PJ Day -AGAIN????? Kindergarten teachers think I'm stupid. I'll retort, you decide.

Below is a comment that was left on my PJ Day post from a kindergarten teacher called Jmac :

Julie,

I am a kindergarten teacher and I just want to say that your message made me very sad! The thing is that there are a lot of bad and evil things in this world and if you are always looking for them.. you certainly will find them.. PJ day is FUN... you can look at it any way you want, but kids are kids! And they should not be expected to behave like adults.

Sometimes we have to look at the world from a childs perspective! Can you not see the silliness of PJ's and how that could make school that much more fun. Silliness and happiness is contagious in a school!

I came across your blog when I was looking for child and parent PJ day activies... Was I ever shocked to read your blog!

OH wow... that is classic. Your indoctrination into the liberal mindset of public school thinking has been complete and thorough. They must be very proud of you.

You know something like this has me wriggling with anticipation and I just have to answer, since she got everything all wrong. So Jmac - this is for you, baby!

It is laughable how you are unable to discern the actual gist of my post – comparing my post on PJ day to looking for things that are evil or bad. That may be your interpretation of my post – but not what was stated at all. And it's laughable how so many kindergarten teachers feel the need to talk down to me and figuratively wag their fingers in my virtual face like I'm a bad girl.

Ooooh hoo hoo hoo baby, I AM one bad mama-jama.

What was said specifically about PJ Day is that it is inappropriate and that wearing PJ’s outside of the home is taboo. It just ain’t done sweetie. Or are you going to tell me that you wear PJ’s to the store or mall to go shopping, or to work to teach the kiddies…???

Nope, didn’t think so. And you know why? Do I have to reiterate this again? I guess so. It’s not appropriate, and we just don’t do it (that’s the taboo part, honey.) The fact that you say this post made you sad sounds like maybe you need to be taking a little prozac for your mental health… may I suggest you get yourself to your nearest psychiatrist as soon as possible so you can deal with those feelings?

I mean, really…

It's because kids are kids - and not adults - that I make these choices for my girls and go about my business as a parent teaching my daughters how to think critically about things. I do NOT go for the "if it feels good, do it" philosophy - that is what excuses people from analyzing their actions and the possible consequences, and that is exactly what gets them into trouble. I do not ask my kids to be adults, but I am preparing them for the future when, as early as their preteens, their reasoning faculties will be tested by their peers trying to get them to do something the other kids are doing because "it's fun". Can you get my drift now? Sometimes you need to be able to discern what is really fun (and safe) and what is perceived as fun (but will get you into trouble) because you just don't want to be left out.

I'm sure you've heard this phrase: "If all your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?" THAT was all of our mamas trying to teach us critical thinking.

My dear, I have to ask you, at what point do you suggest that children learn critical thinking? Would you suggest they don't need to learn how to analyze situations and make assessments and judgments regarding those situations? Or are we going to wait until they get into their preteens or teenage years to try to instill in them the ability to understand what the consequences will be when they make their choices?

The earlier you begin to teach a child a thing, the more they internalize that teaching.

Let’s save the “shock” for something that really deserves it, such as, the day you find out one of your kids is being molested by a family member or neighbor. Now that’s shocking. It appears liberals are easily shocked by anything that doesn't conform to their views of what is normal, okay, "right", etc.

I will agree that silliness is contagious in school – seems the so-called adults are getting sillier all the time. (That means, y’all aren’t exactly basing your decisions on how to have fun at school by using a little common sense.) I think we had a better education system when we stuck to the basics instead of coming up with "new and improved" ways to educate kids. And let's not ignore how teachers now spend as much time trying to correct behavioral problems that stem from no discipline (or poor discipline) in the schools and home, which further degrades the quality of the education our kids are getting.

What I can “see” is the inane “logic” of the school officials for doing something that has no business in education. Understand, sweetie? PJ’s are not necessary in order to teach part of the curriculum. One can learn to read and appreciate Dr. Seuss in other ways.

