up to my neck in the booze pool
Today was Charlie's first day of school. FINALLY. I had two and half blissful hours all to myself. You know what I learned? You can't do jack in two and a half hours. But at least you can do it ALONE.
I went for a long power walk, which will probably leave me completely paralyzed tomorrow (but is, I think, the key to getting rid of the Summer Ass), went to the grocery (no peanut butter--it was a crisis) and took a shower. And ate cereal. And . . . uh, that was it. See? Jack.
Of course I did NOT take Charlie's picture, as this is just Mother's Day Out, which is daycare for stay-home mommies, and not REAL school, and he's the second child and the one who doesn't keep me up at night with the worrying, but now I'm feeling guilty, so here is a random cute picture of Charlie painting, which looks school-like, from our summer vacation.
Who wouldn't love that face? And who wouldn't love to see it GOING TO SCHOOL FOR THE WHOLE DAY?
Charlie had a good first day in his new classroom; they have a toy castle with a Prince and TWO princesses, so what's not to like? When Wade came home tonight, he announced, 'Daddy! I went to school! And I had a snack! FISH CRACKERS!' That was the highlight of his day, apparently.
Henry is also doing well in school, in a totally normal-kid way. I have mentioned in passing how happy we are with this new school, but my god are we ever happy with Henry's new school! Especially Henry's teacher, Mrs. M., who I might have to lick one day soon, I like her so much. She got him to taste an orange, she checked a book on motorcycles out of the library for him, and last week she took care of the bully who has been taking his glasses. I think I have a crush on her.
Yes, a bully. In preschool! Apparently you are never too young to start picking on the kid with the glasses. Even if you are half his size! Which the bully is! Okay, the story is this: 'Jimmy' (not his name, or anything even close to it) takes Henry's glasses, holds them over his head, and refuses to give them back. Of course, Jimmy is so small that over his head is right about nose level for Henry, but we have so drilled into him that you DO NOT grab ANYONE'S glasses that he doesn't even take his back. So not too threatening.
Henry was clearly annoyed by the whole thing; he told us several times that he and Luke won't play with Jimmy because 'Jimmy isn't nice.' And we're such dorks that we were saying, 'Oh, you should try to be nice to Jimmy, so he doesn't feel left out, blah blah blah . . . ' Yeah, whatever. But he wasn't refusing to go to school or waking up screaming Jimmy's name, so we didn't really think too much about it. Because we suck as parents!
But on Friday, at carpool, Mrs. M. marched up to Jimmy's father, who was standing maybe five feet from me, and said, 'Jimmy has been taking Henry's glasses and Henry doesn't like it. I have talked to Jimmy and told him how Henry's mommy and daddy had to go to a special store to get his glasses, how they cost a lot of money, and how Henry can't see without them. I told him that if it happened again I would have to talk to his mommy and daddy. And he did it again today.' Her tone was pleasant but business-like, and she looked Mr. Jimmy right in the face as she spoke. It was clear--to me, if not to him--that she wasn't going to put up with this crap any more. She never said anything to me, but she knew that I was right there and that I heard her. Really, I wanted to kiss her.
I went for a long power walk, which will probably leave me completely paralyzed tomorrow (but is, I think, the key to getting rid of the Summer Ass), went to the grocery (no peanut butter--it was a crisis) and took a shower. And ate cereal. And . . . uh, that was it. See? Jack.
Of course I did NOT take Charlie's picture, as this is just Mother's Day Out, which is daycare for stay-home mommies, and not REAL school, and he's the second child and the one who doesn't keep me up at night with the worrying, but now I'm feeling guilty, so here is a random cute picture of Charlie painting, which looks school-like, from our summer vacation.
Who wouldn't love that face? And who wouldn't love to see it GOING TO SCHOOL FOR THE WHOLE DAY?
Charlie had a good first day in his new classroom; they have a toy castle with a Prince and TWO princesses, so what's not to like? When Wade came home tonight, he announced, 'Daddy! I went to school! And I had a snack! FISH CRACKERS!' That was the highlight of his day, apparently.
Henry is also doing well in school, in a totally normal-kid way. I have mentioned in passing how happy we are with this new school, but my god are we ever happy with Henry's new school! Especially Henry's teacher, Mrs. M., who I might have to lick one day soon, I like her so much. She got him to taste an orange, she checked a book on motorcycles out of the library for him, and last week she took care of the bully who has been taking his glasses. I think I have a crush on her.
Yes, a bully. In preschool! Apparently you are never too young to start picking on the kid with the glasses. Even if you are half his size! Which the bully is! Okay, the story is this: 'Jimmy' (not his name, or anything even close to it) takes Henry's glasses, holds them over his head, and refuses to give them back. Of course, Jimmy is so small that over his head is right about nose level for Henry, but we have so drilled into him that you DO NOT grab ANYONE'S glasses that he doesn't even take his back. So not too threatening.
Henry was clearly annoyed by the whole thing; he told us several times that he and Luke won't play with Jimmy because 'Jimmy isn't nice.' And we're such dorks that we were saying, 'Oh, you should try to be nice to Jimmy, so he doesn't feel left out, blah blah blah . . . ' Yeah, whatever. But he wasn't refusing to go to school or waking up screaming Jimmy's name, so we didn't really think too much about it. Because we suck as parents!
But on Friday, at carpool, Mrs. M. marched up to Jimmy's father, who was standing maybe five feet from me, and said, 'Jimmy has been taking Henry's glasses and Henry doesn't like it. I have talked to Jimmy and told him how Henry's mommy and daddy had to go to a special store to get his glasses, how they cost a lot of money, and how Henry can't see without them. I told him that if it happened again I would have to talk to his mommy and daddy. And he did it again today.' Her tone was pleasant but business-like, and she looked Mr. Jimmy right in the face as she spoke. It was clear--to me, if not to him--that she wasn't going to put up with this crap any more. She never said anything to me, but she knew that I was right there and that I heard her. Really, I wanted to kiss her.
9 Comments:
No the one getting in trouble at pre-school would be mine! But YEAH that it's not Henry this time!
It's the little things to us parents of quirky kids. It's the little things.
What a great story!
I am starting to get a little excited about Daria's first day and what I will do with my 2 1/2 hours 3 days a week.
And, I hope Daria's teacher is as great as Henry's, she sounds wonderful!
AWESOME!!
Wow, that Mrs. M is truly something. Make sure you let her know how much you appreciate her, perhaps before all the licking and kissing. ;)
Fortunately we have the Catholic teacher (this is a Jewish preschool, after all) so I will be purchasing something AWESOME for her at Christmas. Like a new car.
What a great first teacher for him to have! Solved the problem, made the other parent aware, and reassured you that your child is in good hands, all at the same time. She knows her stuff!
Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that Jimmy will get into trouble at home, but it will be for embarrassing daddy, not bullying Henry?
You are sooo right. 2 1/2 hours is not enough time. The problem is that 8 hours is not enough time! I'm more stressed on my one day off a week than I am any other day because I'm trying to cram so much crap into so little time. Ah, well.
I LOVED Henry's response to little Jimmy. It was honest. Authentic. Good for him.
Personally, I think you guys sound like terrific parents.
I hope there is a Mrs. M when my girls go to school!
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