I have been trying to decide for quite sometime what to do about the education of my children. Because of CD's speech delay, she will be starting preschool when she turns 3 - and most likely even before that to help with transitioning. Up until now she has been involved with quite a bit speech therapy, occupational therapy, and even physical therapy (in the beginning) plus some language classes and gymnastics. For the last year we mainly have just had therapy at home. But now that her speech is coming along at an exciting rate, we have started the language classes again. Through all of this CJ has been great. He likes to participate in the home visits and comes along to the classes even though he doesn't sit through them - he plays in a back room with other siblings. Anyway, because of all the attention and special things CD gets to do, I have been feeling like CJ is being left out. He is so ready for school and won't be able to start Kindergarten until next year. Especially now that CD is starting some classes, he wants to go to class too.
So I have been contemplating whether or not to send CJ to preschool. He is such an intelligent boy I really don't think he needs it academically. But I know he could gain from the structure of it and of course the social aspect. So I have been fighting with myself, "Is it really worth paying money (a lot to me) to send my boy to preschool that he doesn't need?". I have been asking myself this for awhile. In the meantime, I hadn't done any research to even find out about preschools in the area.
Well, my visiting teacher happens to have a sister who teaches preschool right here in Nibley where we live. Tanna (my VT) mentioned this to me awhile ago and I have been thinking about it but never asked for more info or pursued it. Then Tanna came for a visit yesterday morning. Once again we started talking about preschool. She left me the name (Megan) and number of her sister with some details before she left. That afternoon I called Megan and asked about her preschool. She gave me the details, told me she still had openings in her afternoon class and that school started the next day (today). I said, "sounds good, let's do it".
So this afternoon at 12:15, I took CJ to a house I never have been to, to meet someone I had only talked to once on the phone, and left him there! That's right, I took CJ to preschool today to a complete stranger. All I really knew is that it was Tanna's sister Megan and that I trust Tanna. So he is there at this moment hopefully having the time of his life and behaving (finger's crossed). He will go on Tuesday and Thursday's from 12:30-3pm.
Last night in order to get CJ ready and excited to be starting school all the sudden, we went and bought him a backpack. While at the store we also went ahead and bought CD one too because she will most likely start school herself within the next couple of months. Here is a picture of the kids sporting their backpacks before taking CJ to preschool this afternoon.
I told the kids to say "preschool" while I took the picture. CD may look like she is clapping because she is signing the word "school" - the sign, hitting one hand on top of the other as if you are clapping.
Aren't they adorable?! I have no problem with the idea of CJ in preschool - I'm ready, he's ready. But the thought of sending my baby who isn't even 3 yet to school,... TERRIFYING!!
Then on our way home from our trip, we stopped at Grandma & Grandpa Parker's house Sunday evening. There CJ had cupcakes and more presents to open.
Overall I'd say all of his celebrations were a big hit! What a big boy our little 5 year old is! It's hard to believe that he is that old already. What joy he brings to our lives each day!
Overall I'd say all of his celebrations were a big hit! What a big boy our little 5 year old is! It's hard to believe that he is that old already. What joy he brings to our lives each day!
