As usual, my worry was much ado about nothing. Zona and I had a long talk about walking up the breezeway on her own and following the rules. (During which Zona expressed a marked distaste for the idea of rules in general.)
Fate smiled upon us and as we were getting out of our car her teacher was just getting out of her car. She was running a little late as she'd forgotten that she had to bake cookies for some sort of teacher event until that morning. Zona was excited to walk with her and then we ran into some of her friends as we were coming up to the breezeway. After a brief hug, she was off. No drama, no crying, no chokeholds on Mom.
Further evidence that she plays me like a cello EVERY DAY!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Already in trouble at school (me, not Zona)
Can you people believe I am already in trouble at the Elementary School? Well, maybe you can...
The school has this rule that I find to be absolutely ridiculous. All children, including the kindergartners, are supposed to be dropped off at the front of the school to walk by themselves to class. Yes, I understand the underlying philosophies behind the rule- encouraging independence, keeping parents from distracting the teacher right as class is to begin, too much traffic on the school grounds, the potential for people who don't belong there to blend in.
However, it's just TOO FAR to go alone, especially for a kid who is reluctant to go in the first place. They have to walk on the sidewalk, down steps, past the gym, then turn and walk up a breezeway to class. Zona's class is at the very end of the line. (All the kindergarten classes are clustered together, separate from the rest of the school. ) If they arrive before the bell rings at 7:50, they are to go to the cafeteria (which is twice as far away) until the bell rings.
I have tried to encourage Zona to do this on her own to no avail. Just broaching the subject brings a swell of tears. At school, she clings and cries if I attempt to get her to walk on her own up the breezeway. Being a guilt-ridden mother who questions her parenting skills and decisions on a minute by minute basis, I have caved. Each morning, I park the car and walk with her to class. We don't bug the teacher, I don't go into class with her, nothing but a quick hug and "see you later." If it is before class, I hang with her until the bell rings, give a quick hug and I'm out of there.
I see a few other parents doing the same thing, but not that many. It should be noted that Zona appeared to be the only RUNNER the first day of school.
Friday, the principal sent out a letter to all the kindergarten parents reminding them of the rule. I'm pretty sure the letter was directed at me and that small coterie of other parents. Well, obviously it was. My paranoia says it was directed at me! He said that if anyone needed to "see" that the child made it safely into the classroom for "peace of mind", a parent could walk them to the gym and watch them walk up the breezeway to class.
Well, of course I NEED to see that my child makes it safely. It would be one thing if she were getting off a bus with a bunch of other children that she knew and walking with them. Instead, she is walking all alone. She's not even 5 1/2 yet. She's independent enough for 5 1/2. I would be nervous...
Needless to say, tomorrow a.m. ought to be fun. I've already mentioned the letter from the principal to Zona and she has already had her first round of tears and then talked Chris' ear off about it while trying to fall asleep. She is really fretting over it. I hesitated to tell her, but figured being prepared was better than the shock of the alternative.
Wish us luck!
The school has this rule that I find to be absolutely ridiculous. All children, including the kindergartners, are supposed to be dropped off at the front of the school to walk by themselves to class. Yes, I understand the underlying philosophies behind the rule- encouraging independence, keeping parents from distracting the teacher right as class is to begin, too much traffic on the school grounds, the potential for people who don't belong there to blend in.
However, it's just TOO FAR to go alone, especially for a kid who is reluctant to go in the first place. They have to walk on the sidewalk, down steps, past the gym, then turn and walk up a breezeway to class. Zona's class is at the very end of the line. (All the kindergarten classes are clustered together, separate from the rest of the school. ) If they arrive before the bell rings at 7:50, they are to go to the cafeteria (which is twice as far away) until the bell rings.
I have tried to encourage Zona to do this on her own to no avail. Just broaching the subject brings a swell of tears. At school, she clings and cries if I attempt to get her to walk on her own up the breezeway. Being a guilt-ridden mother who questions her parenting skills and decisions on a minute by minute basis, I have caved. Each morning, I park the car and walk with her to class. We don't bug the teacher, I don't go into class with her, nothing but a quick hug and "see you later." If it is before class, I hang with her until the bell rings, give a quick hug and I'm out of there.
I see a few other parents doing the same thing, but not that many. It should be noted that Zona appeared to be the only RUNNER the first day of school.
Friday, the principal sent out a letter to all the kindergarten parents reminding them of the rule. I'm pretty sure the letter was directed at me and that small coterie of other parents. Well, obviously it was. My paranoia says it was directed at me! He said that if anyone needed to "see" that the child made it safely into the classroom for "peace of mind", a parent could walk them to the gym and watch them walk up the breezeway to class.
Well, of course I NEED to see that my child makes it safely. It would be one thing if she were getting off a bus with a bunch of other children that she knew and walking with them. Instead, she is walking all alone. She's not even 5 1/2 yet. She's independent enough for 5 1/2. I would be nervous...
Needless to say, tomorrow a.m. ought to be fun. I've already mentioned the letter from the principal to Zona and she has already had her first round of tears and then talked Chris' ear off about it while trying to fall asleep. She is really fretting over it. I hesitated to tell her, but figured being prepared was better than the shock of the alternative.
Wish us luck!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Funny stuff (to me...)
People, Barbie's shoes are not like the ones we grew up with!
Barbie stiletto heeled boot on each pinky toe, please disregard any dirt you see on either foot, it was the weekend and we sometimes skip a bath (or two) on the weekend- especially if we are using the chlorine of the pool as a bath!
Zona's somewhat reluctant friend, Lulu. Like any cat, Lulu truly prefers relationships on her own terms and those terms rarely involve being picked up and squished by a 5 year old. She is a most patient cat.
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