Summer preschool started up this week, and we had a bit of a rocky start. J is just going 3 days a week for the summer, but I'm thinking we might up it to 4 days just to have a more consistent routine. Anyway, on Tues. drop-off was a nightmare. Her teacher had to carry her into the classroom screaming. I felt awful and was again questioning her readiness for preschool. But when I picked her up she was all smiles and told me about all the fun things she had done. Wednesday was a tad better, but there was still crying involved at drop-off. Again she had a great day after the initial tears. So on Thursday, we tried something new at drop-off (thanks to mom for the idea!). The whole way to school we talked about how much fun she would have, the friends she would see, the theme for the day (which was ice cream yesterday), etc. I told her I knew that she was sad when I dropped her off, but she just needed to think about all the fun things she would get to do. We also decided that I would get her out of the van, walk her to the door and give her a big hug and kiss. (They have a drive-up drop-off system, so really I don't even have to get out of the van, which is great.) We talked about what she would do after I left: hang up her coat, put her lunch in the tub, etc. This seemed to make all the difference. I think the combination of being reminded of what happens when she arrives, and me walking her up to the door did the trick. There were NO TEARS! When I picked her up after school, she was wearing a Super Sticker that her teachers gave her for no crying! She was so proud of herself and we made sure she knew that we were proud of her too.
I couldn't get her to take a serious picture, but you can see the Super Sticker on her shirt.
Okay, so this is Lorka (not sure how to spell). Last weekend Janae decided that this bunny, whom she named Lorka (where did that name come from????), was her new best friend. They are inseparable. We accidentally left Lorka at Tami and Dan's house, and a meltdown ensued when J realized it. Needless to say, Jeff and J went on a rescue mission that night.Janae's imagination has really taken off the last few weeks. It is so fun to listen to her play - my favorite was when she created this tiny imaginary family that she 'carried' around in her hands. There names were Doc, Choc, Ducky and Goc (they all rhyme, with the exception of Ducky, sorry I'm not sure about the spelling). I thought it was hilarious!
3 thoughts from friends:
I'm so glad things worked out better when you dropped her off - it sounds like it went over well. And how great of her teachers to recognize her overcoming her struggle with crying at drop-off time. That should help reinforce it.
What a funny kid! It sounds like she's got a wonderful imagination. :)
Your story about the bunny was funny and reminded me of a book that you need to get and share with Jeff and Janae. It is called Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Williams. I think you guys will get a kick out of it.
So glad you were able to recover Lorka. : ) LittleMommy lost her animal one time- at a motel in Soda Springs, ID. We called the people who worked there every day for a week and a half until they found it and mailed it to us. Those were some traumatic days I tell you. She was so happy to have it back that after the initial surprise of finding him in the manilla envelope, she kept putting him back in there so that she could "find" him again. She would look in the envelope and yell, "FOO-PIZE!!!!!" Thank goodness disasters averted.
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