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The family keeps on coming

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

With Ken away, Reid and I are particularly grateful for visitors. It keeps us from staring at each other at meals wondering what else we can say to each other. Okay, it would be more accurate it gives me a grown up to speak with and frees Reid for the requirement to provide me with all sorts of stories about her day, which she generally won’t share in any case.

Uncle Dave came to visit on Tuesday. He was there when we got home. Even better than just being there, if I can be selfish or self-centred or something, he was in my garage fixing the garage door opener. For reasons that escape me, the door has been stopping about a foot from the ground and then re-opening. If you hold the button down for the last foot, the door would close. But you had to remember that little trick. Last month, I forgot when I left to go to camping at the KOA and my neighbour was nice enough to disengage the electric apparatus and close the door manually. On Friday, when Aunt Pam took my car to be cleaned, she didn’t know about the trick and also had to close the door manually. While the door has had this foible for quite a while, and we’ve tried to get it sorted out a couple of other time, it only seemed urgent when the “what if” scenarios that I imagine started getting scary. For example, I usually remember to lock the house door but what if I forget and the garage door is open? Or, what if the garage door stays open and someone steals my super-expensive winter tires? And then Uncle Dave got on his white charger and rode to our rescue…

Reid was also glad to see Uncle Dave. I think she appreciates his laid back attitude. Maybe it’s the fact that he is the quiet one in a loud family. As soon as Reid saw Uncle Dave in the garage, she went out to join him. I’m not sure if she talked his ear off, spoke a bit or just watched. She definitely didn’t want to come in. Well, she came in to get me to come out so that she could show me his dirty hands. She was *very* impressed. It’s obvious, I guess, that Ken and I aren’t handy in that way.

Aunty Amanda came for supper on Tuesday night, too. Uncle Dave seemed a bit surprised that I actually have friends and wanted to know how we met. He has spent so many years as my brother-in-law that he thinks that he is entitled to say such things. Imagine! We managed to chat about this and that and we had a nice supper all together (I think).

When I woke Reid on Wednesday morning and told her that she needed to get ready for school, she told me that I was wrong. She said that Uncle Dave was at our house for and visit and she needed to stay to keep him company. If we were still in the loosey-goosey days of day care, that would have been the case but with school it seems Reid should attend. Uncle Dave took us to Reid’s school and then me to my bus stop. It was a nice treat for us and meant we wouldn’t have two cars at Reid’s swimming lesson after school.

Except that her swimming lessons were cancelled due to lack of enrollment. I talked with a teacher about the value of her attending a class at the level below the one she is currently at, since my biggest goal is to get her into the water twice a week, but learned that the class below was full. Ah, well, it was worth a try. Reid was disappointed that the class was cancelled but even more so that Uncle Dave wouldn’t be able to watch. She loves it when people come to her lessons. I love it, too, because she “shows off” by trying some moves that she hesitates at when it’s just me and/or Ken.

So, if you’re able to come for a visit, please don’t object if we end up pool side.

Posted in Barbara's family, School | Comments Closed

Finding our school routine

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Reid and I made it to our respective schools on time Monday morning. As I mentioned, I had packed the things we needed to take with us and even set the table. I’ve been reading a story before Reid is even out of bed. It serves as good transition from sleep to rushing around getting ready and Reid loves her stories even more than she loves snuggling back to sleep when she is tired. The need to see the pictures forces her to open her eyes. According to my plan, Reid gets dressed before we go downstairs. We’re 2 for 3 this week on that ;+) I do her hair at bed time and has to get really, really messed up for me to fix it in the morning. Reid might not be runway ready in the morning but she is tidy enough.

Reid was the first kid to pre-care at 7:15 on Monday and Tuesday although a couple more followed us in. At her old day care there were kids at the door promptly at 7:00 when the day care opened and a 7:15 arrival wouldn’t have guaranteed Reid a place in the first 5. I wasn’t as organized on Monday night and so on Tuesday morning and Reid ended up eating her “apple oatmeal hot” (Quaker packet of oatmeal cereal) in the car on the way. I’d even had to put it in the freezer to cool it so that it would be ready to eat. This morning Reid decided that she was going to alternate between apple and raisin oatmeal hot (as opposed to the cold Oatmeal Crisp that Ken has). Cold cereal is a disaster in the car; given the glob of oatmeal I pulled off Reid’s jumper this morning, I’m not sure how much better the hot cereal is.

My bus ride downtown in the mornings has been smooth. It took a bit of time on Monday to locate a street where I could legally park my car for the day but once that was accomplished, I settled in to enjoy my bus ride. I find it much less stressful and like having the time to write. I also like avoiding the $15 per day parking charge, gas cost and wear and tear on the car – like the marks the one valet put on it. The buses in front of day care didn’t pass often enough for me take them but my new route is supposed to pass every 9 minutes. And it does, as far as I can tell, in the morning.

