Recap Series Vol. 3-School's Out for Summer and Back in for Fall

Hank had a great year at school-In May he finished up his 4 year old preschool year at Grant Park Cooperative Preschool with Ms. Ellie and Ms. Kellie.  After a difficult start to his school career the year before in a school that just wasn't a fit for our very bright and stimulation seeking boy, this school was the perfect fit for him.  He was allowed to be very creative in small groups and work through project based learning-working on larger projects for longer periods of time.  He has made amazing friendships this year, and we've really seen him blossom socially (aka all he wants to do is play with friends now).  They have a farm to school program at the school where the children make the lunch everyday from the local farms (yes we have farms in the city)-Hank, our notoriously picky eater, has found a love for lentils, quinoa, and all sorts of funky legumes-this is probably the biggest achievement of the year in my eyes.  Hank

had such a great year in fact, that after much deliberation we decided not to send him to the public preK next year and let him stay and complete his prek year at the Co-op.  Hank has an early birthday, and many of his friends are starting kindergarten,  and while he's technically not a "redshirt" because of his birthday we hope that keeping him in the same school will help build his confidence for kindergarten next year.  

So, being real I'm actually writing this post  after his first week back to school, and so far so good!  He's really enjoying being a "second year swan" and the leadership roles he gets in the class-he's also won the award for biggest swan as he is a good 3-4 inches taller than the next tallest kid in the class (still wondering where his size came from).  He has two new teachers this year-Ms. Stephanie and Ms. Christa.  

In other school news, our sweet little Lucy is very interested in going to school, and being in the ladybugs class. We originally held her out because tuition and parent requirements for two kids enrolled were both higher than we'd like, and honestly she just didn't seem ready to go 3 months ago.  However, we're now changing our tune, and if she gets potty trained we plan to enroll her midyear right before she turns 3.  What in the world will I do with myself with two kids in school?  Lucy, who is nothing like her brother and sometimes I wonder how exactly these two children raised in the same house could possibly be so different, is really a preschool teacher's dream.  She dances through the house everyday singing nursery rhymes, organizes crayons according to everyone's favorite colors,  and lines her dolls up in "circle time" to read stories-I'm pretty sure she's going to think the ladybugs class is the greatest place on earth.  

I look at these pictures of Hank, and hardly recognize him.  While most people look at him and see a boy the same size as an average 8 year old, I still see the 10 month old that I spent countless hours rocking back to sleep at night. Only a few months, and he will be 5-which means I've been a parent for 5 years (and while it does "go by so fast" as everyone says-I feel every second of those 5 years and it sure shows on my face in the form of wrinkles, bags under my eyes, and maybe a few grey hairs). 

 This boy is one very bright little boy, and I hope more than anything for him that he has a wonderful year full of friendship, new experiences, and lentils!    

Here's to preK!