Changes...

Huge changes have been taking place. At least they feel huge to me. We've seen a huge drop in Isaac's over emotional outbursts and Riley's begun to treasure her independence much more. I had been considering kindergarten and middle school options as they're coming up fast. I told myself I'd investigate after our theme park trip. Sure enough the very next day Riley's wonderful daycare provider/teacher informed me she was going to stop providing care at the end of the month. To say I'd been spoiled is an understatement. Riley has been 10min away in the care of someone we consider family. She's gone to school part time with two of her best friends (they've literally known each other their whole lives) for years. I've never had to worry or second guess. All good things, you know.

I found myself contacting a kindergarten and a pre-school in the same day. Woah! Holy emotional mom, Batman! I want to make the right choices for my kids, but it's so hard to accept change when it forces you to see how much they've grown up. The preschool I like considers her an "older 3." Woah! It is a bit of a drive, but I'm trying to work out a schedule so grandma picks up or drops off part of the time. I've had the ideal scenario a long time so I was prepared for compromises (on convenience not level of care). I'm touring the pre-school a week from Wednesday. If we like it she can stay through VPK.

I was very impressed with the kindergarten (over the phone) and I'll go see it on Friday. I know it's a long way off, but it feels important to be prepared. I want her to love school. In the midst of school choosing she informs me in a very grown-up girl way she'd like to get a hair cut. What?!? Riding theme parks rides alone, getting ready for a new school AND a haircut? There's no baby here. Sigh.

Isaac's trickier because I really like his regular teachers and his school in general, but his gifted teacher is a joke. He's bored and I'm afraid he'll burn out. He never has behavior issues when he does science camp over the summers. I'm hoping to find him a magnet program that will engage him like science camp. Middle school is tough and I want him to have common ground with his peers. Again, I know it's a while off, but like Riley's kindergarten it feels like a huge decision. Probably because it is.

I feel like I spend a good deal of time wishing my kids would just "grow up" and a significant amount of time wishing I could keep them the way they are longer. It's strange that I'll have one going into kindergarten and one going into middle school soon. I was so new to parenting when Isaac started kindergarten. Now he's getting ready to finish elementary school all together. Where did all that time go? Any day now he'll be dating and asking to borrow the car...

Kindergarten

4th Garde