Number 7 recently swam in her first swim meet. At four years old, she swims all four strokes legally, which, at that age, is pretty unusual. And so we officially have 5 kids ranging in age from 4 to 11 on the swim team. I’ve been coaching swimming in some capacity since I was a junior […]
kindergarten
Six Months
Last week when I picked up Number 7 from preschool, a friend of mine asked me if I had registered her for kindergarten yet. I felt the lump rise in my throat upon hearing the k word. Because to be honest, I can’t think about it, and I told my friend I just wasn’t ready […]
You Don’t Grow A Garden — Or A Child — Inside
Our kids finished up their fifth week of school today. This year we have a junior, a fifth grader, a fourth grader, a first grader, a kindergartner, and a preschooler. And I’m concerned about kindergarten again. It has nothing to do with the teacher. I’m more concerned with what kindergarten has become here in Connecticut and […]
I’m Ready.
Every Thursday my dad comes and picks up Number 6 and 7 at 8:30 in the morning, and he takes them down to his house. My parents take care of the two of them all day and return them bathed, fed, and in their pajamas around 6:30 or so. That leaves me alone in the house. […]
A Thank You To My Daughter’s Teacher
I’ve been pretty vocal about my feelings regarding the direction public education has taken. And how I felt about Number 5 starting kindergarten was no secret either. I did not have faith that first day she climbed on the bus. Sometimes we moms overreact a little bit. But other times, we just know. Our gut tells us […]
Maybe Common Core isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s us.
A couple days ago I wrote this post about my concerns regarding sending my daughter off to kindergarten this year. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since then. I am not necessarily anti-Common Core. I understand the need to develop problem solving strategies. We all certainly encounter problem after problem after problem over the course of […]