E is our oldest and therefore the one I worry about the most. She entered Kindergarten this fall as a skinny 4 year old. The first few months were tough, lots of tears in the early morning by the gate, glee at pick up time. As the youngest in her class, she celebrated her 5th birthday in November on the same day a fellow classmate celebrated his 6th birthday.
Now it's January and she is at the top of her class academically but has some struggles with the social/emotional stuff. I have heard from more people than I'd like to say how much better it would have been to give her one more year of pre-school so that she'd have time to mature and grow into her kinder shoes, so to speak. Ugh. This is a terrible, gut-wrenching decision.
Should she stay in this class where she is striving academically but barely hanging on emotionally, or get pulled out and face the struggles that go along with that? I need to pray and pray on this.
2 comments:
Erin Jane's birthday is November 23rd and on top of it she's the physcally smallest in her class. However, I do not regret the decision to start her when I did. She excells academically and is actually one of the more mature kids in her class. I do have to admit that kinder was not my favorite. She did not read until half way through her first grade year and was painfully shy until then as well. She blossomed in first grade and has not looked back. There have been no obvious signs of the age difference, although I agonize over her starting high school at 13 and sending her off to college at 17 (my issue, not hers). Of course you know your Emma the best, but I believe she will adjust as she has a very loving and supportive family. Know that you are a great mom! PS love the blog!!
Patti
April, I hope my comment doesn't come out twice. I posted once already, but it didn't show up? (I love looking like a putz!) Go figure! Just wanted to give another prespective, or memory if you will. I remember when Miss Emma first started preschool and had a hard time adjusting those first several months, but by the end of that first year and defintely by year two, she had found her nitch and was socially, emotionally, cognitively, motorically well adjusted and very happy. I can already see the emotional/social growth Emma has made thus far in kinder. She isn't melting down in the mornings anymore and she has made lots of new friends (as well maintained "old" friendships) at school. I imagine that given some more time, you'll find that Emma will find her nitch in grade school, just like she did in preschool. It may be later in the school year or even next year, but she'll get there. She just has her own pace. Hang in there! She's doing great and she seems really happy! Patti's right, you are an amazing mama, with some super-great kiddos! And, I must ditto Patti again... cute blog!
:) Andi
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