Easter was and is always a joyous holiday. The promise of a risen savior gives me hope and security. Now BJ on the otherhand thought it was all about the Easter Egg hunt. He had a blast! He completely understood what his task entailed and went head on into his hunt! He did it like a pro! However, once he realized that most of the eggs held candy, the hunt abrutptly ended. He picked up the egg, sat down in the grass and attempted to open each one. The first few times we thought "Awww how cute!" and let him eat the candy. By his fifth time we thought "Okay that's enough candy! Just put them in your basket or you'll be hunting all night!" He got the hint and did great!
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I also had a very special 2nd Mother's Day! We visited my brother's family and enjoyed a weekend with them and my parents. BJ enjoyed being with his cousins and I enjoyed being with most of my family!
BJ has done a lot of changing and growing in the last few months. In January I started him in a two day pre-k program called "Just 3." He loved it and learned so much being there that short amount of time! This preschool called "Community" does so many neat things with the children. BJ loved going and picked up on the routine very easily. This was of course what I was worried about most. Not because he doesn't do well with a routine (he lives by them, in fact, I think he might have a little of my OCD! LOL!), but because he thinks he's entitled to do whatever it is he wants to do! But thank goodness, things went well! His speech on the otherhand, is still behind. He has been receiving services since he was 2 1/2, but he is still lagging behind. However, I've been told to "back off" from being so worried because his "charting speech" has been on a constant incline. I've been told that this is what's important and that he'll catch up eventually. I should relax because I see improvement almost daily now. However the teacher in me likes to worry. So starting this fall he will be attending our school districts pre-k program called Bright Futures. I'm concerned because it is a 5 day a week program with large class sizes and mixed ages 3-5. I think 3 years old is too young for that many days. But, BJ needs the constant interaction with other children and everyday speech, if he's going to catch up. So, I've resounded to the fact that I need to send him and that he'll be fine. In fact, he probably won't want to leave! I do know and love most of the teachers at the school, so that helps to relieve my nerves. However, I told them that they need to be prepared for my constant emails. What shocks me about my emotions with this whole thing, is that I'm a Kindergarten teacher! I tell parents all the time not to worry, and here I am about to have a nervous breakdown. Being a parent changes everything!!!!!
Then there's Potty Training! Well, I think I'm just going to have to send him to kindergarten in diapers. Seriously! My child could CARE LESS! We have down a great routine, but unless I take him, he'll go in his pants. No, he doesn't care if his underwear are wet and when he poops, he tells us after the fact. So I tried some hard core techniques with him to see if we would get anywhere. We discussed the whole "Diapers are for babies and underwear (Thomas underwear to be exact) are for Big Boys!" I proceeded to throw his diapers in the garbage and told him that we wouldn't need them anymore because he is a big boy! I was hoping he would catch on and help me out. He however flipped out! His eyes got really big and he yelled "NO! Stop Mom! NO!" Then jumped up, grabbed everyone of the pull-ups out of the garbage can and proceeded to say "Mine! Mine! Mine!" as he stacked them neatly back in the staker! I was shocked! Now would you say he doesn't have a clue or that he ABSOLUTELY knows what's going on?! All I can say is HELP! Anybody have any other ideas???
Now something BJ really excels at is tumbling! He loves it! His only problem is, he doesn't always want to work on the skill he's supposed to. As I mentioned before, he has a mind of his own. Here is a video of him doing a front flip on the bar by himself!!! Yes! I'm bragging! The first time he actually did this, was when James, BJ and I went to my classroom to lower the legs on one of my classroom tables. James flipped the table on the side and was working on one of the legs. BJ came along, grabbed a leg and proceeded to do a flip. Yikes! He did great and has been doing them ever since. The other video is of him doing a back flip off his bed. Miss Cindy (his tumbling instructor) would be proud! His hands were in the "Pancake position" and he ended with a hands up outstretched "Tada!" I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!! Oh and you might want to turn the volume down a little! I get a little excited!
Hope to see most of you at Polish Fest!! I can't wait!!
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What a great update! Lucas is off to Kinder in August, I am already stressed!! And I used to teach early childhood.....so different when it's your own child :-) fun video of the flip! Have a great summer!
ReplyDeleteJust a quick response. I'm not sure if I mentioned this to you or not. My youngest (adopted at 3) had me so worried because he wouldn't talk. He could utter a dozen words and that was it. For TWO YEARS!!! I took him to speech pathologist, hearing tests, ChildFind testing, neuropsychologists, did a brain MRI, you name it! The week before he started pre-K (for the second year), I warned his teachers that he's not verbal. So here's an almost 5 year old, starting pre-K in a new school and he's not verbal. They were all very worried about what I told them.
ReplyDeleteThen...a month after he started pre-K, he turned 5. A switch turned in his brain.
This child won't stop talking now!!!! I sometimes have to tell him to give it a rest, and then I laugh hysterically that I can't believe nine months ago I complained to everyone that he doesn't talk.
Sure, he still has some difficulties producing the words out of his brain, and it takes a while longer than others his age, but it's not nearly as noticeable as the non-verbal child I had a year ago.
He's also beginning to sign now and anuniciate every word. That's all new to me. It's neat to hear though. He makes a lot of mistakes when he copies a word he hears. But I think I know where that's coming from. (His hearing is better than perfect, he suffers from not being able to hear when there are distractions).
I'm sure BJ will talk a storm by the time he's 5 and you'll wonder - "why was I worried?"
Oh my goodness, what great pictures and videos! BJ tumbles like a pro and seems to have absolutely no fear. I do have to play the "don't worry" card too regarding his potty training. Kids are ready when they are ready. If wet and poopy pants don't bother him, then I would wait a little bit longer. There is a great Elmo's Potty Time video that you could start to show him (there is even a song clip from the video on youtube). Our son does a great job during the day (now), but he still needs to wear a pull up at night.
ReplyDeleteIt was SOOOOOOOOO great to meet your family at the Festival. We hope to make it a yearly thing.