Pinay Mom on Motherhood, Etc.

Angelo starts Pre-K this week and I find myself just sitting back in awe as I watch him hit another milestone.  There are times when he siddles up to me and I literally get a good grasp of how much he has grown.  The doctor said he is now 42 1/2 inches tall, 47 lbs heavy.  (And the Michael Phelps fan in his Mom made me measure his “wingspan” — 43 inches.  Just half an inch longer than his actual height.) 

Yesterday as we walked in the early afternoon sun browsing stores by Old Sound Road, he just blurted “Mama, why do we have shadows?”  He’s started asking those types of questions which make Alan and I smile.  I try to keep my answers simple.  I want him to learn and know he can keep asking his questions, and Mama and Papa will answer

His grandma asks if he has already learned to write his name.  Not quite yet.  I was in a panic a couple of months back, vowing he will learn to write his name before he started Pre-K, but I had a Mom-moment and stepped back when I read that pressure is the last thing my four-year-old needs.  Besides, some of his peers who will be joining him in Pre-K will be going to school for the first time.  They will teach him how to write there.  Then my role is to support that and make sure he follows through.

So I went by what I learned researching online and started him developing his grasp of pencils and crayons.  Now he colors better and can actually hold the crayons, so I think he’s on his way.

We went to the supermarket last Saturday and bought the supplies requested by his teacher.  Funny how the only real school supplies item there were the two stubby pencils and some glue sticks.  The rest were basically pantry supplies.  We got them all and I’ll be labeling them as requested in the letter we received from his teacher weeks back.

An aunt had said we shouldn’t give all the supplies because the teacher was just using it as her own shopping list — but I don’t really care.  This lady will be taking care of my precious one, she will get what she needs to do that.  In fact I intend to donate some of the supplies requested in the same “shopping list” for supplies that the class needs.

His first two days in class on Wednesday and Thursday will be half an hour only.  Just sort of an introduction to his “new world”.  On Friday, it’ll be an hour-long class.  The first full week will be two hours, then he will start his regular 8:30-2:30 class.

The first year in preschool has him more than ready to start school.  He’s used to having his teacher(s) around, and he has a grasp of the concept of homework as well.  I’m not worried about him adjusting to school.  In fact I think it would be perfectly fine for him to just go full-day from day 1, but it’s a new set of future friends, a bigger building, and more independence.  So I welcome the slow introduction of this new world to him.

So yes, I’ll be there on his first day, I’ll sit through his half hour, then bring him home.  We’re both going through this the first time, and I’m having my own butterflies in the stomach to deal with.  My boy is growing up.. I’m there right behind him.