(Nov 2011 - June 2012)Things Learned At School

I was so apprehensive about my kids going to and being in child care but it has turned out to be much better than I would have anticipated.  In some way it still hurts my heart that I'm not the one teaching them all the songs that my Mom did and that I'm not there painting with them with paint and glitter, or making clay to bake in the oven.  But with Josephine they get to go on field trips to the big playground on Camano Is., every day is a learning experience with Padon following a preschool/ kindergarten curriculum, and Sophia learning her shapes, colors, and how to properly sit and eat at table.  The social skills that we wanted for Padon went through the roof and where he would only play with us at the play ground before, he now seeks out other kids to play with. Sophia talks and talks and talks and the staff has been hugely supportive.  With Sophia they send home daily reports on her progress, how she ate, what her mood was like, and include little personal notes about her day.  They hug her when she falls and put her hair up in pig tails; which as much a little girl as she is, she loves and won't let you take out at bed time.  Padon's teachers are open to suggestion and work with us to fill the gaps in what we're not able to provide as working parents.  Both Padon and Sophia have become more territorial about their things, and Padon has come home with phrases like *In a sing-song voice* "All be your best friend...." and "you're a poopy face!"  Padon learned that his body is his business and no one else's, and vice versa, as Walter was informed that Padon announced to the Pastor, that comes to the childcare weekly, that he liked his penis, as the other kids were noting that they liked his shirt, and shoes, and pants, etc. Sophia counts to 12 with an enthusiastic "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, a lemon, 12!" and seems to have orange as her favorite color.  I'm so proud of my kids and so glad that they get to go to Josephine three times a week.