Preschool
: It has been a month since Squeaker began preschool and we've been delighted to see her response to it. This picture, taken on the first day, reflects her mood at the time. She was really excited, but also a little bit nervous. I let her wear a heart necklace of mine as a reminder that our love and God's love is always with her. As we walked into class she was wide-eyed and smiling, but also holding tightly to the necklace. She has become increasingly comfortable there and she often shares about her adventures there.
Preschool is such a fascinating form of education. At dinner the first night, Uncle Mack asked Squeaker, "What did you learn at school today?" She thought for a bit and then responded, "I made a train with my friends. I was the engine." Sweet Uncle Mack assumed they had spent significant time learning about trains during the day, but further questions revealed that the "train" was to teach them how to walk in a line to the potty. He laughed when I explained that it might be weeks before she learned anything other than how to be in school. And yet, this is exactly why Squeaker needs to be in preschool. She loves to learn with me at home by reading, playing, cooking, and being in nature, but there are some many lessons she can only glean in the preschool environment. For example, she really likes playing with one of the other little girls I will call Sally. I imagine sweet Sally has a had a much more loose home environment than Squeaker and consequently has resisted the structure of school. Squeaker has explained this to me in a current events manner each time, "Sally had to sit in time out today because she wanted to play with toys during circle time." I've tried to take each opportunity to remind Squeaker how we all have times when it is hard to obey. I held back laughter when this came up last week. Out of the blue, Squeaker says, "Sally had to sit in time out again today. I just don't understand why she keeps doing that." Then with a very serious expression she says, "Circle time is so fun, I just don't understand why." I praised her for being concerned about her friend, and then we talked about how stubborn we can all be. Then today on our drive home, she very excitedly shared that Sally had stayed in circle time without getting a time out. I celebrated with her and explained that was the same way we felt when she chose to trust us and obey. Her love and empathy for others amazes us!
Thoughts from the backseat:
Squeaker doesn't spend too much time in the car, but it seems to be one of her favorite times to think and ask questions. Last week, she had been looking out the window quietly for a few miles and then brought up an interesting question.
S: Brite, you know my ABC song?
B: Yes?
S: Do you notice that M isn't in it?
B: What do you mean exactly? I assumed I knew what she meant, but I just wanted to make sure.
S: Well, I never say M when I sing. It just isn't in the song.
B: I can tell you have been thinking about that quite a bit.
S: I was singing it a lot during my nap.
B: Well, it comes after the letter L. Most people sing it really fast so it sounds like "elemenopee", but it is really L M N O P. If you slow down it is in there. L M
S: Laughing The M was hiding in my song!! Isn't that silly!
B: Very silly. After some more laughing about that silly M, she says:
S: It is also a funny song because N is in there two times.
B: Really? I know it comes after M, when else do you hear it in the song?
S: Umm.... It goes, T U V, W X Y N Z. See Brite, it comes after Y.
Insert a little bit of explanation and a lot more giggling.
Everyday Fun:
Since many of you don't hang out with us on a daily basis, I thought you might like to see some of our more normal activities. Squeaker is continuing to enjoy using her vivid imagination. This is a picture of her in pretending to be a princess dancing with her ballerina. (Thanks Nana & Poppy) Poor Daddy person was hoping Squeaker would never be interested in anything prissy. I guess we don't always get what we want.
We've also been playing outside quite a bit. Squeaker loves playing with her Ladybug ball and running down the hill as a family. She and Daddy were chasing each other through the yard. Aren't they so cute!
Thank you for your patience about my late post and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
: It has been a month since Squeaker began preschool and we've been delighted to see her response to it. This picture, taken on the first day, reflects her mood at the time. She was really excited, but also a little bit nervous. I let her wear a heart necklace of mine as a reminder that our love and God's love is always with her. As we walked into class she was wide-eyed and smiling, but also holding tightly to the necklace. She has become increasingly comfortable there and she often shares about her adventures there.Preschool is such a fascinating form of education. At dinner the first night, Uncle Mack asked Squeaker, "What did you learn at school today?" She thought for a bit and then responded, "I made a train with my friends. I was the engine." Sweet Uncle Mack assumed they had spent significant time learning about trains during the day, but further questions revealed that the "train" was to teach them how to walk in a line to the potty. He laughed when I explained that it might be weeks before she learned anything other than how to be in school. And yet, this is exactly why Squeaker needs to be in preschool. She loves to learn with me at home by reading, playing, cooking, and being in nature, but there are some many lessons she can only glean in the preschool environment. For example, she really likes playing with one of the other little girls I will call Sally. I imagine sweet Sally has a had a much more loose home environment than Squeaker and consequently has resisted the structure of school. Squeaker has explained this to me in a current events manner each time, "Sally had to sit in time out today because she wanted to play with toys during circle time." I've tried to take each opportunity to remind Squeaker how we all have times when it is hard to obey. I held back laughter when this came up last week. Out of the blue, Squeaker says, "Sally had to sit in time out again today. I just don't understand why she keeps doing that." Then with a very serious expression she says, "Circle time is so fun, I just don't understand why." I praised her for being concerned about her friend, and then we talked about how stubborn we can all be. Then today on our drive home, she very excitedly shared that Sally had stayed in circle time without getting a time out. I celebrated with her and explained that was the same way we felt when she chose to trust us and obey. Her love and empathy for others amazes us!
Thoughts from the backseat:
Squeaker doesn't spend too much time in the car, but it seems to be one of her favorite times to think and ask questions. Last week, she had been looking out the window quietly for a few miles and then brought up an interesting question.
S: Brite, you know my ABC song?
B: Yes?
S: Do you notice that M isn't in it?
B: What do you mean exactly? I assumed I knew what she meant, but I just wanted to make sure.
S: Well, I never say M when I sing. It just isn't in the song.
B: I can tell you have been thinking about that quite a bit.
S: I was singing it a lot during my nap.
B: Well, it comes after the letter L. Most people sing it really fast so it sounds like "elemenopee", but it is really L M N O P. If you slow down it is in there. L M
S: Laughing The M was hiding in my song!! Isn't that silly!
B: Very silly. After some more laughing about that silly M, she says:
S: It is also a funny song because N is in there two times.
B: Really? I know it comes after M, when else do you hear it in the song?
S: Umm.... It goes, T U V, W X Y N Z. See Brite, it comes after Y.
Insert a little bit of explanation and a lot more giggling.
Everyday Fun:Since many of you don't hang out with us on a daily basis, I thought you might like to see some of our more normal activities. Squeaker is continuing to enjoy using her vivid imagination. This is a picture of her in pretending to be a princess dancing with her ballerina. (Thanks Nana & Poppy) Poor Daddy person was hoping Squeaker would never be interested in anything prissy. I guess we don't always get what we want.
We've also been playing outside quite a bit. Squeaker loves playing with her Ladybug ball and running down the hill as a family. She and Daddy were chasing each other through the yard. Aren't they so cute!
Thank you for your patience about my late post and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
