sigh...it's over

Sophie wrapped up Kindergarten today.
What more can I say?

Boucles d'Or et les Trois Ours

or Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.
Sophie was one of the narrators in this play that her Kindergarten class did for all of the parents today. We are pretty proud of her!

She later told me that her ballet and tap classes and the recitals she has done have helped prepare her for being on stage and that she didn't find it "too scary." My, I don't think I could have done what she is doing in Kindergarten.

She said her lines very clearly and her hard work really paid off.

She posed for a photo with her buddies Hunter and Cami later. Look out Grade 1 :)

kindergarten craft #3

This morning was my 3rd (and final for the year) craft with Sophie's class.

I bought these cute little kits from Oriental Trading. The kids' ability to assemble the crafts has improved a lot since the first time we did this back in December. Sophie was my designated helper and she went from table to table helping her classmates.

I think they all had fun and some of the kids said they will be giving the sun magnet to their dads for Father's Day.

*****

After baths tonight, the kids watched this video that we borrowed from their daycare. Very educational about farming and equipment. Sophie actually enjoys it, and Fynn LOVES it. He is a tractor fiend.

field trip

Today was field trip day to the Okanagan Science Centre. 42 kindergarten kiddos and a gathering of adults made their way on a big yellow bus (and a few cars) down to Vernon. We had a blast (in spite of not being able to go to the water park due to the rain). Instead we played at Polson Park.

The coolest parts of the day:
1. Getting to see Sophie having fun with the other kids in her class.
2. Eating lunch from a kids' lunch kit (just like all the other parents).
3. It was also good for me to simply be around the other kids in the classroom. Confirmation that Sophie is developing very normally.
4. Watching what happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda - blast off!
5. Making friends with the kids in my group. I think some of the little girls are really starting to get used to me. I get called "Sheri" and "Sophie's mom" a lot.
6. Getting to chat with Doris on the ride to and from Vernon.

going back to school

For me, that is. Today was my first morning volunteering in Sophie's Kindergarten classroom. I was there from 8:15 - 10:15. It was a really rewarding experience. I had brought in the little mitten kits from Oriental Trading. As soon as I set them out in rows on the table, the kids were clamouring around to see what they were all about and they wanted to start making them. (these kits are now out of stock on their website).

Sophie's teacher needed to do some morning routine things with them first and she explained a little about the mitten in French (the colours, etc).

Then we got into creating. With 22 kids glueing little bits of buttons and foam bits on the little mitten, her teacher and I were busy hopping between the 3 tables. The kids did great, however. Lot's of "Sophie's mom, can you help me?" which was very nice to hear. After the mittens we went to the library. That was a bit like hearding sheep or cats because the children had to line up quietly and walk single file down the hallways to the library which is across the building. By the time we finished that and had snack, it was time for me to go.

Lots of fun and the teacher said she was really happy with the project I chose. I told her I would love to come back in February and do a Valentine's day craft.

a major meltdown

Sophie was doing her best to dawdle this morning and it was getting close to bell time when I told her that we MUST get in the car. She complained about me rushing her on the entire trip to school. By the time we got there she had worked herself into a tizzy. She had a complete meltdown in the cloakroom with tears, sobbing, the whole thing. "Don't leave me, I'm so scared...." and so on. Ugh.

After 3 hugs and having her teacher physically pull her off me I left. I was frazzled when I got to work but needed to be present for a meeting. I called her principal a bit later on and spoke to him about her behavior and if he had any strategies for dealing with it. It doesn't occur that often, but when it does it rattles everyone. He has seen behavior like Sophie's before and suggested that I have a talk with her about her job is to go to Kindergarten and my job is to go to work. I'm to leave her at the door of the Kindergarten and not go inside even when Sophie begs me to. It might be hard at first but likely better in the long run. He did say that he has heard some experts speak to the fact that kids who are very attached to the parents often avoid "attachments with undesirables" when they are 13 or 14. So, what is annoying and disruptive behavior now, will hopefully serve us in good stead when she is older. I know I was that way as a kid, too, so she comes by it naturally.

Tonight, Sophie and I are going to try out one of her mitten ornaments that came from Oriental Trading. We are going to do these with her class next week, so a test run tonight is in order.

I'm almost ready for bed. Don't know if I'll keep my eyes open since I've been up since 5:45am to hit the early morning fitness class. I love getting my work out over and done with so I don't have to worry about it later on.

first day of Kindergarten

I drove Fynn into daycare at 8:30am and then drove Sophie and myself back to my office. She sat in a chair and drew while I did a bit of work. Then I took her over to her school for a 9:45am start (just for today). It was only a 45 minute class. After school was over I drove her back to daycare. Needless to say, my work was a bit disjointed today.

Myself and another mom stayed in the coat/cubby area and watched the class. I could have left the room and waited outside, but it was raining and most importantly I promised Sophie I would be there. Every now and then she turned around and made eye contact with me just to make sure everything was okay. And it was.

They spoke a little French, spoke more English, learned some classroom rules (put away your stuff, try to do things yourself, quite when the teacher rings her little chime). When the teacher asked if anyone knew where the bathroom was, I was so proud of Sophie for putting up her hand and saying where it was (of course, she would have scoped out the bathroom...she's a little OCD that way with knowing where toilets are!).

She wasn't thrilled with having her picture taken this morning, but I think that was nerves. She comes by it honestly.

In the end, I'm so glad she seemed to like it. That was all I was hoping for. Being a parent is not easy, as any parent will tell you.