That last comment was dramatic foreshadowing, you know. On Tuesday night my bus was late, the skies opened, and I was afraid I’d end up paying the $40 administrative fee plus $1 per minute late fee. I made it in under the wire but can’t say how much I enjoyed the bus ride or found it much less stressful than being in my car ;+)

When I pick up Reid, I get to read her Communication Book and it tells me, through a series of pictures, about:
* her emotional state: cloudy/withdrawn; small sun/pleasant; big, bright sun/happy
* her appetite: full apple/didn’t eat much; half apple/ate some; apple core/ate well
* solo child/played alone; two children/participated in some group activities; three children in a group/participated fully
* window/played in yard; tire swing/playground; school bus/field trip; and
* the words “nap” and “relaxation.

So far Reid has always had her bright sun and apple core circled. Reid said that she prefers the food that Todd prepared at day care but she seems to manage to eat what is offered. The first day or two she participated somewhat but has since been very involved. Sometimes she has a brief nap but mostly she rests. The kids have played in their play yard and in a park on the grounds and they were in the gym for a couple of free play periods. Reid had been asking about the gym for weeks and was happy for the rainy days.

There is also a section where the teacher writes a note. I promise not to report on everything the teacher writes but here is the first week’s worth of comments:

Sept 2: Reid had an excellent morning and joined all the activities.
Sept 3: Super Duper Day!
Sept 4: Reid has an awesome and calm disposition. She seems very attentive and focused.
Sept 5: Reid is really coming out of her shell. She talks to her teachers and peers a lot.
Sept 8: Reid had a fun day and enjoyed the park.
Sept 9: Reid enjoyed the gym very much and was very attentive at circle time.
Sept 10: I really appreciate that Reid can identify and write her own name. Thank you. (The teacher had underlined “really appreciate” twice. I’ll have to pass along the thanks to Reid’s day care teachers.)
Sept 11: Reid has adapted very well to this environment and is doing great.

Posted in Mama, School | 1 Comment »

Commuter stress

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

I blogged this “live” but didn’t get it posted before the update at the end:

I’m on a bus that was 30 minutes late – that’s the length of time when 3 buses of the same route are supposed to pass my bus stop – and I’m about 25 minutes from Reid’s school. There is a good chance that I’m going to end up paying the penalty for being late. In Reid’s 3+ years of care, I’ve never had to pay that fee. I can see needing to plan for extra time in my commute but twice the required time seemed reasonable to me. For now, I’m at the mercy of OC Transpo and I’m wondering how the late-fee compares to the $15 parking fee (plus gas money) that I was bragging about saving earlier today.

Update:

For all my stress (and whining) I got to the school at 5:22. On the up side, I wasn’t even the last parent to arrive. On the down side, it was stressful! Reid said that she had waited and waited for me and, while she was waiting, she had hurt her hand and washed it in the little sink to make it feel better. No guilt there, eh?

Posted in Career, School | 17 Comments »

Post-school report

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Reid was reluctant to leave when I returned to her classroom at 11:00 Tuesday. She smiled when I came in but continued playing. I told her we needed to go but she thought I was wrong. The returning students were able to stay for the full day and Reid wanted to do the same. Natalie said that Reid had had a “fabulous morning” and that she had participated in all activities. Those 3+ years in day care paid off, I guess.

Reid told me that they sang “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” with only 3 animals, played outside and had bagels and apple sauce for snack. She didn’t remember any of the kids’ names and couldn’t tell us any French words that she had learned, although she said that she had learned one new word. Reid said Natalie is nice and so is the teacher’s aide, Kevin, but she didn’t remember his name either. I did see her playing near the other kids, though.

Reid is very fond of one of the toys that were set out – a set of graduated “blocks” that start with a small diamond and then move to hollow squares. Fully assembled, the blocks make a pyramid. When we first arrived, Reid played with play dough for a bit and then moved to the blocks and she was there again when I picked her up. They’re more challenging to stack than traditional blocks and the results are interesting. Reid may also associate them with being a big kid as Melissa’s kids have them, too.

The classroom is very bright and open. There are windows along one wall that overlook a garden with flowers and hedges, a strip of grass and then the parking lot. There were 3 or 4 tables, each set with a different activity and then blocks on the carpet where circle is held and a little book nook. Reid’s cubby is in an alcove where there is also a sink. The cubby set up is similar to what Reid had at day care, though the alcove is small enough that is will loud and crowded while they’re getting they’re snow gear on this winter. I won’t be there for that part, though, thank goodness! The kids go down the hall to the bathrooms that are also shared with the rest of the recreation complex. At the official “bathroom times”, they post a sign that keeps the general public away and otherwise the children are accompanied as needed. Outdoor play takes place in a little courtyard bordered by the library, hall to the classrooms and the pool (all are connected). I snuck down the hall to the library yesterday morning, past the windows looking onto the courtyard but when I went to leave the library, I realized Reid couldn’t help but see me through yet another wall of windows. I got quite a few chances to see her as I peeked around the bookshelves waiting for outside play to end so that I could get back to the cafe where the other parents were waiting.

