Abby Grace has continued to struggle with going back to school this year. Most mornings, upon being dropped off, she has cried and clung to Mommy. Her teachers and the director of her school promise that she just has my number and recovers quickly once I am gone, but those words of encouragement were only getting me so far. So, like all good mommies, I typed, "toddler dislikes daycare" into my little Google toolbar, and look what I found!!! The Kissing Hand is about a little raccoon who is starting school but is afraid to leave his mommy; he wants to stay home, play with his toys, read his books, and swing on his swing (basically the same story I hear each day). But his mommy tells him of a way that she can always be with him, even when he is at school. She opens his fingers and gently kisses his palm; then when he misses her he can simply rub his palm against his cheek and feel her kiss. On Friday after picking Abby up from school, we made a special trip to Barnes and Noble and bought this book. Last night, we read it together as a family, with me taking very deep breaths between many of the sentences in an attempt not to cry myself. I managed, and Abby was able to relate the story to her situation, "Raccoon crying. Raccoon miss Mommy. Raccoon school? Raccoon no cry?" So was this book the miracle we needed? I don't know, but I do know that Abby Grace did not cry this morning. We kissed palms and she went into school with a brave (not happy) face. And the look I got when I turned to leave, was one of, "I am staying but you need to know I would rather be going!" followed by a little wave. Progress is progress, right?
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Kissing Hand
Abby Grace has continued to struggle with going back to school this year. Most mornings, upon being dropped off, she has cried and clung to Mommy. Her teachers and the director of her school promise that she just has my number and recovers quickly once I am gone, but those words of encouragement were only getting me so far. So, like all good mommies, I typed, "toddler dislikes daycare" into my little Google toolbar, and look what I found!!! The Kissing Hand is about a little raccoon who is starting school but is afraid to leave his mommy; he wants to stay home, play with his toys, read his books, and swing on his swing (basically the same story I hear each day). But his mommy tells him of a way that she can always be with him, even when he is at school. She opens his fingers and gently kisses his palm; then when he misses her he can simply rub his palm against his cheek and feel her kiss. On Friday after picking Abby up from school, we made a special trip to Barnes and Noble and bought this book. Last night, we read it together as a family, with me taking very deep breaths between many of the sentences in an attempt not to cry myself. I managed, and Abby was able to relate the story to her situation, "Raccoon crying. Raccoon miss Mommy. Raccoon school? Raccoon no cry?" So was this book the miracle we needed? I don't know, but I do know that Abby Grace did not cry this morning. We kissed palms and she went into school with a brave (not happy) face. And the look I got when I turned to leave, was one of, "I am staying but you need to know I would rather be going!" followed by a little wave. Progress is progress, right?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Go Friday Night
Maybe it's being married to a coach or maybe it's just the fact that I grew up never missing Friday night football games, but there is something about the start of football season that makes me almost giddy. And while we miss about as many games as we make it to these days, Abby Grace seems to share in the delight. She was so excited to finally get to wear her new Bulldog T-shirt like the big girls last Friday. And really, doesn't she look grown-up? (Trust me, the grown-up part was only out of necessity; I had to make a youth small T-shirt look like it fit her, and the only way to do that was to tie it how the tweens tie them these days.) Anyway, other than 5 trips to the potty and a break to eat a few nachos with Mommy, Abby's team spirit continued throughout the whole game as she clapped and cheered, "Go Dawgs Go!" with the fans.
More "First Day" Pictures
It seems that Abby believes taking a picture of her with her kitty backpack is just part of getting ready for school each day. We have probably taken 5 days worth of pictures now! Her new school year is going pretty well; she tells me every morning that she wants to, "stay home and play with Mama," but most days are tear-free when I actually leave her. It is those non tear-free days that make it hard. Part of that may be that we have already transitioned her into a new classroom (which she loves), but change on top of change is always a little hard. And it is because of this that I am incredibly grateful for the teachers and friends that we have at her school!
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