Struggles

Dear Parker,
You are having a hard time right now.  When you started going back to school, you had been doing pretty well.  Sometimes you cried in the morning, but then the rest of your day would be good.  Then, the "real" school year began and you got a new teacher.  Now things are not going well at all.  You tell us that you don't like her and you spend a good part of your day crying.  To make matters more complicated, you have been sick with a beginning-of-the-year cold and have been having a crazy reaction to some bug bites.  So, you missed 1.5 days of school last week, which doesn't help.  I don't know what to do or how to make this better for you.  Honestly, I don't really like your new teacher that much either, but it's not like there is anything wrong with her.  I don't know what to do or how to help you.  I don't know whether I'm being an over-protective crazy parent if I pull you from her room if things don't start getting better or if that really is the best thing for you.  I don't know what I should be expecting from you at almost 3.  It's not like this you are in Kindergarten.  It's 3 year old pre-school.

I just hope you know that I love you more than anything and we'll get this figured out.  I'm hoping that you start feeling better and that helps to improve your time at school.

I love you, baby.
Love,
Mommy

First Day of Pre-School

Dear Parker,

Today was your first day of Pre-School.  I've been a bit sad - not because you are going to pre-school, but because today wasn't really any more special than any other day of day care last year.  And, technically, pre-school curriculum won't start until the 15th, but we still treated it like the first day of school.  Anyway, you had a good day.  You didn't cry when we left, although you did have to go with a teacher that you knew (there was a sub in your room - great timing, huh?).  But, you spent the whole day in the Pre-School 1 room and did well.  I can't wait for the school year to begin.  It will be much better - 9 kids (not 20) and mostly kids you know.  That will be great.  

You are great and such a big girl.  It was awesome to have you wake up and (mostly) dress yourself while we finished getting around.  I'm having a hard time understanding that you are going to be 3 really soon! Where has the time gone?  I love you so much and I'm so proud of the little girl you are becoming (well, most of the time!)

I love you.  I hope you have a good day tomorrow as well.  I'll be thinking of you all day.

Love,

Mommy

Pre-School Prep

Dear Parker,
This morning we went to your school to re-familiarize you with the building and to get a feel for your new room.  I can't believe that you are going to be in pre-school next year!  You are still pretty shy and clingy in new situations and even though you know your teacher and some of the kids, you were fairly shy.  But, you wanted to stay for awhile, so we did.  You sat on the mat nicely and waited while the other crazy kids were trying to follow directions.

Teaching younger kids the last couple of years has given me a different perspective on you and the way you work with other kids.  In every room, there are always a couple of REALLY good kids who follow the directions and do the right things.  I always feel bad for these kids because, inevitably, they are surrounded by goofballs who can't follow directions and then they have to wait for those kids to get it together before doing something.  Watching you today, made me understand that you (at least right now) are one of those REALLY good kids.  You sat on that mat for a least 5 minutes waiting for the other crazies to get it together.  I felt so bad.  I know that being patient and learning to deal with others is part of life and I understand that you need to learn it.  But, the mommy part of me is just sad about it.

At one point, Miss Valerie was assigning centers to everyone (by asking what the kid wanted and then letting them go there).  You had been waiting a while and you turned to me and said, "I want trains."  I was totally taken back to being younger and all the crazy things I stressed about in my head like that.  I don't like to think of you worrying about things like not getting to play with the trains or losing your hat or any of the other crazy things that I know I worried about when I was little.  I don't know how to help you not worry about those little things.

I understand that I can't protect you and be there when other kids steal your toys or push you in line, but I want to.  You're growing up and I'm just having a hard time with it.

I love you so much and I'm so hopeful that you are going to have a great year in Pre-School.  You have been so grown-up lately and I'm so proud of you, but also a little sad to see my baby go.

I love you, not-so babygirl,
Mommy

Conner Prairie

Dear Parker,
I'm interrupting the posts about 4th of July because you had such a fun adventure today and I want to write about it while it is still fresh in my memory.  Lately, I've done more posting of pictures instead of writing about the little things that I know I will forget and want to remember, so that is what I'm going to try to do from now on.