Hey - I got an idea! How about a mismatch day – where kids can wear nonsense clothes and look silly, the way the characters in Dr. Seuss stories do - that cuts out the questionable clothing issue altogether, as long as underwear isn’t worn on the outside of clothes.

Damn! With that kind of logic, I think I missed my calling. (I can hear my friends in the background yelling at me not to quit my day job. Thanks for the reality check - that's why you're my friends.) By the way, I have many liberal friends, but they haven't opened their minds so much that their brains have fallen out. The ones that I can count as my friends are those who use common sense to make their decisions about their beliefs and their kids. I really love those people! We don't have to see eye to eye, but at least their beliefs are based on something that can be quantified by reasoning, not their feelings.

By the way – are you a mother? You note you teach kindergarten, but fail to tell me if you are a mother. I always love it when I write something about my kids and how I'm raising them and people who have never raised a child go about telling me how I do it all wrong. That’s pretty laughable, too.

I find it "laughable" how so many teachers jump to the conclusion that I am somehow incapable of understanding what the intent or purpose of PJ Day is… yeah, ya want the little boogers to have a fun time, let their little imaginations run amok… but it is my belief that parents need to intervene more often and tell the schools that there are just some things that aren’t acceptable. Too many parents abdicate that responsibility, or are afraid they will be ridiculed. They don't want to make waves or be labeled as a trouble-maker.

Go ahead – make fun of me, denigrate me, make it sound like I am the spawn of hell, tell me what a fuddy duddy I am. I'll be the first to admit I'm not a perfect parent - kids don't come with instruction books that tell us how to raise them. It's learn as you go.

But go ahead, tell me how I just don't "get it". I can take it. What about you?

Jmac, I'd love to know how you made the leap from my post to the extremes you stated in your comment. Couldn't you just read it for what it is, instead of projecting your highly indoctrinated way of thinking into it? I thought teachers went to college and eventually had to get a Masters degree in order to stay in their teaching jobs – wouldn’t that suggest that you had to have some kind of critical thinking skills of your own?

Perhaps not. I knew a young woman who had her Master’s degree in education (wanted to be a teacher) and she couldn’t tell the difference between the formula for figuring out perimeter versus how to figure square footage, no matter how many times I showed it to her or explained it to her. Well, I’ll chalk that up to me not being able to teach at all… I know how to do the math, but passing that on to another person is just not my forté. But if she was any example of what our colleges were turning out for childhood education and she was supposedly qualified to teach elementary school kids - then it's no wonder America's education system is in the toilet.

A good teacher would never disparage a parent for doing what they think is right for their child... you are not accountable for those kids' lives... unless there is a darn good reason you think you should intervene (suspicions of abuse). You need to respect the parents and their knowledge of their kids (whom most have raised from birth - not you) and they have a better handle on what they want to teach their kids. You do not have the ultimate responsibility of raising the child. You get that child for a few hours in the day, five days a week (not accounting for snow days and holidays and teachers' conferences, Christmas Break, Spring Break, yadda yadda yadda), for nine months out of the year. But we, the parents, are ultimately responsible for what these kids learn about life and the choices we make.

I guess I get ticked off that the (public) schools and their faculty tend to focus on the short term without any regard for the bigger picture.

As for looking at the world from a child’s perspective, I think we have a handle on the fun stuff for our kids. Our kids do roller skating, take dance lessons & gymnastics, play dress up at home, take swimming lessons and go to the pool in the summer, take them to a children’s museum every chance we get, go to the park and play on the equipment – and they have just about every kind of toy and game one can imagine – and they still prefer to play with the simple cardboard box over the fancy doll house, or play outside with bubbles on a warm day.

One day of not being with their friends to participate in what has become some kind of goofy ritual isn’t going to scar their little psyches.

Mom got the news and....

... it didn't seem to even register with her.

