Week 2 and the honeymoon is over

During Logan's 5 year checkup at the doctor's office I asked his pediatrician to give me some practical advice about how to keep L from getting in bed with us at night. It was a rare night that I didn't wake up to feel his legs on top of mine or me being pushed off my pillow by his not so little head. I used to think it was precious when he slept with me/us. NOT anymore. Now when he pulls his stealthy, middle of the night cuddle fest, it results in a terrible nights sleep for both Scott and myself. We've asked Logan why he gets in bed with us and have pleaded for him to stay in his own bed. We want him to feel free to come and get us if he's had a bad dream or wakes up and feels scared, but he has taken liberty with his reasoning for needing to sleep with us.

When Logan was 2 and a half we purchased him one of the finest twin mattresses that money can buy. Seriously, this bed is awesome. We got him a twin because both Scott and I grew up sleeping on a twin mattress and L's bedroom is about the size of a match box, so nothing else would fit. Well, after reading a Berenstain Bear story where brother outgrows his baby bed and Father Bear builds him a new big boy bed, Logan is convinced that he is sleeping in a baby bed and that he needs a big boy bed (i.e. queen size). He claims our bed is cozy and his is not.

First the pediatrician recommended that we do a reward calendar. Give Logan a goal and then reward him when he reaches it. We started with a goal of 10 nights sleeping in his own bed. They didn't have to be consecutive. He decided that he wanted his reward to be a penguin Dreamlite. He did an awesome job and only got in our bed once out of 11 days.

We set another 10 night goal and once he reached that we went, as a family, to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese.

After this extravaganza we tried to set a 14 night goal and his reward would be getting a Wii game. Well, guess what? After night 1 Logan decided he was over it in a big way. According to him, no reward was as fantastic as getting to sleep bomb us in the middle of the night.

The other idea our pediatrician recommended was that we put a sleeping bag down by the side of our bed and tell him that if he needed to sleep with us for comfort, that he could do it in his own space on the floor. To say Logan was excited was an understatement. It worked fabulously.... for 2 weeks. Now we are back to waking up to elbows in our spines, his head in my arm pit and excuses of twin beds not being "cozy". I am now begging and pleading in my prayer time with the Lord that He helps break Logan of this habit. You know it's serious when I'm taking this issue to the King of the Universe.

Just like this whole sleeping nonsense we now have school. Last week it took nothing to wake him up and have him start his routine, excited to greet the new school day. Now it's "I'm too tired", "I don't wanna go to school", "I can't make my bed", "I'm not hungry. I don't want breakfast.".... He's also been balking at filling out his "To Do List" in the mornings. I try to gently remind him that doing his "chores" from the chart are what helps earn him his allowance. That usually does the trick.

When I pick Logan up from school he promptly tells me what a great day he's had, but then it's back to "I don't like school" by afternoon snack time. His biggest complaint is how long his day is. Going from preschool 3 days a week, 3 hours a day to 5, 7 hour days has got to be tough. We'll make it through. I'm hoping this is a character building time for him. I'm sure it is for most kids. For now, it has helped that he knows it's the law for him to go and that is serious business.

Dear School and Chore Chart,

The honeymoon is over.

Begrudgingly, Logan

Kindergarten Begins

The night before Logan's first day of school I had laid out his uniform to help him navigate a little better the following morning. I came in to tuck him in to bed and scratch his back like I normally do. I found him fully dressed in his uniform over top of his pajamas. To say he is "ready" is an understatement. We had a good laugh and then I ordered him to take them off or they would get wrinkly. We prayed together for his next day and thankfully he drifted right off to sleep.

We woke up before the first crack of dawns light, I immediately begin to pack the first lunch of thousands, Scott took a shower and got Logan up and running. A week prior I had put together a check list for Logan to help get him ready and keep him on task in the morning. I made a picture chart for him to follow and check off his tasks after they had been performed. He was so excited about it. I took it to Kinkos and had it laminated. We taped it to his door and I gave him a marker that wipes away.

It has been a great tool to get him up, ready and out the door for school. If you are interested in having your own copy feel free to leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you a pdf that you can print and laminate for your own use.

 

He ate a great breakfast and then we all loaded up in the van and set out to drop him off for his first day of Kindergarten.

He is so handsome in his uniform. I love it!

 

We pulled up to the school and waited in the carpool line. They asked that parents not get out of the car and to proceed through the line, drop the kids off and say our goodbyes. Thankfully, "Meet the Teacher Day" helped me to be ready to rip off the proverbial band aid.

He hopped out of the car with his tote bag, another parent helping with carpool grabbed his lunch for him....

One last goodbye....



Off he went and never looked back. Awesome!

 

I spent the day in constant prayer for him while watching the clock. I missed him so much but knew it would get easier with time. Raegan and I left to pick him up early and I'm so glad we did. As we pulled in to the parking lot and got in the carpool line we happened to be right near the playground. Logan's class was outside for their final recess of the day and I was able to sit and watch him have fun and enjoy himself with his classmates and it brought such joy to my heart.

 

As we were driving home he let me know what a great day he had and how much he loved Kindergarten. Praise the Lord! I could not have imagined a better start to Logan's school career than this. God is so good to have ordained this day and this plan for my precious boy.

 

He had a wonderful week and has made friends with a couple other boys in his class. Week 2... bring it on!

 

 

 

 

 



The Dog Days Are Over

We are a week in to our first real school experience. I say "we" because it has required as much of a change in my schedule as it has for Logan; for all of us really. I spent the last month in a weird zone of mental preparation for my baby to leave the nest and begin his adventure of structured learning. I went through emotions that ranged from excitement to sad to mourning my baby not being a baby anymore. I wondered how on earth I was going to drive him to school and let him just walk off to his 7 hour school day. Thankfully the Lord ALWAYS knows what I need. He gave me what is called "meet the teacher day". It was a couple days before school actually started. We were able to take Logan in to his school to meet his teacher, drop off his supplies and forms and to allow him the opportunity to get comfortable in his classroom.

 

We unpacked all of his supplies, met his teacher and teacher's assistant and he was able to decorate the tote bag that he will be carrying every day.



We were even able to meet some of his other classmates. There are 19 in total. 6 girls and 13 boys.

We looked in every nook and cranny of the classroom and made ourselves at home. It's a great school with an awesome Kindergarten program. We are blessed to be able to send Logan there and are thankful to the Lord for leading us down this path and for providing the way.

 

I felt at such peace as we left "Meet the Teacher Day". Gone were the sad emotions and in their place was excitement and great anticipation. I knew that this was the best possible place, other than at home, for my growing little boy to learn, be safe and develop to the best of his ability.