Has it really been a week?

Apparently so.

In some ways we are still trying to find our way and in others it feels so good to be on a routine. LOL.


So far so good. Lindsay doesn't like having to get up to go to school each day and has already started complaining about that. On Tuesday she was out of sorts. She was falling apart over little things, snapped at her teacher (who she adores) and then got in a fight with a kid at the lunch tables. I couldn't get anything out of her other than she didn't like him, she was never going back to school again even though Mrs. P is wonderful. I emailed her teacher to find out what happened and was told that she got mad because the kid was sitting too close to her and wouldn't move. She yelled at him to move and when he yelled back she scratched him so he scratched her back. They both lost a star for not using their problem solving skills. Her teacher said we will work together to help her learn to use a nice tone when turning down help, learn to ask for help rather than falling apart (she does not believe adults really need help -- its all made up when we ask-- so she thinks only babies ask for help and she is not a baby), and learn to deal with different people without getting loud or physical when she is not getting her way.


Using what the teacher told me, I talked to Lindsay and she said he was sitting on her backpack so she asked him to move and he wouldn't. He didn't even say anything, so she asked him again and when he still didn't do anything she yelled at him. He just yelled back in a roar so she tried to make him move. Then she disolved into tears again. We spent some time talking about better ways to handle it when people aren't doing what you need them to/want them to. She doesn't want to be a tattle-tail but she needs to understand that sometimes if you can't work it out yourself you need to talk to the teacher or a parent. I think she was over-tired because she'd refused to go to bed the night before. We had a laid back afternoon and then I got her into bed earlier. Wednesday she had a great day. Today was an okay day. She and and another girl in the class thought it was funny to keep repeating "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!" and then would giggle. Mrs. P asked the other girl to stop and then Lindsay kept going "because she didn't ask me to stop so I didn't know." I told her that just like at home if another person is asked to stop doing something it is not a good idea to do it. My mom says she is so much like my brother was at this age and to be prepared. LOL. Oh man, I think I'm in trouble if she is like he was. He was a handful.


Philip is doing great. He is adjusting, although slowly, to Mrs. T's high expectations of behavior. Yesterday he came home without a warning. Yeah! Last Thursday was a free day because it was the first day back and she was going over the rules. Friday he ended up losing Monday's recess because in the afternoon he got two warnings (the second one means you lose a recess, the third one means you have to write a note and your parents get called, the fourth means you go to the principal's office). Monday and Tuesday he got one warning. Monday's was for messing with his pencil sharpener and Tuesday was for not having all 4 legs of the chair on the floor. She gives general reminders and "class" reminders before she feels compelled to single out a child and have them write up the warning and sign it. He had such a great day yesterday and she saw a termendous jump in his behavior that she emailed me to tell me how good it was. She said to give it about another week and a half of issues at home before it clicks every where with him. She is going to be so good for him both academically and behaviorialy. Unfortunately today he got a warning -- for not pushing in his chair again. Ack! They start telling the kids in Kindergarten to push in chairs when they get up, you would think a 4th grader would already have that part down pat.

Their First Week of School

Can you call it the first week of school when they only went for 2 days?

Some of this I've pulled off posts I made on the age level boards I visit for both kids, so please excuse it if you've already read.

On Wednesday at 4pm we found out who the kids would have as teachers. Philip, 9 and now in 4th grade was thrilled to find out who his teacher was. He got his dream and Mrs. Taylor is teaching the combo class (4th/5th) and he's in it. He was/is over the moon about it. Lindsay, 5 and finally in Kindergarten, has Mrs. Phillips. I'm happy but then I would have been regardless of which teacher she got as we are incredibly lucky to have a wonderful kindergarten team. Heck the whole school is full of great teachers.

Their first day of school was a good one. Philip needs to work on talking. Mrs. Taylor said he's a chatty one, lol. His desk is right next to hers and instead of getting up to ask her questions he would just start talking to her. They got a time out form today that they need to go over with their parents and explain how the classroom discipline works. He's pretty impressed with how on top of things she is. I told him he needs to watch his talking and remember its important to listen to what she has to say and to follow directions. He doesn't have to have a comment about everything.

Lindsay was a bit nervous and put on her serious school face. She said she had fun and enjoyed school but didn't want to smile. The school secretary told her to smile then if she had a good day, lol. In the middle of telling me how her day was she forgot what they had done so she said that was it. You have to love their take on things. She also said "I got in trouble three times. Oh wait, not in trouble but the teacher said my name three different times. She went "Lindsay." and I stopped." I asked her what happened and she said she didn't know. I then asked if she had been talking and not paying attention. That was it, but I had a good time and she didn't even have to threaten to put me in time out. Then after dinner she was telling her dad about her day and said "maybe I didn't get introuble, maybe it was just my turn."

Friday, was another good one. That is despite the fact that Philip got in trouble and is missing recess on Monday. We went over some things for him to do when he can't remember what he was told and got another reminder not to talk so much. His teacher doesn't have time to go over the instructions multiple times and he shouldn't need it. Lindsay's class went on a tour of the school -- they chased the Gingerbreadman all over. The kindergarteners really enjoyed it.

A busy day ahead

Today we have so many things to get done that I think we will be falling into bed.

First up we have the annual summer bash from Lindsay's playgroup. This is the last summer party before they are all in school. I say that even though half of us have already started and the a handful of the group have elected to have their child start next school year. Not surprising considering our playgroup is for kids born between December 02 and December 03. Some kids in the group turn 5 after the cut-off date. The party is going to be fun. We are having it at a local park that is a working farm.

After that, this afternoon we head over to my niece's and nephew's joint birthday party. They are having it at a pool and it will be a blast.

Later it is back home for the regular bedtime routines. The kids are tired from school so adding in all this extra running around and excitement will have them beat.

Oh I should probably come back later today and post about the first few days of school. I'm going to get the hang of blogging and sharing my stuff soon enough. I hope.

Wow a blank slate.

hmmm. What should I post? I'm new at this so bare with me will I find my way around. I talk a lot or should I say I'm wordy in my posts? Any way, I hope I get the hang of this before I bore you all.

I have tons to say and as soon as I find my way around here I'll be posting more. I'll be looking to my friends for help.