We spoke briefly with Dylan, Zachary, Melissa and even Roy (him briefest of all) last night. Dylan seemed interested in Reid’s first day since he had yet to take the plunge but he got only a laconic, “It was good.” Some day, they’ll be able to exchange better information but probably not until they’re old enough to dial the phone themselves, I guess.

We owe a few phone calls to kind folks who have called recently (this means you, Uncle Roger and Aunt Karin) but by the time dinner is over we’re already late for our going to bed routine. I’m glad Reid is going to bed earlier but we’ve developed slow and bad habits to fill the time she used to stay up. We’ll call, soon. At least I hope I can get things better-organized soon. I have Grandma Joyce and Aunt Pam helping me this week and if I can’t do it with them here, Reid and I will be in for a world of hurt or at least many tearful mornings after too-short nights.

When Pam took Reid to school on Wednesday morning – I can’t take her and get to my school on time – Reid walked away while Pam was signing her in. Natalie told Pam that she didn’t need to stay at the complex, as was written on the integration instruction sheet, because Reid wasn’t going to need her. Pam said she felt a bit lost as she walked away. She had brought a book, knitting an MP3 player to help her pass the 4 hours that she had expected to wait at the complex. Having spent less than half that long in the hard chairs Tuesday, I am sure her bum was much happier.

Posted in Barbara's family, Dylan, School, Zachary | 22 Comments »

Through the big doors to school – Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

View More Wordless Wednesday Participants, look at my previous Wordless Wednesday entries, or check out the Wordless Wednesday HQ. Youll find lots of cute babies and kids at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Posted in School, Uncategorized, Wordless Wednesday | 7 Comments »

Ready for school

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

I have a few Mama jitters as I sit here waiting for Reid’s first morning of school to wrap up. I have no reason to worry she didn’t so much as look misty-eyed as she waved to me when I left her classroom.

I was late getting Reid bathed last night and so she got to bed half an hour late. After all of the prodding it took to get her not to nap, I felt particularly guilty. Reid has been having many dreams lately and last night was no exception. She was even awake for most of the hour between 2 and 3 am. For the most part, she laid quietly but finally she said, “I wish it were tomorrow already.” I told her that I thought that she might be thinking about school and that she should rest up for her big day. Of course with a restless and broken night under her belt, I had to wake Reid up this morning. She was still feeling quiet when Ken called. Reid always wears a smile when she hears Ken’s voice but she doesn’t always talk to him. I decided to give her some tickles from him. It’s the sort of thing that he would do if he were here and it lets him hear her giggles.

Reid decided that she and I should eat the same cereal for breakfast from the same colour of bowls and we did, if you consider that I insisted on having the honey-nut variety of Cheerios while she ate plain. Reid has tried honey-nut Cheerios and found them wanting. For the first time in forever, Reid ate her cereal quickly. That’s how excited she was about school. I helped her dress and Aunt Pam tried to document the process for Ken’s benefit. Reid was camera-shy but I think I’ll have some more pictures to upload later. Putting on the blue jumper and white blouse that makes up Reid’s uniform (with other variations) completed Reid’s transformation from preschooler to school girl. I can’t believe that she is old enough to be in Junior Kindergarten. Or maybe I am not ready for that to be true ;+) We took some photographs on the way out and in front of the house. I will have to dig up the photos of Ken, Reid and I by the house when Reid was just days old for comparison’s sake.

Aunt Pam and Grandma Joyce drove us to school and we staged a couple more photos on the way in. Aunt Pam asked Reid to open the door of the school so that I could get a picture of my little girl pulling on the big door. Reid marched over to the automatic door opener, pushed it, and strode confidently through. That’s the difference between her and I, I think. I see her as my baby and she is increasingly finding ways to make her own way in the world. In the classroom, Reid chose an activity table and I joined her. She spoke a bit to the other kids. We saw L, a little girl we’d met on Friday, and they smiled at each other. Later, Le came to play with us and when a couple of other kids started crying, L started to cry, too. I spoke to her until Natalie noticed and then I encouraged Reid to offer L a hand to help her feel better. Reid was speaking to her when I left the room.

I’m eager to hear Reid’s stories tonight, if she’ll tell any. She might, though, because she has decided that now that she is in school she must prepare to be an adult. At bedtime last night, Reid told me that she is planning to watch my shows tonight, especially the news. When I asked, she told me that kids in school need to be like big people. I told her that I knew Danielle wasn’t old enough to watch the news yet and, in fact, wasn’t even sure if Suli and Chantelle were old enough. What a lot of responsibility seems to come with Junior Kindergarten! I’ll keep trying to convince Reid that there are many, many steps between JK and adulthood.

I spoke a bit with a couple of other parents in the first hour of waiting and then snuck to the library to post pics and write this. I’ll have to keep in touch with at least one lady. The francophones sat together and I am not confident when approaching new people, especially in groups, and particularly groups where I need to speak my second language. But I will.

Hope you’re all enjoying your back to school day, even if only in memories.

Posted in Barbara's family, Mama, School | 1 Comment »

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