The K Word

I officially enrolled the girls in KINDERGARTEN today. I was trying to live in my own little world of denial, but the reminder e-mails kept coming, the information packets in the mail, the gentle shoves (sp?) from Grandparents...so I did it.  The actual process wasn't a big deal once I located their immunization records, but the realization of what I was doing knocked the wind out of me as I typed.  I called my mom three times during the process, because she's an expert both on the system I was using, and in making me come back down to earth.  I think I covered my hesitation and excuses for calling pretty darn well. ha.

Don't get me wrong, they are ready for Kindergarten (besides one of their preschool teachers reservations which I will go into later).  They are ready, socially, academically and mature enough to handle it. I'm ecstatic about this, we are SO INCREDIBLY lucky to have healthy, happy,amazing little girls.  The question is are we ready for them to be so grown up? I sometimes feel like I continue to do far too many things for them, maybe wishing for the underlying effect of keeping them "small." It's not working. They are growing up before our eyes, with every passing day I feel my babies becoming further and further from anything even resembling a baby.  This is hard, and it is wonderful at the same time.  Lately, I cannot even look at their baby pictures without tearing up. What the heck is this!? Some kind of a mid preschool crisis!? Lordy, maybe I will get this all out of my system and be totally fine on K-day (the first day of Kindergarten a mere 6 months away!)

Back to Kindergarten readiness.  I'm going to copy and paste a desperate e-mail I sent to a few of my relatives and educator friends that I trust know me well enough to look past my craziness and answer my cries for help. :)

We had conferences last night for preschool. I was looking forward to them this time because Grace has been doing so much better, with participating and actually talking in class! Turns out she's doing AWESOME, right where she needs to be academically, writing her name, knows all letters, their sounds, numbers to 20. And, talking in class, this is huge as she didn't say a word for probably 2 months. 

I was not expecting to be now worried about Klaire. I should know by know that I'll always be worried about one or both at the same time! She seems to have adjusted well, and has fun in class, follows directions, has friends. She sometimes attempts to write her name but mostly does squiggly lines when asked to. She knows her letters, but would only say her numbers up to 10 called 14, 24 and 15, 25, and so on??? Ok so she's not quite up to where she might need to be "academically," no biggie, but the thing that bothered me and I WISH I had said something then but it was a case of thinking about it later and realizing how much it bothered me...she said "Sometimes I really don't think she understands what we are asking of her" hmm. I thought that was a strange comment. Klaire is no dummy, and I do wonder if is a matter of shyness? She also said that Kindergarten might be tough for her. Great. And isn't that what preschool is for, to prepare them for Kindergarten? Don't get me wrong I really like her teacher, she is a totally sweet and caring teacher...and K loves her, but I'm wondering what she meant by that, and if she's not understanding isn't that your job to work with her to help her understand? The one thing she did really get better at was cutting. She showed us something she cut out at the beginning of the year (which was shredded) and her cutting job last week. It was great! We got in the car and I showed it to her to praise her progress, and she said "I didn't do that, Amy did" Oh Good Lord. Who knows.

There responses were supportive, reassuring, helpful, and exactly what I needed to confirm my thoughts. Bless their hearts, they pointed out the many amazing things Klaire can do and has done in the past, and all the ways she IS ready.  I am so lucky to have the support system that I do. Thank God for strong amazing women in my life. Can't say that enough.

So there you have it. The girlies are enrolled in Kindergarten, ready or not, here we come! I'm going to post a picture of my Klaire Bear.  She has been really into dressing herself and I try to let her have full creative license...especially on the days when they are just going to daycare and for sure on the weekends.  She likes to pick out of Grace's drawers for some reason which doesn't make much sense because little does she know all of her clothes are newer since she grows like a WEED! Anyway, here was her ensemble yesterday.  Those are the shoes that 6 months ago if on her feet she acted like they were on fire, but now they are cool because they sparkle.  Kids! Girls!