"Inside shoes"
size 3 outfits - still a little big
Not at all convinced this is a good idea
Meeting the teacher - she got them giggling and apparently they didn't stop all day
First time coming home on the bus
9 years ago
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Not too worried...
The BNK appear to be related to a certain someone's TP; that is, they are mostly imaginary. Not a lie, but a concrete way of expressing their very real feelings about school. They claim it is too long, and boring... we will wait and see.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Vanh's story
Vanh finally spoke about school - he said the BNK said, "Vanh? Van! You're not a VAN, ha ha ha!" We explained that it was supposed to be a funny joke, but he was not impressed. Now he is refusing to say anything else and I don't think we helped. They are wearing skull and crossbones shirts tomorrow to ward of the BNK. Not sure that is a helpful idea either but it seemed to make them both feel better.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Max's letter to his teacher
The first day of school is behind us and things are looking good, but not without challenge. It was a little startling when both boys begged not to go the next day - luckily (I thought) they weren't scheduled for Friday anyway so I fretted, panicked, and drove everyone nuts with my concerns relaxed and figured we had the weekend to work it out. The main concern seemed to be that there was not any enough playing.
Friday evening they were still quite adamant that they didn't like school, so I said that was okay they didn't have to like it, but they had to go, that's what kids do, so maybe if they could talk about why they didn't like it we could figure out what to do to help. Max started talking and after a few sentences I grabbed a clipboard. He asked what I was doing, and I explained that I was writing down his concerns to share with his teacher, so that she could help him solve his problem. He asked for the paper and wrote his own letter to his teacher.
Here is what it says (as dictated):
I don't like school because the big kids - big naughty kids took things from me. All the big naughty kids didn't let me play with anything at all. Don't let the naughty kids play with my toys the one toy that Max (points to self) has. What happens if the Big Naughty Kids come here (to our home) and take all our toys away?
(The drawings at the top are illustrations including toys, a big bin, and a foot)
And then he signed it - carefully, beautifully, proudly.
We had a little talk about sharing, and how just because the teacher made sure your favourite toy was in the room on day one doesn't mean you're the only one who gets to play with it. Max thought maybe he could solve the problem by bringing in toys from home to share with everyone, but he's going to see what his teacher thinks first.
I think he's ready to go back now.
Friday evening they were still quite adamant that they didn't like school, so I said that was okay they didn't have to like it, but they had to go, that's what kids do, so maybe if they could talk about why they didn't like it we could figure out what to do to help. Max started talking and after a few sentences I grabbed a clipboard. He asked what I was doing, and I explained that I was writing down his concerns to share with his teacher, so that she could help him solve his problem. He asked for the paper and wrote his own letter to his teacher.
Here is what it says (as dictated):
I don't like school because the big kids - big naughty kids took things from me. All the big naughty kids didn't let me play with anything at all. Don't let the naughty kids play with my toys the one toy that Max (points to self) has. What happens if the Big Naughty Kids come here (to our home) and take all our toys away?
Max's letter
I think he's ready to go back now.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Photo fix
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Bus Safety presentation
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| velcro: a new challenge |
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| Picked his own hat, bag & shoes |
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| Max chose a Hot Wheels backpack, and Vanh took the one he picked at kindergarten information |
They were asked, "What do you hold to go up the steps?"
Vanh said, "bar!" and Max said, "wailing!"
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| A little nervous... |
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| ...ready to be brave... |
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| ..."Bye Mommy! Se ya later!" |
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| Max had a lot to say |
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Swiss Athletics Lunch Bag, aka the holy grail
Here is Vanh to introduce his new lunch bag to the internet:
Max wanted to participate in the presentation too but was told he would need clothes. He had an idea.
It closes with velcro too, and the long strips make it adjustable to keep everything snug given a variety of container configurations.
There's a separate compartment on the bottom with a velcro flap. We were thinking of using it for drinks, so if they leak nothing else gets wet.
It holds a lunchcube, sandwich container for snack, 2 drinks and 2 extra snack containers easily, with enough extra room for little ones with developing spaitial abilities to pack and unpack everything independently Oh, and the mesh in front is perfect for a napkin.
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| It is a Swiss Athletics from Zellers and as far as we know this is the first picture of one posted on the web, ever. |
Max wanted to participate in the presentation too but was told he would need clothes. He had an idea.