Yesterday, we went to the doctor's office and the doc told mom the news... the MRI shows moderate atrophying of her brain, and that she had alzheimer's. It didn't show any problems with the ventricles and there didn't appear to be any indication that she'd had any fluid on the brain at any time.

Mom replied, "So physically I'm okay?"

Doctor: "Yes, physically you seem to be in great shape. But as we age, our blood vessels in our bodies break down and become weak like the rest of the body, which can increase the possibility of stroke, so it's important that you be careful to keep your blood pressure low and to watch your diabetes. "

Mom: "So physically, I'm in great shape!"

It was clear it really wasn't sinking in at that moment.

On the other hand, we met with Richelle's teacher last night for a parent/teacher conference. When we walked in, Roy (with a big smirk on his face) said to her, "If at the end of this year you decide to retire, we'll understand." Mrs. G. laughed at this. I'm sure she's had tougher kids to work with than Richelle, but as we have learned, Richelle, at times, has her own idea of what she wants. Sometimes, she'll be given a task and she'll go off and do whatever she wants to do. She has trouble with talking too much and too loud... no surprise there. But for only being in the U.S. for a year and having learned what she has learned, Mrs. G. thought she was doing incredibly well. Richelle will have to learn how to adapt so she can get along in first grade. At least she's motivated to learn. She tells us she has to catch up to Kenzie.

How Jia picked the name Richelle

I had someone ask how Jia decided on the name Richelle. It is one of her middle names. She learned her full name fairly quickly - and had played around with being called Josie (her first name) but that faded too quickly. Plus, this mama had a hard time remembering to call her Josie... she just doesn't look like a Josie to me.

She really looks like a Richelle to me, and I think it fits her well. After hearing people mispronounce her name over and over , and seeing her friend from the orphanage using an American name, she came to her own conclusion that she wanted to be called Richelle.

Richelle was in honor of my father, whose name was Richard.

I have always said that Richelle reminds me so much of me as a kid... funny how things turn out. When I was in first grade, I remember getting sent to the coat closet for talking and not respecting Mrs. Clarissey's position as teacher. I was so ashamed... I cried buckets the whole time I was in there (which probably wasn't more than 5 minutes). I never ever talked when a teacher was talking again. Yeah, my daughter could have really been my bio kid - if not for the Chinese thing and my not giving birth to her... but other than that... she's just like me.

OMG... now I know what I'm in for as she grows up.

A new name and the first day of school

First, ever since we saw one of Jia's orphanage mates at the adoption agency picnic, and she heard that she was being called by an American name, she decided she wanted to be called by one of her American names as well. So now, she insists on being called Richelle. Quite frankly, I think it fits her well.

Today was the first day of school. Kenzie and Richelle were beside themselves to go and have their first full day. So was mom... which should go without saying. Ahem...

Like a dummy, I didn't take my camera to take a picture of Richelle as she left for her first day - DUH! The grin on her face lit up the whole neighborhood. Of course, as the bus pulled up, she ran to me, so excited that the bus was here! Get on the bus, silly!

But I did take pictures of her after she got off the bus today... and that smile was still there. However, I will let you know she told me she did get a time out for talking. It's going to be a long school year for the teacher.

I want spring! Change my attitude, dude!

I am sooooooooooo not into the early spring weather where it turns warm, turns cold, turns warm, turns cold.... make up your mind, Mother Nature!!!!! I'm tired of the old weather.

It's just one of those days. The kids goofed off this morning and wouldn't do what they needed to WHEN they needed to so I could get both off to school in a fairly decent time. I, of course, became Drill Sargeant Mommy: "Do it! Do it! Do it!" (Think of the sargeant in the Gomer Pyle sitcom.... yeah, not a pretty picture.)

Kenzie is getting tired of Jia wanting to copy her every move. I keep trying to explain to Kenzie that Jia idolizes everything she is doing - and wants to be like her. She is looking to Kenzie to show her what is okay and not.

