Sorry I've been AWOL from the blog for several months now. Our adjustment back to life here has been considerably more challenging than I anticipated. Ethan is really struggling with boredom in school, and so we are trying to figure out what to do about that. His teacher is great and is really trying to challenge him, but the social environment is what is most detrimental, I think. The Montessori Program combines grade levels, which is a great idea, except that he is in the 3-5 yr old classroom right now, with more 3 and 4 year olds and only 1 or 2 5 year old boys. So we are trying to figure out if it's best to start "bridging" him into the 1st/2nd grade room, or transfer him to a charter school that one of our friends at church runs. He started the school over 10 years ago and it's had a lot of success, as far as we can tell. The only reason we didn't consider it in the first place is that it's about a 20-25 minute drive, versus the current 3 minute drive. And I thought the Montessori program would offer enough opportunity. I still think it's a great philosophy, and I know Reid would thrive in it, and maybe Ethan would do well in the upper level, but I don't know if I want to invest the time learning the philosophy since there are no publicly funded Montessori programs where we will be moving next year. Anyway, we found out that there is a bus that would take him to the other school, so that's what I'm leaning towards, but I don't want to make a rash decision-- I think the other factor we have to consider is routine and consistency, and I don't want to just jump ship so quickly. I had no idea that kindergarten would be this big of a deal!
The biggest reason for our concern has been Ethan's moodiness and lack of friends. The other day when he came home from school and threw a tantrum over some small thing, I sent him to his room. When I went to his room to talk to him about it, he was crying with his head down on the floor. When I asked what was going on, he told me, "I had a bad day at school, and you're making it worse!" When I asked what happened at school, he said, "Well first of all, I broke up with my girlfriend. She found a new boyfriend and told me she doesn't need me anymore." It was all I could do to keep from busting up laughing. It was so funny and so sad at the same time. Anyway, that's the nutshell version (longer than I anticipated)... needless to say, trying to maintain happiness at home has been my challenge for the past month.
Reid is definitely balancing things out because he tells me literally a dozen times a day, "I love you, mommy" or "you're beautiful" or "you're so sweet." I'm sure it won't last forever, but I'm enjoying it while I can, and I am so grateful that one of my kids appreciates me.
Luke was sick last week, so along with dealing with Ethan's outbursts, I was wiping Luke's nose, full-time. He's better this week, and more mischevious than ever. He literally makes messes faster than I can clean them. He loves to use his tummy as a canvas for his markers.
Fred & Nori, I hope you enjoy your well-deserved trip. It sounds very "quaint" and the perfect kind of trip to take in the Fall.
I don't know if Derek has informed all of you, but he will be there for interviews 11/11-11/21. (Cami & Jason, he'll be in your neck of the woods11/17-19.)
Have a great week! I love you all!
