June 7, 2010

Preschool Begins and I'm Already Late for Summer

crayons Last week should have been a great week. We celebrated Moe's third birthday with a party at Grandma and Grandpa's house, Moe started his new preschool, and I got some of my freedom back. Unfortunately, our sleep issues overshadowed much of that. So while I should have been running up and down the street rejoicing that I can leave the house again, I was so tired I could barely get my butt off the couch.

Still, it was a big week for Moe. He started preschool, and it is going great so far. It is a long day for a little guy, 8:30-2:40, but he's handling it like a champ (though the change in schedule is probably not helping our sleep problems). We adore his teacher, Mrs M, and she and the aides seem to have taken to our little guy right away. Jeff drops him off in the morning and I pick him up, so we're getting a nice routine at home as well. We also get a daily communication log from the teacher with a short note about how the day went. My favorite so far was about playtime with the water table. Apparently, he tried to climb in the water table for a little swim, which everyone thought was very funny.

Having Moe out of the house is a nice break for me. I do miss him, but it is nice to have some time with Jelly Belly. And since I appreciate just being able to get out of the house, even going to the grocery store seems like a real treat. (I'm sure that won't last.) But I am looking forward to signing up for a mommy and me class, and I joined our local YMCA so I can take her swimming and even get some exercise myself (they have childcare - hooray!). In the fall, the mommy friends I met when Moe a baby will start sending their kids to preschool as well, so I'm also looking forward to reconnecting with them and getting our younger babies together for their own playdates.

The big challenge for this week is finalizing our summer schedule. Because of the timing of Moe's birthday, he only gets two weeks of preschool before summer break. Moe qualified for Extended School Year (ESY) services, but that class only runs for four weeks. So we have a five week break at the end of the summer that I need to fill. I'm concerned about not having services for that long because I don't want to lose any progress. Having a break might also make the transition back to school more difficult. All of the private programs I've contacted so far are either full or don't take kids as young as Moe. So I'm at a bit of a loss.

Assuming I can't find a placement for Moe, I'm a little big panicked about what I'm going to do with both kids for that long! I can't take them too many places by myself because Moe will run off. So parks, beaches, museums, zoos and the other great places we have in the area are not possible unless I have help. My wonderful babysitter is traveling for much of that time, so I'm considering hiring some help for those weeks. If I have someone to watch and play with Jelly, I might be able to make it work.

3 comments:

  1. I'm totally with you on the not being able to take two kids places part. I can sometimes handle the playground since I can contain one or both in swings and since I have the stroller with me, but things like children's museums (we have a great one in Philly) are out. Hallie thinks it's funny when I yell 'stop' and, of course she just keeps running. And the museum has too many 'exhibits' (I cannot imagine calling them this, but that's what the museums calls them) that are way too distracting. And, since she has the attention span of a gnat (or a kid with HFA and probably ADHD), she doesn't even notice she's running off. I envy those parents who have a four year old who listens and understands -- really understands -- what is okay and dangerous. Hallie will chase a ball into the street, run off after something that captures her attention, and doesn't truly get that cars, or water, or whatever can hurt her. I've been accused of being helicopterish by now-former friends with typically developing kids.

    Anyway, I hope you can find something for Moe that will provide him with structure and activity and allow you to continue to spend quality time with Jelly Belly during the long break from ESY. I guess we're lucky in that we found a private preschool for Hallie and that it only takes a week off in late June/early July and another at the end of August.

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  2. Thanks, Abby. It's good to hear from others who understand what it can be like. Sometimes I just wish my three year old would act like a three year old.

    We're feeling lucky to have found a good public school program but the schedule is a bummer. Next year, I'll plan earlier. Every day, it's a new lesson learned!

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  3. Followed the link to your blog from SV Moms :-)

    Are you interested in hiring a nanny for the break? I know of a wonderful one who works at a church nursery in Los Altos at the moment, but is looking for more work. She's watched my kids in the past and is fantastic. She also has experience with autism.

    Email me if you'd like me to pass along her info!

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I love comments! Respectful disagreement always encouraged.

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