Sunday, September 16, 2012

My 3 Year Old is Home with Me

I feel like calling into 106.1 KISS FM for their "Get Over It" segment of the show and saying, "NO, my 3 year old boy does not go to preschool, get over it."  Why is this so shocking to people? Is this just a D/FW thing to put your kids in "school" so young or do people do this every where and I'm just a weirdo going against all social norms? I am not worried about him being ready for Kindergarten. I don't worry about him needing social interaction with other kids. He gets that from his sister and her friend's have little brothers that he plays with. I do not believe that a 3 year old will teach another 3 year old how to share, have good social skills or manners. Kids learn best through play with their parents. We go to story time at the library on Wednesdays. He is in a playgroup, gymnastics, and will start a little Mommy & Me soccer class next week. I just have to do my grocery shopping at night and thats fine. He likes going to the gym play area which is great so I can get a good work out in. The time I have with my kids is so short and fleeting. Kellyn started preschool when she was 3, but she was different and I had a newborn. I took on the first day and told her if she didn't like after a week then she didn't have to go anymore. She walked in on the first day, turned towards me and said, "Mommy's and babies don't go to preschool. You and Rhett can go home now." She never once shed a tear over leaving me. Not even in the church nursery. She only went 2 days a week and I enjoyed those days alone with the baby. She never went more than 2 days a week even last year when she was 4 but turned 5 in the fall. She only went 2 days a week despite mommy peer pressure to put her in 4 days like everyone else her age. And guess what, she can could read soon after she turned 5 and before she started Kindergarten. So I feel confident that Rhett will be fine as well.  I just have different knowledge about brain development and beliefs about the benefits of the parent/child connection than most. I'm just getting tired of being asked why I didn't put him in preschool and seeing the shocked look on people's faces. Of course I want a break, but I quit my dream job to be their mom and mom's don't get a lot of breaks. I feel weird not working and putting my youngest in preschool. Who better to teach him how to behave, have good manners and social skills than his mom. I'm not judging anyone for putting their 3 year old in preschool. So why do I have to be judged for doing the opposite. I put my 3 year old daughter in preschool, but what's right for one kid isn't necessarily right for the other. I believe boys benefit from more time at home and less time in school in the early years. 

Since Kellyn is only in half-day Kindergarten our morning flies by because we drop her off at 8:40 then leave our house at 12:40 to pick her up by 1:00. Then come home for nap/rest time.

 Here is how we have spent the first 2 weeks of school. 

Rhett is more willing to run errands when I let him wear his pajamas. :)

The Carrollton Early Childhood PTA had Soccer Shots and Touch Down Tots come out and do a little lesson for us at the park. So cute!

My little gardener.

I love our new table easel. And we use it on the floor too as we make shapes and letters out of playdough. 

Rhett's gymnastics class is on Thursdays.

He loves making baby Elan laugh! We keep her on Mondays and Thursdays. 

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