To complicate matters, Jia has been told not to goof off in a certain dining room chair. They are unstable if you arent' sitting still (easy to make one fall over) and I don't know if she just keeps forgetting or thinks it funny to make it go all wobbly and mommy's-punishments-be-damned-I'll-do-what-I-want-to.... She's been admonished three times in less than 24 hours over her antics. So she's not too happy with me right now, either...

I thank God that these days aren't the usual - but when we have them - I just hate the feeling it leaves me with. I need to just let it go and let the kids learn somehow that their bad behavior has its own consequences. However, too many tardies for Kenzie and it's Roy and I who will be called into the principal's office.

Thankfully, I've learned a lesson from a prior day when we had one of these difficult days. I had been angry with the kids (for a lot of the same reasons) and didn't hug or kiss Kenzie when I dropped her off at school. I cried the whole morning feeling bad, thinking that if something happened to her, she wouldn't know just how much I loved her. Her last thoughts would be something like "Mommy doesn't love me" or "Mommy hates me." But nothing could have been further from the truth. When I picked her up that day, I held her so close and let her know how sorry I was for how the morning went.

I just know that usually, these mornings are not going to be a big deal in the long run... but I'll be glad when they are older and more mature and can at least keep to a task (more or less) - and then I'll be back to square one when they become full-fledged teenagers.

An opinion regarding sex ed in grade school

A friend of mine who lives in England offered the following comment on one of my posts, asking for my opinion.

I would like to have your opinion on an issue. A grade school in England is going to give same sex education to children. One of the stories being used in the course is about "the story of two princes." Evidently, a prince has his pick of princesses from different Kingdoms. But the most eligible bachelor chooses a prince instead. And they live happily ever after. There are other curriculum literature in that same vein. You get the idea. A lot of parents are up in arms. They say that their kids are too young to be exposed to that message. But their threat to withhold their children's attendance on days specific to the course is now countered by the council's (responsible for local education) threat to sue the "offending" parents for unauthorized absence. Children's organizations are backing the parents, saying that they have the right to decide what is suitable for their offsprings, within reason. This is just one of the many "battlefronts" being opened in the educational establishment's search for a way forward in the 21st Century. I am with the parents on this one. To push "Little Katie with dad and dad at home" books down the throats of little ones is just absurd. I myself learned about homosexuality after going abroad in my late teens. For a time, I had strong prejudices against it. But I have come to accept homosexuals as people who have the right to choose their way of life. Why confuse children whose priority should be the three Rs, soccer, and brownies. It is alright to have fun; but the main purpose of schooling is to learn important skills and knowledge, not play around with gimmicks.

Ok, I have an opinion... as always...

When I was in grade school, the only sex education I got was when we were in sixth grade and the girls went to the gymnasium (which was also the room used for an auditorium and the cafeteria) to watch a movie about menstrual cycles. These girls were 11 to 12 years old - so that is an appropriate age to be sure that young girls understand what is to happen to them soon. My mother explained the facts of life to me at 9 years old, including the basics of what the word rape meant. My mom is to be commended for being open about sex, the sex act, and relevant sexual matters that a young girl would need to know about at appropriate times. She knew what I was ready for and when to tell me.

However (and I understand that these were the 1960's in a small town) homosexuality was not a subject that was talked about openly, and people were not willing to divulge their sexual preferences if it wasn't considered "the norm". In fact, I prefer it when even heterosexual couples were not sticking their tongues down each others' throats in public. Very young children should not see overt sexual behavior no matter where it comes from.

So - I was trying to remember when and where I learned about homosexuality. I can't place a time or date of when I learned or heard of it. I am guessing that I either heard talk about it at school (by other kids) or there was something said on tv. However it happened, I know I asked my parents about it.

Now, I can tell you, my parents weren't kind about these types of relationships. My mother's idea that it was an abomination was a bit extreme for me (it always seemed a bit too contrived, no matter how much one might use the Bible to buttress the argument), and my father's basic stance was if men and men or women and women were meant to be together, they'd be able to have babies with each other and create families.

