Mommy Brag and then some

So last week I had a mini-meltdown over problems Sam was having with elementary school. I didn't intend on it; it just kind of evolved from a question I asked on a bulletin board I frequent. I guess I needed the vent.

Anyway Sam and I had a big talk last Sunday about why we need to behave at school and on the bus. I asked him if it was difficult and bless his little heart he told me yes in this quiet little voice. So we made a deal that if he did well at school this week and didn't get in trouble he could have a surprise on Friday. He worked REALLY hard all week. I even got to see him in action myself as Daniel and I attended a school assembly they had - 200 kids sitting on the floor of the gymnasium for an hour of rather boring material and Sam sat and behaved the WHOLE time - many old kids got pulled out for not behaving and his class was a beehive of restless kids acting up. I was amazed by Sam's self restraint. At the end of each day he was so proud to tell me how well he was doing and on Friday since he didn't have any reportable incidents at school I took him to the Dollar store and let him buy anything he wanted (he chose a foam sword). He was so proud of himself AND he has complied all weekend with the warning that if he hit anything or anybody with the sword it will be taken away.

I'm a little in awe of this grown-up behaving little boy I'm seeing. I want to know what he did with Sam. I am aware that this is unlikely to be a completely permanent change but I'm not asking for perfection just progress and evidence of effort.

Then came the cherry on the cake - he started indoor soccer for his second year on Saturday. Last year this was a weekly disaster. He went with my his not so patient father and every week Daniel stormed in the door after soccer and ranted about how awful it was. I didn't have high hopes for this year either and was super shocked when Daniel called me after the class to tell me he was taking Sam out for "coffee" because he had been so good at soccer.

Turns out that not only did he behave but the coach is so impressed with his skills and athletic ability that he moving him to the 5/6 year old class. The coach said "if I leave him in this class [the 3/4 year old class] he's just going to use the other kids as pylons." I knew he was pretty good with a ball (any ball - last year they used to stick him in goal to give the other kids a chance at touching the ball once or twice) but I never imagined ... Advancing kids past their age group is not common in this program so the coach (who has a really good reputation) really much see something in Sam.

My only worry is that the 5/6 class is an "independent" class (the 3/4 class is a Parent and Me class). While Sam has mad skills, I'm not sure if he has the maturity to handle the independence of the older class. The coach has recognized this as well though (I think I love him) and has encouraged Daniel to "helicopter" parent a bit given that Sam will be up to two years younger than most of the kid's in the class. I'm so proud of Sam, *I* feel like I did something special - lol - and I of course did NOTHING.

Week 3

So this is week 3 of Weight Watchers. Kind of week 3 because I’m not going to meetings or anything and I didn’t weigh myself to start with so I don’t know where I started. I do know it couldn’t have been good though.

At week 3 my clothes are fitting better and I’m pleased with that but no one has noticed I have lost any weight, which is a little frustrating. I need the constant gratification. But really, there isn’t much to notice. I’ve probably dropped 5 lbs. Maybe less.

Daniel bought me a Wii Fit and I got on it last week and I was flabbergasted at how much I do weigh. Yikes. About ten pounds more than I thought. Makes sense my clothes don’t fit. I’m enormous! I’ve lost 2 – 3 pounds since getting the Wii so not all is lost. Progress is being made. SLOWLY.

Touch Down!

Well some parents feel melancholic when their last child starts elementary school. Not this time. Wednesday morning it was just an immense feeling of relief. lol I got him there and it didn't kill either of us. I'm exhausted. Never was there a child more ready to be at school than Sam.

The bus comes at 8:15. At 7:03 Sam woke me with a kiss and a warning that he didn't want to be late for the bus (i.e. get your butt out of bed Maman THIS is an important day). Normally I'm so organized but this morning I realized I hadn't labelled any of his clothes (the ones he is wearing or the spare set) or his knapsack or lunch box. Not that that took all that long.

He rode the bus to school with his sister (who was also bouncing off the walls with excitement for him) and we met him at school. I stood back where he couldn't see me and took a bunch of pictures of him just "hanging." He was a little nervous but mostly he was almost excited enough to jump out of his skin.

He's going to be a challenging student to have in the classroom. All power to praise to his teachers today and for years to come. Pictures:


Sam and his teacher at our intake interview LAST week:



Dressed (in a more Sam-friendly uniform shirt – he may never wear his white dress shirt ever again) and ready to go:



Running to the bus stop (just a wee bit excited):



Waiting for the bus:




Getting on the bus:



Arriving at school:



Off to class. He was transfixed by this little girl who I THINK the teacher put in charge of him because she realized he wasn’t going to follow calmly. That evening when I asked him if he made any friends she was who he mentioned (we know her because she is the older sister of one of older Kamryn’s friends). That’s the school Director next to them. She thinks he is cute. Little does she understand how well she will get to know him.