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| Here he is modeling the lunchbag in its most extended position. You could stuff enough food in there for a week. |
In its most open position it closes with a zipper. Sometimes it's sticky. We wouldn`t recommend this lunchbag if the zipper is crucial to you.
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| Could I get some help please? |
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| Here it is closed with velcro. I'm a little frustrated here because I worked hard to close that zipper, and Mommy opened it up again right away so she could take a picture of it closed with the velcro. |
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| My lunch cube! |
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| Hey what else is in here? |
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| My ice pack! |
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| Can I take this to school Mommy? |
Friday, August 17, 2012
So much for that mnemonic
We have a new contender for the role of short-hair in the family
I know some people were thinking longer name=longer hair; that won't work now. Here's some help until the next haircut: Max = Maximum amount of hair
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Lunches, and other things
It all started with the containers.
It's not like I didn't know this day was coming. That's why the focus on containers. For years I watched young students struggle to open the variety (increasingly difficult to tear) packaging their snacks came in. Once they were in, if they wanted to save part of the cheese/granola bar/fruit nibs/yogurt/molasses cookie/pudding, or even the apple/banana/orange (talk about difficult to tear packaging!) for later, they would have no option but to stuff the rest back into their lunchbox where it would generally spill/get squished/mix with something else. Ditto juice boxes - unless you know your child will drink the entire thing, give them the option to save some for later (and yourself the ability to provide the best drink for the least money) with reusable containers.
So I make note of all this, and resolve that when the time come, my children will have reusable containers for their food, because it's green, and because it gives them more control and thus more independence. Perfect future mom strikes again.
Let's make something clear - this is not some namby-pabmy half-time preschool type program, this is FULL DAY JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN. The sweet little souls will leave their daddy and daycare friends at the door at 8:40am (or 8:55; how are these details so unclear?) and will not be seen again by their family until they arrive at a bus stop at few blocks away at 3:45pm? (again no idea; they do tell us at some point).
Luckily there is a summer kindergarten program offered through the international languages program, so we as a family were able to experience school both half-time and without the distraction of my own students this July. Like the lunches, I thought I knew enough about kindergarten Moms to know exactly what sort I would and would not be. Luckily I was wrong, as the sort of mother I thought I would be would not have hung around the entire first three days and thus witnessed first hand the saga of the snack containers.
Why all the obsession with lunch containers? It's the one time in the day that belongs to the love between you and your child. That zipper opens and you get to pop out and say, "Hi! Here I am! It's your Mommy and I love you!" Once my kids identified snack as their favorite part of school that was it for me. All I want to do is make that moment, our moment, shine with all of the love from the other 7 hours of moments we won't have.
It's not like I didn't know this day was coming. That's why the focus on containers. For years I watched young students struggle to open the variety (increasingly difficult to tear) packaging their snacks came in. Once they were in, if they wanted to save part of the cheese/granola bar/fruit nibs/yogurt/molasses cookie/pudding, or even the apple/banana/orange (talk about difficult to tear packaging!) for later, they would have no option but to stuff the rest back into their lunchbox where it would generally spill/get squished/mix with something else. Ditto juice boxes - unless you know your child will drink the entire thing, give them the option to save some for later (and yourself the ability to provide the best drink for the least money) with reusable containers.
So I make note of all this, and resolve that when the time come, my children will have reusable containers for their food, because it's green, and because it gives them more control and thus more independence. Perfect future mom strikes again.
Let's make something clear - this is not some namby-pabmy half-time preschool type program, this is FULL DAY JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN. The sweet little souls will leave their daddy and daycare friends at the door at 8:40am (or 8:55; how are these details so unclear?) and will not be seen again by their family until they arrive at a bus stop at few blocks away at 3:45pm? (again no idea; they do tell us at some point).
Luckily there is a summer kindergarten program offered through the international languages program, so we as a family were able to experience school both half-time and without the distraction of my own students this July. Like the lunches, I thought I knew enough about kindergarten Moms to know exactly what sort I would and would not be. Luckily I was wrong, as the sort of mother I thought I would be would not have hung around the entire first three days and thus witnessed first hand the saga of the snack containers.
Why all the obsession with lunch containers? It's the one time in the day that belongs to the love between you and your child. That zipper opens and you get to pop out and say, "Hi! Here I am! It's your Mommy and I love you!" Once my kids identified snack as their favorite part of school that was it for me. All I want to do is make that moment, our moment, shine with all of the love from the other 7 hours of moments we won't have.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
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