I've come to the conclusion over the years that children should be taught to respect people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity - and yes, even their sexual preferences. (As a matter of common sense, this rules OUT pedophiles. I have no problem with the death penalty for pedophiles.)

As the parent of young children, it is my opinion that NO government agency has the right to usurp the parents' responsibility to teach their children what they wish them to know and when they wish them to know it, especially when it comes to such controversial and personal matters as sex education for children in grade school. I know this assumes all parents will be responsible enough to talk to their kids... and there are parents out there who are too embarrassed or just plain don't care what their kids know about sexual matters. But there is no excuse for a school to assume they know better than all the parents of these students.

My daughters will be taught by me - and not a school -- as to what I think they need to know and when I presume they are ready for it. Kenzie at an early age has seen some commercials where a woman holds the hand of another woman, and a man embraces another man - and her reaction was "EEEEEUUUUW! Boys don't belong with boys! And girls don't belong with girls!" Now, I've never taught her that, but she has seen examples in her every day life of man/woman relationships - including that her mommy is a woman married to a man - and of course, Disney movies always have the heroine marrying or falling in love with a man. Her genetic makeup so far has her crushing on boys (already) .

As for the school system threatening to sue the parents... I say bring it on, baby! As the parents of these children, I would find a really great lawyer and counter sue the school as a group (therefore spreading out the costs - unless one would be willing to do it pro bono) and take on the system. I cannot believe the arrogance and the bullying that takes place on the part of liberal systems such as these. And parents need - MUST - assert their right to be the guardians of their childrens' lives and make the decisions for the minor children in their care. The school system has no personal bond or interest in the kids. They only wish to push their agenda.

Keep the kids out for that day. I'm proud of the parents who want to stand up for their rights to be their kids' guardians of their innocence.

Like it or not, homosexuality is not the normal sexual development for the majority of folks. I've never, with just a few exceptions, have ever thought it a conscious choice, but rather a result of brain chemistry that went a different direction than what the majority of babies in the womb developed into. I have a brother who is homosexual. I always knew he was "different". As a young child, he was an incredibly unhappy person. Perhaps this is because he knew he wanted to be with boys and he intuitively understood that this wasn't a normal outcome for most males. But I can tell you that being homosexual is just what he is... not what he has chosen. When Kenzie and Jia are old enough to begin to understand, or when they ask the questions about same sex relationships, I will give them the answers. I will not allow a school system to force the issue on my kids.

Anyone willing to comment on this and you disagree with me, please be very specific about what your objections are - and do tell me how many children you have raised.

Pajama day for Kindergarten?!?

I have had to add some information to this post - since way too many of the negative comments come from people who jump to one conclusion about some of my comments.

First - you might want to actually look up the Meriam-Webster's definition of intimate.  I would have thought that fairly intelligent people would have been able to figure out my usage of it... but evidently not. Here is the definition from the dictionary:  1.) a.  INTRINSIC; ESSENTIAL;   b.  belonging to or characterizng one's deepest nature  2.)  marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity (~ knowledge of the law); 3.) a.   marked by a warm friendship developing through long association;  b.  suggesting informal warmth or privacy;  4.)  of a very personal or private nature. 

Intimate as I use it here is used as the last definition.  I find it amusing and at the same time disturbing that the negative posters equate intimate with sex.  How sad. Sex isn't necessarily intimate - however, I would charge that love and trust require a degree of intimacy.  Further, IF you actually read the post and don't jump to conclusions before you finish - which I  believe people are doing here...  PJ's are worn at bedtime - not to school or the shopping mall.  Anyone who wears PJ's outside of the home - I do have to question your character.  It's that simple.  What do you have to prove by wearing clothes inappropriate for the day/weather/season?  So, here's the rest of the original post.  I am a mother who prefers to teach my children right from wrong every time I see something that comes up and can be considered a teachable moment.  Not like the moms who think they are loving their kids by giving them whatever they want or allowing them to do whatever every one else does.  The school stopped having PJ day after 2009's.  I would have to say it wasn't on my complaint alone...


