
Fun! I love how you do 45 min a day instead of a M/W/F schedule. Do you mind sharing what curriculum/program you choose?
Yay for smarty Tanner!
This makes me so happy. I didn't put Tyler in preschool this year and even though I feel like I am the only one in NC who didn't, I felt like he should be at home. Glad Tanner and you are loving it!
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