One more day to go....
It's the eve of the eve of the first day of school. The is an air of expectancy around the house. Gracyn is on pins and needles in anticipation. We spent a few moments today briefing her class schedule and talking about what each time of the day brought for her. We also spent time discussing the class rules and discipline procedures. I wanted to make sure she had a basic understanding of the rules so that hopefully she doesn't have to have her "bee moved from the beehive" on her first day. We talked about all the consequences for each "move of the bee". She seems to understand, but the practice remains to be seen! I have spent the last few days labeling all her supplies and making sure we have everything we need. Tomorrow evening we plan to paint her fingernails and toenails so that she is pretty for her first day. This is something that I always did as a child as it always made me feel prepared somehow and that I was putting my best self forward. I guess something in me feels that the first day should be full of fresh faces, neatly presssed clothes, notebooks, pencils, unbroken crayons and unscuffed shoes. It helps to start a brand new year off on a hopeful tone. The is something extraordinary about the first day...it is almost magical.
We've instituted an alarm clock in Gracyn's room recently. We've been setting the alarm for earlier times progressively. She was initiated pretty abruptly the first day as the alarm went and she sat up wondering what all that clammering was about. She grabbed the alarm and looked at it intently. She saw the button stating on/off and knowing how to read off, switched the button over. Now, she is waking on her own with the alarm and playing quietly until we wake. That is all over folks as we will all be rising at 5:30 in the morning since school starts at 7 A.M. ICS has earlier school hours to combat traffic. I am not looking forward to losing the extra hour and a half of sleep. I suppose one can get used to anything with time.
Wednesday begins a new phase of life for me as I consider what I will do with the "free" hours in the day when Aidan naps. I haven't had any free hours in the day since Gracyn was 2 1/2. I know I'll use some of the time to read and take time to develop some personal areas of my life left unattended for years. I've also big plans for cleaning out things in the kid's rooms that I'm unable to take care of now due to protests of the preciousness of the scraps of paper collecting in various places. Maybe we can get more organized! I'm also looking forward to some one on one time with Aidan as he's never had me to himself. Just please Lord...don't let Aidan stop napping! I'm so looking forward to some quieter days and the end of the unending need to entertain a bored child. I know that sounds terrible, but please understand that life here can be void of enough stimulating activities and relationships for children. We are often couped up in the house day in and day out with few outlets for the kids. We have unrelenting heat and sun year round and cobras in the yard! Childhood can be tough here at times with few freedoms. So, it may sound like I just can't wait to get Gracyn out of my hair, but in reality, I'm relieved for her...she gets to be a kid...with a community of other kids! It is a blessing and we are thankful.
We've instituted an alarm clock in Gracyn's room recently. We've been setting the alarm for earlier times progressively. She was initiated pretty abruptly the first day as the alarm went and she sat up wondering what all that clammering was about. She grabbed the alarm and looked at it intently. She saw the button stating on/off and knowing how to read off, switched the button over. Now, she is waking on her own with the alarm and playing quietly until we wake. That is all over folks as we will all be rising at 5:30 in the morning since school starts at 7 A.M. ICS has earlier school hours to combat traffic. I am not looking forward to losing the extra hour and a half of sleep. I suppose one can get used to anything with time.
Wednesday begins a new phase of life for me as I consider what I will do with the "free" hours in the day when Aidan naps. I haven't had any free hours in the day since Gracyn was 2 1/2. I know I'll use some of the time to read and take time to develop some personal areas of my life left unattended for years. I've also big plans for cleaning out things in the kid's rooms that I'm unable to take care of now due to protests of the preciousness of the scraps of paper collecting in various places. Maybe we can get more organized! I'm also looking forward to some one on one time with Aidan as he's never had me to himself. Just please Lord...don't let Aidan stop napping! I'm so looking forward to some quieter days and the end of the unending need to entertain a bored child. I know that sounds terrible, but please understand that life here can be void of enough stimulating activities and relationships for children. We are often couped up in the house day in and day out with few outlets for the kids. We have unrelenting heat and sun year round and cobras in the yard! Childhood can be tough here at times with few freedoms. So, it may sound like I just can't wait to get Gracyn out of my hair, but in reality, I'm relieved for her...she gets to be a kid...with a community of other kids! It is a blessing and we are thankful.
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