Well, imagine my surprise when I picked up Kenzie the other day and she began to talk about "Next week we're going to have a pajama day at school."
That raised my eyebrows. I told Kenzie that I didn't think she would be going to school in her pj's, and that I would be talking with her father later. When we got home, I read the flier in her backpack and just shook my head with wonder at how a school could justify this kind of activity.
When Roy got home, I told him about what Kenzie had said and what was on the flyer sent home with her. I told Roy that I felt pajamas had no place in a school - to which he replied that she should be kept home. My thoughts exactly.
When picking up Kenzie from school the next day, I approached her teacher and asked her about the pajama day, and she began to talk enthusiastically about it. I told her I found it highly inappropriate that the school would allow young children to wear pajamas to school and that Kenzie would not be going to school that day.
I got a call from her later that day. She said that it caught her offguard that I would say anything in front of the other kids or parents. She said I shouldn't talk about these things in front of other parents and should call her at home or she would be willing to stay and talk with me privately.
The thought running through my head at that moment was, God forbid should I express an opinion that is contrary to the school's curriculum or one that perhaps other parents are thinking about but perhaps are afraid themselves to say anything. What she needs to understand is that every teacher needs to get used to my open and blunt way of expressing what I think about inappropriate activities or curriculum at public schools. Get used to it, folks - I don't mince words.
She then wanted to know what my objections to the pajama day were. I gave them to her, and she began trying to expound on how the kids are just 5 or 6 years old, and they're so innocent, and the school has been doing this for - oh, as long as she can remember! Even her son did it. And its fun for the kids.
Well, I guess that makes it alright then, huh! In my opinion, these were not reasons to do it, they were excuses why it is still going on. There was no educational rationale for children to go to school in their pj's, bring their blankets or sleeping bags, and their stuffed animals.Let's just talk about what's "fun". There was a time when the good ol' boys would go out on a Saturday night and either terrorize, torture or tie a knot around a black man's neck and string him up in a tree - all in the name of "fun". And I'm sure they considered that a tradition, of sorts... That doesn't mean it was the right thing to do.

Some people get a real hoot out of setting fire to cats. That doesn't make it the right thing to do.
And fraternities love to torture pledges with drinking alcoholic beverages until they pass out or die from alcohol poisoning - and the frat brothers must think that is great fun - but that doesn't make it right.
I told Kenzie's teacher that the argument she gave me wasn't good enough for me to change my mind, but just for the sake of being fair, I thought I'd gut-check my thoughts on the whole situation with someone I trusted, just in case I was over-reacting.
I called Dr. Laura Schlessinger. She agreed with me on every one of my points concerning the matter. That's all I needed. Her opinions are based in logic, not feel good emotions, and her first priority is protecting children and doing what's right. So I trust her.
So, Kenzie is being kept out on "Pajama day".

There is no good reason for children to wear intimate apparel to school. I send my daughter to school to be educated, not to be titillated by what even she understands is a taboo outside of the home. Children are more sophisticated than the school administration is giving them credit for. And because children are so impressionable while growing up, it is even more important to be certain that inappropriate actions on the part of others are not “normalized” and made part of the mainstream.

When children are allowed to do things considered taboo by society at large (Does any serious business allow their employees to show up in sleepwear?) and it is made into a “fun” activity, they internalize and begin to associate that other things in life that are considered taboo and inappropriate might also be fun. This sets a dangerous precedent.

