So, Ethan had 2 first days of school this year. Being a young 5, we decided early on along with his teachers to give him an extra year before going to Kindergarten. Ethan has been in a half day program since he was one and we thought that he needed to transition to a full day program before beginning Kindergarten. Duncan Creek Academy came highly recommended as an official full day Georgia Pre-K program and since some of our neighborhood friends were going to be attending, we were excited for this transition. So we moved from our beloved Shadowbrook to full day big boy school. Unfortunately, it was not a positive transition. He was coming home from school bouncing off the wall, not the least bit tired and not in meltdown mode from being overtired like I thought he would. He had a difficult time getting out of the car in the mornings and I had to pry him from the car every single day, he made some poor choices at school outside of his norm, and he was coming home with scribbles on copy paper but no real work. As a mom, it was hard to see him struggle like this and I was beyond upset that he was losing all of the momentum in learning that he had gained in his previous school years. Then Shadowbrook's Fall Orientation came around for Caden's new school year and the first thing Every.Single.Person asked me about as I walked in the door was how was Ethan. And I cried Every.Single.Time someone asked the question. And every person told me the same thing. Bring him back to Shadowbrook for private Kindergarten. I went home completely distraught and confused about what to do. I didn't want to move him back and demonstrate to him that Mommy and Daddy will make things better if he has to do something he doesn't like but I also didn't want to sacrifice his love of school, his acceptance in a positive environment, and his growth in learning. After Ben and I talked at length about what was the right thing to do, we ultimately decided that if we could make the tuition work that Shadowbrook's Kindergarten was the right fit for him. I want his last year before public Kinder to be a positive experience and create a love of learning so that when he transitions, he will be excited and not anxious. Since it is private, it started after Labor Day while the other schools started in August, so his first day was the same first day for all of the other kiddos in his class. He hopped right out of the car and was the first one in line to walk up the stairs with his teacher, Ms. Jana. His anxiety disappeared and his excitement for school returned. I left that day completely at peace knowing that we did the right thing.
So, after school we celebrated with ice cream from DQ :-)
More from September
Bathtime Mohawks....sadly, this was the end of an era as now both boys are taking big boy showers
Ethan's visited the dentist and did awesome! In the past, dental check-ups have caused extreme anxiety. I'm so proud of this huge step!
Then we began fall ball. For the first time, Daddy didn't pitch this season. Ben was behind the plate the first half of the season, then 3rd base coach the second half.
Love watching him in action! Some days he loves and others he couldn't care less to be there.
My favorite picture from the season. This is absolutely hilarious to me!
While brother and Daddy were on the field, Mommy was busy trying to keep Caden entertained behind the fence. We brought a wagon to each game loaded with his little camping chair, a picnic blanket, the iPad, buckets, shovels, and bulldozers, along with plenty of snacks and drinks. His attention span for each lasts about 45 seconds before the cycle of "Is it time to go back to my home yet?" begins.
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