1689 Educating those kiddies

Saucy Scale: 10

Oh goodness.  It has been awhile, hasn’t it?

 

We’ve been busy.  Life, whatnot.  General run of the mill daily life variety busy.

 

As summer approaches, many of Gusser’s activities are coming to an end.  Parent’s Day Out (PDO) & Preschool (we’ve taught him to call both of these “school”) are both in the last few weeks.  I’m really looking forward to spring & summer.  I’m tired of being cooped up in the house.  For the moment, we’re illness-free, but that could change at any moment.

 

I hope I’m not one of those awful parents that overbooks her children as a matter of course.  When I look at the calendar, it does appear that we have our agenda a bit booked.

 

During the winter, with the dreadful weather, I got really tired of alternating between cooped up in the house watching Noggin, walks around the mall, and lunch dates with Uncle Boogie or Grandpa for our only sources of “fun”.  I know that if I don’t get dressed and leave the house right away in the morning, that it gets very easy to sit around in your jammies all day.  So, I started taking a class at the YMCA – and putting the boys in childcare there.  Since we’re already in the “Y” so often, I started signing each of the boys up for swim class.  Between all of these, we’re at the “Y” at least 3 days a week (some of our classes overlap on the same day, thankfully).

 

There’s only 3 more weeks of PDO & Preschool.  I am so thankful that he’s had these activities this year.  I can see how much he’s grown this year.  His little brain and his social skills have really flourished.  I’m just thrilled.  We’ll miss his teachers, though. 

 

We’ve decided not to return to the same PDO over the summer.  It has nothing to do with the teachers or anything negative.  The problem is that the summer program is twice a week for a short session.  I don’t want him in “school” twice a week over the summer.  That’s too much.  He’s gotta have some free-time.  So, I found another church offering a 1 day/week sessions for the whole summer.  Which is just perfect.  We’ll miss his current PDO teacher(s), but what can you do?  I’ll just make sure that they get really nice teacher gifts at the end of the year!

 

In the fall, Gusser will stop PDO altogether and his Preschool will go to 2 mornings a week.  It is a play-based preschool program.  I love it.  I love how nurturing and encouraging it is. 

 

Most of my mommy-friends are from our church.  I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this or not… the majority of the families do not fit the “norm” in two ways: 

1. they are QUITE large (5 kids+ is the average)
2. they homeschool their kids (easily 95% of the families homeschool)

So, that being said, I guess you could say that I’ve “drunk the koolaid”.  TBU and I would like to have a few more kids and (*gasp!*) I’m seriously considering homeschooling.

 

As I mentioned, I love his Preschool.  They offer 2 more years of school.  By the time he reaches his 3rd year of Preschool, he’ll be attending 3 mornings a week.  I would not pull him out of traditional Preschool.  I’m considering a gradual addition of a homeschooling curriculum.  I thinkit is good for him to have the social interaction with other kids right now, so there is value to keeping him in Preschool.

 

I am still doing research about homeschooling to know if it is something I might want to continue once the kids are of grade school age (and older). 

 

Over the weekend I was trying to tell my brother about my plan.  I know he didn’t mean to say something awful to me, but he did.  Not only was he not supportive (he’s not a big proponent of homeschooling), but he said something rather hateful. “You can’t get your kids to nap, what makes you think you can make them study?”

 

Ouch.  That really cut me.  I mean, that critical comment is one of those things that shows that someone is questioning your ability to be a good mom.  Suggesting that because my boys (and to be fair, it is Gus with the nap issue, Mattson naps just fine) don’t take traditional naps at home in bed is MY FAULT?!?!?!?!?!  That really hurt.

 

So, when you have your own children, let’s see how easy it is for you.  Until then, keep your opinions about my mothering to yourself.  Because I’m a damn good mom.  I want what is best for my children and I try very hard to be a responsible & loving parent.

I never saw myself as the homeschooling-type.  I’m smart.  TBU is smart.  So, our kids have good little brains to work with.  I think I’ve lacked the confidence to be a great homeschool-teacher.  I would not want to be the reason that my kids turn out to be big dummies.  I think I could handle educating them at the earliest levels.  I’m not sure if I would want to be responsible for their education during the high school years, but there’s a lot of time between now and then to get them into a more traditional school-situation.  Thank goodness TBU is an accountant or my kids wouldn’t be able to balance so much as a checkbook once I’m done with them! 🙂

As there are only 3 more weeks of “school”, that means there are only 3 more weeks until we hop in the minivan and start our trek to Disney World!   Woo Hoo!

Last night I had to take an impromptu shower.  Mattson was apparently jostled a bit too vigorously.  He puked all over my head.  Yes, you read right…my HEAD.  Blech.

Well, I’m looking at the clock and seeing that it is now time for our nap.  Yesterday the boys and I managed a really good nap at home in our beds (as opposed to the car!).  So, there!  We’re hoping for a repeat today.  I’m trying not to get all cocky about it, because you know we’ll never get a good nap once I start to gloat.

Wish us luck.

5 Things That Make Me Happy:

1. Lots and lots of sex as of late.
2. Boys who have been sleeping great at night for a few weeks now.  Mommy is a happier Mommy when she gets a good nights sleep.
3. Boys who napped like champs yesterday. 
4. Mama got a nap too!  Glory Glory Hallelujah, but thtat was a decadent feeling! 
5. My children are amazing.  Mattson is getting so big.  Gus Gus is turning into a little dude.