Once you begin to make excuses for one thing (no matter how innocent it may seem at the time) you will make other excuses for other school related (or friend related) events so that your kid won't be left out of some activity, and eventually, it becomes easy to excuse the more dangerous activities with serious consequences. If year after year the schools have inappropriate activities, and you allow your child to participate in them, it sends the wrong message to the children. The kids internalize the message that if it is fun, just do it. If it is taboo, or if it is slightly risque, just do it. And then parents wonder why their kids are having oral sex as pre-teens.

There's yet another layer to this - and that is teaching Kenzie how to stand up for what is right. It may not be a popular stance to stay out. But as I told her, there will be many, many times in her life that her friends or other people around her are going to be doing something that she will either know isn't right, or her gut will tell her that something is quite kosher about the situation. Listen to your gut and stand up for what you know is right. Your friends or the other people around you might make fun of you or alienate you, but then, those people aren't your real friends, because a real friend will look out for your best interests, and they won't want you to do something you know is wrong. And the people who try to get you to go along with them? They are not people you will want to hang around with, because they really don't care about you or your welfare.

Standing up for what you believe in isn't easy to do. But it is the RIGHT thing to do.

Jia's first day of pre-school

Roy thought it would be a good idea for Jia to go to a pre-school, for many reasons.

First, she wouldn't be cooped up with me all day. Even going to a fun place like the children's museum or the library would still be "mom" related activites.

Second, I wouldn't be cooped up with Jia all day. OH, YEAH.... a little space is good for both of us.

Third, she was in a pre-school in China, so she probably was wanting to continue that.

Fourth, it would give her a chance to interact with other children about her age and it would probably help facilitate her learning English.

And last of all - and we found this out just yesterday - she WANTS to go to school.

I was holding her beside me at the table and asked if she wanted to go to school. She gave me this wide-eyed incredulous look as she shook her head yes. I told her she was going to go to school tomorrow. I then said (to put it in a perspective she understood) "Go to sleep, 'CHOOL!"

That's all Jia talked about every time she started a conversation. Before she'd ask for a drink, say she was hungry, or talk about coloring or watching a video, she'd say "Go to sleep, 'CHOOL!" just to confirm her understanding.

So today, she could hardly wait. It made her angry when we had to wait awhile before dropping off Kenzie at her school - the roads were nothing but ice under snow, and the school bus was stopped on top of a steep hill. I think there had been a car that slid sideways in the road and they had to remove it. Finally we got Kenzie dropped off and to her school.

We walked into the church where the pre-school is located, and she took off her coat - and before I could even get her to her class room, she was waving good-bye to me! Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure how to take that.

But she dove right in and was excited to be there. I had paperwork to fill out while there, and she kept saying, "Bye Bye Mommy!" So after filling out what I needed to and giving her a kiss, I left.

I went to a deli & coffee place that had free wifi. Aaaaaaahhhhh... uninterrupted computer time and a cup of coffee. Seems I've been missing a little free time to myself.

When I came back, she looked disappointed. YikeS!!!! But I got her going and we went to pick up Kenzie. All she could do was say "I like 'chool mommy!" and "Go to sleep, go to sleep, 'CHOOL!" (The school meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)

I think we're both going to be happy in the long run.

Thanks to Jill for suggesting this pre-school. It is probably going to be a good thing for everyone involved.

Kenzie's first day of school

Kenzie had her first day of Kindergarten on Wednesday. Wow... my baby is growing up.

I took pictures and asked a couple of the mommies there to take our pictures together. She was just precious. As she was waiting in line with the other kids for the bus, I began to tear up... OH for crying out loud! It's just Kindergarten! What's going to happen when she's going off to college!

Looking a bit nervous...

A little more relaxed...

Then in the evening, we began a new year of dance and gymnastics. She talks like she really doesn't want to do it, but then when she's there, she has the biggest grin on her face and looks like she really enjoys it. I took pics of her in her suit just prior to her starting class.

Is there an exorcist in the house?

This morning when I was walking her to the bus, she asked, "Are you going to cry again today?" I assured her I wouldn't. I kept my word. I guess it embarrassed her .