Beginning of Something New

I started work on Monday and it's been a busy week for our family. I put on makeup five days in a row, which I can almost guarantee hasn't happened in at least three years. Although the kiddos won't start school until next Wednesday, we are still working on adjusting to our new schedule and routine. I'm so grateful for all my helpers this week who were available to tend Lyla & Max. [Thanks!] I was also able to bring them with me to work for two of the days. They were able to meet their teachers and explore the school, which I think will ultimately help them feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed on their first day. 

We have spent a lot of energy preparing for this upcoming change in our lives. There was one task on my list that kept falling to last priority and that was getting Lyla's hair cut --- for the first time ever. This idea originated when I asked Lyla several months ago if she wanted to get her hair cut and her answer was a definite no. She was very apprehensive about it. I decided it didn't matter and just let it go. Well, several weeks later she randomly brought it up again and stated she was ready to get her hair cut. I, admittedly, brushed off her request because by that point, I reverted back to not wanting to get it done...ever. There was absolutely no logic in this decision, it was simply the fact that cutting her hair meant any traces of baby hair would be completely eliminated. And obviously the world would end if that happened.

Yes, I realize it's just a hair cut. This refusal is basically the same as keeping your child in diapers simply because you don't want them to use the toilet for the first time ever, buuuut my heart was still rejecting the idea. I'm clearly in denial about her growing up. Max gets his hair cut on a regular basis, so believe me I am also asking my brain how any of this makes sense. 

Anyway, we had a game plan on Friday including a hair cut for Max when Lyla, once again, requested a hair cut for herself as well. I stared wistfully at her stringy locks, thinking about how my once bald baby transformed into a little girl with chlorine dyed ends, and finally agreed to her persistent desire. She was quite pleased with this decision and could not stop staring in the mirror during the hair cut. Her admiration for herself was entertaining for myself as well as the stylist, and it turns out the world kept spinning once the hair cut concluded. We decided to cut minimal amount as possible, while still evening up the ends and, I must say, the change definitely improved the overall quality of her hair. Lyla proudly stated afterward that she most definitely looks the same age as her cousin, Hali. Hali is twelve. My four year old thinks she is twelve.

The hair cut experience is not the only back to school first we've experienced lately. The preparations have also included school clothes shopping, which I never knew could be such a tedious task. I've entered new territory here. I have always been 100% on board with giving my kids the freedom to express themselves, but the problem with school clothes is my children do not have one single practical train of thought in their precious little minds. The negotiations get tough when Lyla holds up something resembling an 80's prom dress and I have to express to her something along the lines of, "Seriously? You won't even be able to sit down in that thing." Then there is Max, on the opposite end of the spectrum, who can't make a decision to save his life. I'm usually exhausted by the time we finally come to an agreement on something as simple as a t-shirt. So. I learned the hard way that it's much easier to go shopping without children. They are much more appreciative this way, as they are always happy when anyone arrives back home with anything at all for them. I will still encourage them to dress themselves as they choose, just within the range of their own closets. Controlled freedom. Ha! I'm hopeful the understanding of appropriate school attire will make more sense next year. Then again, I remember having arguments with my mom about clothing well into high school --- from style preference to demands over brand names, yikes --- so maybe that's just something that will never change. The lyrics from Tangled just started playing in my brain."...mother knows best, listen to your mumsy."

We've been focusing on making other changes prior to school starting, including the struggle with Max confusing pretend superhero games with a real life boxing match. I think I am slightly resentful of Kirk for the day he ever introduced the "BOOM" game to Max, but I'm also guilty for promoting such play. My favorite line from Max is just as we're getting ready to "fight" and I ask "Do you want a piece of me?" and as he scowls, he says "No! I want the whole thing!" He's hilarious. However, I really don't want Max being the kid who body slams his peers for no reason, soooo we've been diligently reminding him that playing "BOOM" is a family game and should only be played with willing participants. Kirk has been trying to convince Max that anytime he gets the urge to "BOOM" someone, he should just tickle them instead. And while it's too soon to tell if this technique is working, it's been funny to watch. Time will tell and I pray Max isn't the school bully. I'm hopeful his sweet side will outweigh the Hulk that lives within. 

They are going to learn so much this next year and I want to do everything we can to ensure it is smooth of a journey as possible. It's hard to believe such a monumental chapter is coming to a close for us. In a lot of ways life will remain the same, but it will also be so very different. It's bittersweet for me. Life is good. 

Hello to New Chapters: Part 2

We started touring preschools several weeks ago and I quickly learned I was entering a whole new territory I knew nothing about. The idea of Lyla going to Pre-K this fall has been exciting and somewhat sad, because time has passed by oh so quickly. I should clarify, she is not sad about it one bit, her mom and dad are the ones wondering where the time went. We toured several schools and eventually determined what type of atmosphere would be best for Miss Lyla. We were in the midst of finalizing our decision when Olivia mentioned an opportunity at the school where she works. Abercrombie Academy is hiring for an administrative position in their preschool office and the timing of receiving this information seemed oddly convenient. I wasn’t looking for a job, nor was I looking to put Max in school a year earlier than planned, but I decided to explore the opportunity anyway. I put a lot of trust in the natural timing that occurs in life.

The first thing we did was tour the preschool to determine if it would be a good fit. It turns out it is exactly what we had been looking for and it put all of the other tours to shame. We loved it. Then it came time to decide if enrolling Max in school would be a good decision, especially since it goes completely against my mindset when it comes to schooling. I am a stay at home mom, which is a huge blessing in itself and a big reason why we moved to Texas in the first place. I had zero intentions of putting a three year old in school. And I still stand firmly on the opinion that preschool is not necessary to raise a happy, healthy, smart child.

I never attended preschool and I'm normalish. I don't know if it's a difference of social norms in this area or just a generational thing, but there is a lot of pressure to put children in school at three or even two years old. I've been on the receiving end of the look of death when I start chatting with a mom at the park and she learns neither of my kids are in school. I always respond in my best duh tone, "No, my kids are not in school because they are two and four years old." There is no crime in not sending kids to school until Kindergarten, but a lot of parents feel differently on this subject. I did not allow this pressure to contribute to any decision because I think it’s stupid. I just wanted to make blog readers aware of the pressure that exists in case you have been out of the parenting business for a while.

After much research, counsel from family and friends, and pure instinct I decided this would be a good decision for our family. It was a bit of an emotional struggle for me to come to the realization that Maxwell going to school will have more of a positive impact than any negative one I had imagined. As much as Maxwell will be learning at his new school, he will perceive it as nothing more than having fun. It is completely play based and I think that’s important. It is only four hours per day. And definitely not a rigorous schedule of academics, which I had originally envisioned.

I know Maxwell is going to love it. He will thrive in an environment where he can make new friends, have independent experiences, and probably have more fun than he would with me all day. It was a tough pill to swallow when I asked him directly if he would prefer special “Mommy and Max time” or go to school like Lyla. He, of course, replied that he wants to go to school just like Lyla. And even though he is only two years old, we try to consider his desires as much as possible.

I applied for the position and as of August, I will be working part time and both kiddos will start school. It will be such a blessing to be on location while my kids are attending school. I will work the same hours as school is in session, so we will never be burdened with the conflict of coordinating schedules for transportation or holidays. And I get to attend all the fun activities they have going on throughout the year. The world is a scary place and in some ways this is giving me a sense of safety that I feared I would lack in sending my kids to public school. It seems almost too good to be true. We are so grateful for this unexpected opportunity and excited to see what the future brings. If all goes well, Lyla and Max could potentially attend through 5^th grade. Time will tell.