I feel like I have some explaining to do! And here's what I wrote to M's teacher about all this chaos.
M began crying on again Thursday morning -- giant, huge sobs alone in her bedroom at the thought of going to school. This happened a lot toward the end of 1st grade (the up/down/cry every morning). I couldn't stand the idea of doing it for an entire school year. M "shadowed" at the Waldorf school all day on Thursday and Friday. She was the 16th child in a place where for science they walked to a stream and dissected a milkweed seed and where she is one of only a few students who knows how to read at all. Michelle was so calm and happy, especially knowing she won't have to take any tests again this year. Although my husband and I don't want to pay the money or deal with having children at 2 different schools, it is obvious the Waldorf approach is highly beneficial to this particular child.
Her #1 regret is that she will not have you as her teacher and she really liked the children in her class. I know you bent over backwards for M and I have cried a lot this weekend about the decision to send her to the Waldorf school, but it is pretty plain to see it is the right thing to do. There will be days you might see M at the school since they have early releases instead of late starts and different days off school every month. Please know she and I love you and don't be a stranger! I suppose I should also come by and pick up her school supplies sometime?
When you have a chance, the Waldorf school would love to have you fill out the questionnaire. There is no due date.
Thank you so much,
S
So above is a picture of M on her 2nd day at the Waldorf school, hence the title of the post. She is sleeping better, less tired, more excited and ready to go every morning and just waiting for Hubby to take her. As my father said, this is a precious child and we need to do what it takes to have her where she needs to be. And the best part academically? She has Mandarin class and Spanish class to go with handworking and rest time. The calm atmosphere is doing this highly sensitive child a world of good and she is happy, just as 7-year-olds can be. There were some tender mercies that showed me I could handle two completely different school schedules and that it will all work out, for which I am grateful. I am also grateful for a husband that didn't completely give up on me when I was totally insane while trying to make this difficult situation and that my mother is feeling good enough to watch over the children as I head every different direction. I am loved!
Labor Day Weekend meant organizing all the costumes that kept getting in piles in the bottom of N's closet. With the new, easy system the children have been doing a great job putting things away.
Saturday we took our first and last trip to the outdoor pool as a family of 6 for the summer. We had a wonderful time and are so glad we found a pool that was open, and that the T. family happened to be leaving and let us use their sunscreen before they left. On Sunday we got the children to help clean the house so that on Monday we could bounce around out of town. This idea of Grandma's was excellent because it was cheap, easy, all 4 kids were excited and it turns out inside is where you wanted to be while smoke from sadly huge while fires came across our state. Nice work, Mom! Thanks!
What the sun looked like with the smoke near sunset.
The dog! Omg, I have to mention that the dog has been peeing everywhere and the vet charged me almost $300 to tell me there's nothing technically wrong with her. So even Miss N has decided to get in on the clean up action. She has been an amazing helper lately too!
I had to mention I am very grateful for the wonderful care given D when we were worried about him. When I went to pick him up from school on Tuesday he was in the nurse's office with a 104 fever. The pediatrician's nurse as me to take him to the ER. There, wonderful staff including our next door neighbor took great care of us and got this boy on the fast track to healing. Just some virus and I'm glad nothing worse and he's already feeling better.
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