Connor's First Day of PreSchool 2010

 MY SUPER BIG PRESCHOOLER

Ten Commitments For Parents

1. I will always love and respect my child for who he is and not who I want him to be.
   
2. I will give my child space - to grow, to dream, to succeed and even sometimes to fail.
   
3. I will create a loving home environment and show my child that she is loved, whenever and however I can.
   
4. I will, when discipline is necessary, let my child know that I disapprove of what he does, not who he is.
   
5. I will set limits for my child and help her find security in the knowledge of what is expected of her.
   
6. I will make time for my child and cherish our moments together, realizing how important - and fleeting - they are.
   
7. I will not burden my child with emotions and problems he is not equipped to deal with, remembering that I am the parent and he is the child.
   
8. I will encourage my child to experience the world and all its possibilities, guiding her in its ways and taking pains to leave her careful but not fearful.
   
9. I will take care of myself physically and emotionally, so that I can be there for my child when he needs me.
   
10. I will try to be the kind of person I want my child to grow up to be - loving, fair-minded, moral, giving and hopeful.
    
    
    author unknown

Connor had his first day of Preschool today and was so excited and happy to be there. Don bought him a new Phillies backpack to have as a special gift and I think he was more excited about his new sneakers and shoes than anything else.  We had orientation on Monday morning and Connor showed Mara and I his classroom and they got to play for about an hour. We met both of his teachers and all the kids in his class. There are 10 kids in his class this year, so it is great because it is such a small class size. All the kids must have went to the school last year because everyone seems to know one another, but Connor seemed to fit right in and I introduced him to a couple of the other boys so he had someone to recognize on his first day.

Connor and Mara exploring together in his new classroom. Mara didn't want to leave, she was having so much fun with all the toys, kitchen sets and dress up clothes.

Connor showing off his new Phillies Backpack. This will probably be the only time it leaves the house totally empty. I did put a lunch bag in there for his snack just in case, but when I got there they informed me that they provide the snack and juice/water everyday. So I only have to worry about packing a bag for the days that he goes to lunch bunch which starts in a few weeks.

All smiles and no tears on his first day of school. I am so glad I waited to send him to preschool until this year when he is totally ready and really excited to be there. I thought I was going to cry leaving him there for the first time, but having Mara with me just seemed to make my sadness go away. I just kept thinking that he is going to have to much fun and I can spend a few weeks with just Mara and I in the mornings until the baby comes. It's very rare that she gets any one on one time with just her Mommy.

Of course all the pictures I tried to take she just kept jumping right in, I really felt bad for her that she couldn't stay too. When we went to pick Connor up they were playing outside on the playground for the last five minutes and she didn't understand why she couldn't go behind the gates and play too. Connor came running over to me when he was done and was so happy and said I was the best mom ever for letting him go to school.

As soon as we got into the building we went downstairs to put his backpack in his cubby and then headed upstairs to his class. They immediately made all the kids wash their hands and then they were able to play with play doh until all the kids arrived. He met his first little classmate sitting next to him and it was super cute. She said, "hi, I'm Isabella" and Connor said, "hi, I'm Connor". They did have his name plate spelled wrong so I mentioned that his name was with an or not an er and hopefully that is fixed on Friday. After play doh they were going to start right in with circle time and their projects. They are starting the year off with the numbers zero to ten so today's number was 0. He had to cut it out with scissors,which he said he needed a little help with, but hopefully soon he will get the hang of it. After the numbers they were able to do a fun craft and made a picture of a mouse that was adorable.

I think he had a great experience with his first day of school and can't wait to go back again Friday.

Memo From Your Child
1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all that I ask for. I'm testing you.
   
2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it; it makes me feel more secure.
   
3. Don't let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
   
4. Don't make me feel smaller than I really am. It only makes me behave stupidly "big".
   
5. Don't correct me in front of people if you can help it. I'll take much more notice if you talk to me privately.
   
6. Don't make me feel my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
   
7. Don't protect me from consequences. I sometimes have to learn the painful way.
   
8. Don't be too upset when I say, "I hate you." It isn't you I hate, but your power to thwart me.
   
9. Don't take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
   
10. Don't nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
    
11. Don't forget that I can not explain myself as well as I should like; this is why I'm not always accurate.
    
12. Don't make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
    
13. Don't tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.
    
14. Don't be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
    
15. Don't tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real to me and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
    
16. Don't put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and get my information elsewhere.
    
17. Don't ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
    
18. Don't ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.
    
19. Don't forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be difficult to keep pace with me, but please, do try.
    
20. Don't forget that I love experimenting. I couldn't get along without it so please put up with it.
    
21. Don't forget that I can't thrive without lots of understanding love, but I don't need to tell you that do I?
    
    
    by Thomas C. Ritt, Jr., Arizona ACLD Newsletter December, 1975

And Lastly, For his Teachers...

You Never Know

You never know when someone
might catch a dream from you.
You never know when a little word
or something that you might do,
May open up a window
of a mind that seeks the light.

The way you teach may not matter at all,
but you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be
that another's life through you
might change for the better
with a broader, brighter view.
It seems it might be worth a try
to do what you know is right.

The way you teach may not matter at all,
but you never know, it might.


author unknown

Thank you to Teacher Lori and Teacher Judy for providing  Connor with all that he needs to know before he starts his journey in kindergarten next fall. I know he will be well loved and only get the best out of both of you.