Transitions

Transitions are tough. Its been a rough few days at our house. Ally is amazing. But kindergarten starts in 3 days and her whole life is in transition right now. And that is hard. The past three weeks while fun filled and fabulous have been bumpy. No routine for a child who thrives in a routine is confusing. No power for any child is difficult to come to grips with. Yes power. It dawned on me this weekend that the past few weeks Ally has basically had no control in her life. We tell her (or ask or demand) when she eat, when she sleeps, and for the most part what she does with her time. We say when she can or cannot watch TV. We arrange all of her play dates and social time, so she has no choice in who she plays with when and where. We eat all of our meals and snacks with her so she has no control over what she eats. And since I've had a lot of time off, and Becky does not start back at school until tomorrow we have had a bizarre few weeks. Lots of together family time, but we eat at all different times, bed time is at different times, wake up is at different times - whenever Ally wakes up. Nap is not even consistent, since we're trying to help her give up naps.

This weekend its all coming together - at least for me - Ally has been acting out, which for her is very unusual. And her acting out is really nothing I can complain about, and it hurts my heart that she is confused and nervous and anxious about all of the changes coming her way.

Below is a piece of what is coming up for her and some of the ways we've tried to prepare her. She is definitely ready for her new school. But even when we are ready for change it can still be "scary" as Ally says.

Last May we attended a kindergarten orientation at her new school. Here is Ally with her friend Erik. Erik and Ally have been in the same class the past 2 years at preschool.

They walked from room to room holding hands most of the time.

Ally got to visit the kindergarten classrooms. There are 4 in all. 2 classes are just for kindergarten (children 5 and up by Sept 1) and 1 Jr Kindergarten Class (children 4 by March 31) and one mixed age class of half JK and half K.

Of course the sensory/water table was a favorite for Ally.

Making books with Erik

Posing in front of the cafeteria.

After the open house Ally drew this picture at home. I just could not believe it. One of her babysitter helped her with the spelling, but she did it all herself. (and yes the school is a yellow building).

This summer we received our class assignment and Ally will be in class with her friend Erik (YAY) and another preschool friend, Grant. They are in the mixed age classroom. Her neighborhood friend, Olive - pictured above and her friend Alice will be in the all JK class together. Olive's mom and I set up a play date at the school this summer so the girls could walk around and play a bit and get used to the new school.

Of course Ally found something to swing on!

On Friday of last week we met up with a whole group of incoming Jr and regular kindergartners and their families at the playground. Ally and I met several new friends and I am excited about the new school community we are joining. The school is a Spanish Immersion school, and has a very dedicated parent base and strong school community. Ally had fun at the play date and was able to put some faces to the names on her class list.

Today on our way home from our morning walk we stopped by the school for Ally to show Kitty and Baby her new school. We looked in her classroom and then Ally had fun on the "big kid" (the upper grade) playground.

Ally thought this was like being on a tight rope.

I know things will go well this week. I know they will. But the anticipation of it is getting to all of us.

Tomorrow Ally and I go meet with her new teacher for orientation.

On the way home today Ally and I talked about the new schools that Kitty and Baby are going to this week. They are both going to preschool, but in different classes, because Kitty is older than Baby.