This morning after you went to church with Mom and Grandma we ventured out to Conner Prairie, which is like a living history thing dealing with the 1800-1900's.  We mostly went because whenever we drive down 146th street we see the giant balloon and you always comment on it and we had a buy one - get one coupon.

You were SO excited about the balloon.  We got there right as they opened so they were still flight testing it.  You didn't want to do anything else but watch the giant balloon.  Finally, they started selling tickets.  I was nervous that you would freak out once it started going, but you were just super interested in everything.  You liked to look down the middle and see straight down (which made Mommy very sick feeling.)  You kept asking what the "man" was saying.  I think you had a great time.

We thought that you might be interested in the animals and that balloon pilot had told us that they had baby pigs at the inn, so we wandered into the town.  You were so interested in everything - you wandered into every house and listened intently to what each historic actor had to say.  You seemed especially interested in the old toys.  You watered a garden and swept the floor of the garden hut thing.  The man working had you rub your fingers on a spearmint plant, then smell them.  He asked you what it smelled like and you replied, "Candy!"

You were so interested and excited to look in each new house.  You played with all the old toys and wrote on a "chalk" board with soapstone.  I was very surprised with how in to the whole experience you were.  It was a really good day.  Hopefully, we can find more things like this to do in the future.

I love you so much, Parkerbits.
Mommy

In the Kiddie Pool

Dear Parker,

We last left off with Aunt Stacy coming for a couple days.  Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Sally came a couple days later and then you really were in heaven.  You have played in your pool already this summer, but mostly you just sort of walked around and kicked balls and didn't really know what to do with yourself.  Then, Aunt Sally came.  You asked her to get in the pool with you.  She obliged and the craziness began.

 Then, you asked Mommy to get in the pool.  I should have known better than to leave you and Aunt Sally outside plotting against me while I changed because as soon as I got in, you attacked me with water - dumping it on me, splashing me.  Anyway you could get me wet was fine by you.

 You thought the whole thing was awesome and especially enjoyed in when Aunt Sally and I tried to get each other with the water.  You became much more adventurous and would practice "swimming" or laying on your back and floating (You still don't want to get your ears in the water because it feels weird with the tubes - I can't blame you.)  You splashed around with us for about 2 hours.  Then, we got Grandma in on the action.  She didn't want to get IN the pool, but we got her head wet!

You had a fabulous time playing in the backyard in the pool.  Hopefully soon you can have a playset as well.

I love you, Bits.
Mommy

Imagination

Dear Parker,

I'm going to interrupt the series of posts about your family adventures to talk about the craziness of your mind.  You have such an imagination.  I feel like lately it's gotten a little out of control.  At night, I have to put up a "force field" around your bed.  Then, I have to take it down to let the good monsters in.  Then, I have to take it down again because the good monsters let the bad monsters in and now they need out.  (I also have to get up, open the door and let ALL the monsters out of your room).  Then I have to put the force field back up.  Ten minutes later there will be a tiger or a polar bear in your room which will need to be dealt with.  Ten minutes after that, Allie will be talking to you so you can't go to sleep.  It just never ends.  I'm not sure if you are actually afraid of these things or if you enjoy pretending or if you are stalling going to bed.  Whatever the case may be - you are a master at creating and imagining things.

I love you.  I hope that you are not afraid of monsters.
Love,
Mommy

Aunt Stacy

Dear Parker,
I'm a bit behind in writing you because we have been SO busy with family!  Your Aunt Stacy came to visit the day after we got home from your Grandparents house.  You always have so much fun with her. We went to the Zoo on Friday afternoon and then the Children's Museum on Saturday morning.

You and Aunt Stacy at the zoo

 You were kind of snippy at the zoo, but did better at the Museum.  I would have liked for you to explore the new exhibit more, but you were much more interested in the familiar ones.

You giving Allie a ride in a TukTuk in the Egypt exhibit at the Museum

 It was great to have Aunt Stacy here for a couple of days because you love playing with her so much.  She certainly makes you happy!

You and Aunt Stacy playing at the Museum

Aunt Stacy was here for a couple days by herself and then Grandma and Grandpa Sharp (and Sally) came.  More to come about that...

I love you,

Mommy