Class of 2023

Olivia graduated from preschool last week. The school put on a very simple ceremony. Her preschool teacher cried as she announced the class of 2023. Of course, her tears were contagious and I lost it there for a second too.

Olivia will enter kindergarten next year. We hope to enroll her in a German school, instead of a school on the U.S. military installation. It may be a little bit more complicated to do that than we had anticipated. Therefore, school for Olivia in the Fall is still a bit a uncertain. We arrive in Germany on the first of July and will immediately investigate all her German options. We hope to send her on a wonderful journey!

Lila+Preschool=Where Did the Time Go?

Today was Lila's first day of preschool. I was a bit sad to send her off. As she walked down our stairs, out the door and into Matt's truck, pink backpack on her back, I had to bite my lip in order to stop myself from crying. Where has the time gone?

Matt dropped her off and she spent 30-minutes in hourly care before being transferred to Adventures (her preschool room). Since Matt passes by her school every morning, he'll drop her off each Tuesday and Thursday morning. He has to be at class at 8:30. So, she spends 30-minutes in hourly care (her class runs from 8:30-11:30). Olivia's preschool is in a different town, in the opposite direction. So, Matt bringing her will save me having to make the trip twice.

I switched Olivia's preschool days to Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's (she's excited about this because her best friend attends preschool on these days). That way I can have a little free time on Tuesday's and Thursday's when they are both in school. Selfish? Maybe. However, I have to drive into Shawnee, KS for allergy shots every Tuesday morning. They are quite pleasant appointments (the shot is in my butt). So, it's not like I'm really out there enjoying myself. Though, I will have a chance to stop at Whole Food's on my way home, or do some quick errands. Thursday mornings, I'll start taking a spinning class. So, it's not like I'll be at a coffee shop, sipping coffee and eating bon bons with friends. But, I did feel a bit guilty. For all of two seconds.

Lila loved her first day of school. She said she had strawberries and bread for a snack. Later, she changed her story and told me that she was read a story about strawberries and bread. She also played outside. No crying (Lila's the sensitive one - so this was a bit surprising). Olivia's been going to school for two years now and I'm sure Lila was excited to finally get her turn. In fact, she went to bed crying because she wants to go to school again tomorrow.

Don't grow up too quickly, sweetie!

Embracing Preschool

Olivia listens to a local tell her about her dog

Olivia has been in school a few weeks now and has quickly decided that she loves it!

Last week, DH asked her if she had any new friends at school. She told him that she had a new friend, Maria. Later that week, I overheard DH ask her if she had a boyfriend (we’ve since discussed that “boyfriend” is an inappropriate word to use with a three-year-old!). Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes, I do! His name is Joao!”

And, boy is she learning Portuguese! Her comprehension is coming much faster than I anticipated (I was worried about the language barrier. Her teachers do not speak to her in English). And, just yesterday, she came home singing a song in Portuguese. I am more than thrilled! She’s already gained so much self-confidence and pride. This is a wonderful opportunity, indeed! I wish every American child could experience this!

Imagine, if, like most other countries where, beginning in preschool, children learn English, American children learned a Latin language (once you master one Latin language, it’s easier to master other Latin languages, and, often, any other language, in general)! Imagine the opportunities and worlds opened up to them! DH works with in a place where 29-countries (I believe that’s the number) are represented. The British and the Americans are the only countries who, typically, only speak one language. Many of DH’s friends speak up to five languages! DH tells me he is often humiliated by his lack of language knowledge.

Sorry about the rant. Back to Olivia:

Monday morning, she got up and walked outside, in her PJ’s, to greet our gardener. I was sitting in the dining room and didn’t catch what he said to her. I doubt I would have caught too much anyway. He speaks Portuguese as fast as I speak English (My international friends tell me I speak much too fast). Suddenly, Olivia stomped into the kitchen and we had the following conversation:

Olivia: “Mom, I don’t know what the gardener is saying to me.”

Me: “Olivia, what do you think he’s saying to you?”

Olivia: “I think he’s telling me to go get my shoes on!”

Up the stairs she went, where she got fully dressed and went back outside. Listening carefully, I heard the gardener thank her for putting her shoes on. A few minutes later, she sulked back into the house and, whining, told me that he asked her to go back inside. This made sense because he was watering the flowers on the deck and the deck was getting soaked.

On the way to school that morning, she begged to stay all day. Since she’ll be staying all day on Monday’s (starting in October) because of ballet class there in the afternoon, I decided to let her.

When I picked her up in the afternoon, she was playing closely with a few of her new friends. I caught her shrieking with delight as I walked into the backyard to pick her up. On the way home, she proclaimed it a good day and said, “I’m not afraid anymore, Mom! I want to sleep there and play there all day, everyday!”

If that’s not embracing preschool, I don’t know what is!

Attack of the Germs

Olivia started school last Thursday. Today, she woke up with a cold. Her first cold since March. March, I tell you!

Why haven't I yet received this manual in Olivia's backpack:

"Welcome to School: How Your Family Can Survive (and even avoid) Colds, Flus, Stomach Bugs and Head Lice of the 2008-2009 Academic Year"

Is there such a thing? I think not (And, no, I don't want the "How to Wash Hands to Avoid Illness" manual)!

First Day of Preschool is Full of Mixed Emotions

Today was Olivia's first day of preschool. I've been prepping her for this day for quite some time. When we were visiting family last month, she would proclaim that she was going to school in September. She was so excited.

