The Honeymoon is Over!!!

Micah's first week of kindergarten is over and so is the honeymoon period. He is still loving school. It is just that, well, school is not really loving him. Micah's teacher rates their behavior every day on a color scale - purple is the best (lunch in the classroom on Friday), blue (prize from the jar), green (pat on the back for doing what is expected), yellow (5 minute time out at recess) and red (10 minute time out at recess). The teacher sends home a notebook every day with their color that day and other important information. This is how it went down:

1st day of kindergarten: green
2nd day of kindergarten: yellow
3rd day of kindergarten: red
4th day of kindergarten: red
5th day of kindergarten: yellow

On the 4th day, Richard got a call from the principal. Micah had taken a bunch of scissors and wanted to cut when it was time to do a coloring activity.

Teacher: Put the scissors away.
Micah: No
Teacher: Go move your name to yellow.
Micah: No
Teacher: Put the scissors away.
Micah: No
Teacher: Go move your name to red.
Micah: NO!!! (throwing the scissors on the ground)

That is when the teacher called the principal in and they called Richard and asked him to come to the school to have a talk with Micah. I must admit - my initial reaction was that of relief when I heard that he only yelled at the teacher. At least he didn't show her any of his preschool antics of kicking, spitting, hitting....I am sure he is saving those for this next week.

Ugh....I don't want Micah to be labeled "the bad kid". He has taken up with another little boy and the teacher said they like to get into trouble together. They have been found (on two occasions) in the bathroom with their pants down after they had already gone to the bathroom. That was the reason for red one of the days.

I am hoping and praying that this past week was one of adjustment and things will settle down. Richard and I went in and spoke with the teacher on Friday. I explained to her, "I was in the principal's office all the time in kindergarten...but I promise you...I am a very productive member of society now!"

We are trying to think of creative ways to reward Micah for good behavior at school and home. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Also, donations of your prayer time will be accepted graciously!

Things that Lift me Up

A Quiet House

9:00 p.m. and all is well with the world. At least, all is well within my world. My house has not been this quiet at this time of night....since April 24, 2004 when Micah came into this world. Richard is at school. The boys are both asleep. Even the dog has calmed her incessant barking.

I remember when Micah was born and I asked my sister Keri, "When do they start sleeping through the night???" In her all her motherly wisdom she replied, "When you absolutely think you cannot take another night of no sleep." I thought she was crazy, but just as I came to my breaking point....Micah blessed me with zzzzzzs.

Lately I have asked, "When do they start going to bed at a decent hour?" My mom promised me, "Kindergarten. I guarantee you he will go to sleep better at night when he starts kindergarten. I know it totally wore you out".

When I get to heaven, the first thing I am going to thank God for is Kindergarten.

Now.....what to do with myself since I have the rest of this night to myself.... (yawn)

Rites of Passage

Micah's First Day of Kindergarten

For months we have been preparing for this one event - school shopping, hair cuts, reading books like "Miss Bindergarten goes to Kindergarten" and "The Kissing Hand", and even braving the "back to school" aisle at Wal-mart. Richard and I decided we would start the new school routine two weeks out in order to make sure we had it down pat. We would get up at 6am, out the door by 7:30am and to the school by 7:45am....every day we prepared to prepare....every day we failed miserably. I was very nervous that we would not be able to perform when faced with the real thing. But here it was...staring us in the face....

August 3, 2009

Richard entered the room of the sleeping dragon. He pulled the foot out from under the blanket and attempted to cover it with a sock...it recoiled in sleepiness. Richard dared to speak out against the sleeping dragon. "Micah, you need to wake up. Today is the first day of kindergarten." To Richard's surprise, the blanket came flying off and the sleeping dragon popped out of bed. He threw on his clothes and shoes, headed straight for the van, climbed into his seat and put his seatbelt on. To both of our amazement the dragon even turned down breakfast. A morning routine that normally took, near I say an hour, and involved breathing fire, harsh words and looks that could kill - had been reduced to less than five minutes in all. Wow! We should have done this kindergarten thing a long time ago!

Of course, the scrapbooking, nostalgic mother that I am...I had to take pictures. But do you think that child would get out of the car? NOOOOO. He told me I could take a picture of him in his carseat! I was finally able to snap a few once we arrived at the school but was shooed away like the papparazzi! I barely got a hug and a kiss goodbye! I guess I should be glad that my child wasn't the one screaming and wrapped around my upper thigh.

So, we survived the first day of kindergarten. Micah talked more tonight at the dinner table than he has....well, ever! He told us all about Chester the racoon and the book "The Kissing Hand", which is a book we have at home. They toured the school looking for Chester the racoon. When the found him they returned to the classroom for paw shaped cookies with a hershey kiss in the middle. When I asked him what his favorite part of the day was he replied, "EVERYTHING!!!!" I guess that means he wants to go back tomorrow.

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