When the big day came around, however, Olivia, Lila and I were each filled with mixed emotions (Daddy's traveling around Europe again with "The Boss"). Olivia hasn't been to any sort of formal care since we lived in Fort Wainwright. She's been home with me nearly every day since we arrived here. So, it came as no surprise to me, this morning, when she was hesitant to enter the classroom. As her teacher rushed her into the room, towards the other children and away from me, I became nervous and a bit sad. She looked so alone! And, boy did her blonde hair stand out among all the dark haired Portuguese children!

Lila started to cry for "Iia" as we walked to the car. She hugged Olivia's bear all the way home! She cheered up when got home and found our housekeeper cleaning. She made herself useful right away and followed Louisa around while I baked some bread for lunch. The house was so quiet without Olivia, I had to put some music on because I couldn't stand the silence.

When I picked her up right before lunch, she had seen me coming through the window and started to cry. She rushed out of the classroom and quickly handed over her uniform to her teacher (it's called a "bibe" and all the students wear them. They are long-sleeved and hang down to their knees. They are quite nice because I don't have to worry about her shirts or nice dresses getting stained from dirt, paint, etc). In the car, she asked why I didn't stay with her all morning and then, in the next sentance, asked why she wasn't staying for lunch. I know she'll get used to it, however, I hate to see her so confused.

Her teacher told me that she understands Portuguese very well. I'm not sure if Olivia was pretending to undersand (nodding yes to any and all questions) or if her twice a week swimming lessons, for the past six months, have helped. Time will tell.

This year's theme at her preschool is: "All About the Outdoors." Trees, flowers, gardening, etc. I think Olivia will really end up having a great time, once she gets used to it and really starts to grasp the language.

Olivia has the option of staying all-day (it is one price whether she stays half a day or full-day). However, she'll probably go in the mornings four days a week. Next month, on Fridays, if she's adjusting well, she may stay all day, in order to enjoy lunch with the other children and take a ballet class after naps.

If you're wondering why she isn't going to an English speaking school, we have a good reason. All the English speaking preschools are about $1,000/mo. for half-day programs. We don't feel that any preschool is worth that much money and we feel that the long-term benefits of a pricey preschool, no matter how great the program, would be minimal to none (however, that is only our opinion-not based on any studies). Olivia will have one year in an American preschool, in Kansas, next year. There, we believe, she will catch up on anything she is missing out on by not attending an American/English school. If I'm coming across defensive as to our decision, I'm not trying to be. We're happy with our decision and are excited to see how Olivia grows in a different cultural environment!

Preschool

Note: Update at bottom.

I've been starting to stress about preschool. Most of her American friends here are in preschool. Her cousin attends a Montessori school. Most started by age of two or two and half. She's older than most of her friends by six to eight months. Matt refused to allow Olivia to enter preschool when we arrived. Looking back, he was right. I was used to hourly care several hours a week at Ft. Wainwright and had a hard time adjusting to not having a "break." Olivia did ask to go to "school" when we first arrived, however, she adjusted and we moved past it. Instead, joining Mums and Tots on Monday's.

We did, however, visit one "school" a while back that I really liked. The kids are involved in cooking, gymnastics, music and gardening. An added perk is that it's a Portuguese school and we've been told that she'll, most likely, speak fluently in about six months (while she won't maintain her Portuguese when we move back to the US, it could enable her to pick up languages much more easily in the future). Preschool enough for me, though, official preschools, English or Portuguese, are just over $700/month (not in our budget). Olivia left the place, after our tour, kicking and screaming and asked to go back for a few days after. I've looked at two places and this one is my top choice thus far.

If I remember correctly, it's about $455 US dollars a month and we're able to get 20% of that back (we get the 20% VAT tax back because it's not considered an official preschool. Offical schools are not applicable for VAT refund). Included in that price is lunch and the option for her to stay all day, every day (we'll send her three mornings a week). This is still too pricey for my DH. Though, he has, relucantly, agreed to send her next year as long as I (we) scope out other "schools" beforehand and make sure I (we) pick out the best one in our price range.

Here's the dilema. My DH believes that preschool has little to no impact on future education. He thinks one year of part-time preschool is more than enough. Therefore, he'd like to wait until we're back in the US when Olivia is four and a half. He'd rather put the money we'd be spending on preschool this coming year into Olivia's 529 plan instead.

His thought (and he's slowly convincing me) is that if parents read to their children, travel with them, teach them, to some degree, on their own and involve their children in group activties (read: play groups, some type of group lessons, etc.) with other children their age on a weekly basis, they'll develop the social skills and knowledge they need to enter Kindergarten without being behind. He also feels that a bright child will catch up (and, possibly, surpass) very quickly to kids who had more time in preschool than they did.

Does anyone want to weigh in on this? Any educators out there who think differently? As I mentioned, I have convinced him to send her to "preschool" in September and a "real" preschool the following year before she enters kindergarten, however reluctantly.

America is becoming obsessed with the importance of preschool. Are there any books or articles we should be reading to help us out? We've spent so much time out of the continental US that we feel a bit "out of the loop." Any thoughts and recommended reading would be welcomed.

Update: Okay, I guess my biggest dilema is this: Do kids need two years of an official preschool? As of right now, I'm not to concerned about the quality of her first year of preschool. I think a daycare with a preschool program is a good start. Am I right? For her second year of preschool, the year before kindergarten, do we throw down the big bucks for an official preschool (if we're still here Portugal - meaning about $700 US dollars/month)? If we're back in the US by that time, I think we'll have better options at fairly reasonable prices. Though, if anyone wants to weigh in what we should look for in the US, feel free. Can you tell I'm a bit confused?!