Summer Vacation
7.30.11 3:55 a.m.
“Mom, let’s go on that trip. I loooove that trip.” We set off by 4:30 a.m. First we went to Brush Creek Ranch in WY to see Auntie Shar and Uncle Ronnie, drove over 10 hours the first day, only 3 left the second day. JJ did really well largely given the DVD player. We went from 100+ heat to playing in the snow over the Snowy Range Pass in WY. Cousins Shaunanana, Justin, Brady, and his buddy Ethan, along with special guest star Uncle Tom, all came up to the Ranch that first weekend. JJ caught his first fish (greatly assisted by Uncle Ronnie). He was so excited until he saw blood coming from the gills, at which point he screamed bloody murder! We have hilarious pictures that caught the moment. J could not get away from that fish fast enough.
After the ranch we went down to CO, and we got to spend some more time with Uncle Tom. What a treat - Tom is a chef, and we were culinarily (sp?) spoiled for the next 3 days. J also got to bond more with Uncle Tom, and was tickled mercilessly. We had a great time, and it was precious to us as Uncle Tom is a world traveler and usually either on a ship or golfing half way around the world. As is true of most vacations, it was also great to be back at home in our own beds. JJ always looks visibly excited when we return home!
New School
J transferred to a new school 8.15.11, Foreign Language Academy - it is a Spanish immersion school, one of the few really good schools in the district. J is an official kindergartener after being in a 3,4, and 5 yr old classroom at the Montessori school last year. This is going to be a good fit for us. I love the teaching philosophy, the language immersion, and the general environment at the school. The principle pulls no punches, is a strong advocate for the kids and very visible, interacting with them daily. Even in the first two weeks I’m amazed at the discipline, organization, and clear expectations for the students. I love walking into the school and hearing Spanish all around. They introduce English language in the 2nd grade and integrate it more into the curriculum as the students matriculate - by 5th grade the day is about half English/Spanish. Some of the kids in his class are native Spanish speakers. If all goes well, he could attend through 8th grade. Students typically test out of college Spanish courses at that point.
However, the first couple of weeks have literally been a bumpy ride! At this point he has been attending the “School of Hard Knocks.” Week one: lost a tooth, and got to take it home in a tiny treasure box; crashed into another little girl on the playground and got a bloody nose. After the collision at school, J announced: “I don’t like girls. They’re always squishing my nose.” Second week: after ignoring his aftercare teacher repeatedly, fell off of a small ramp on the playground. That one was a doozy: Bruises on his forehead and nose and bloody lip and arm and even stomach. You know it isn’t a good situation as a parent when they catch you in the hall to tell you they want to talk to you before you see your child. The good news is that it was a great teaching moment - he learned how to apologize to his teacher, and proceeded to announce “I wasn’t listening, I am soooo sorry” many times over the next couple of days.
Apart from the bruises, the transition is going really well. I really like his teacher, she is from Colombia, has been teaching at the school for five years, and is very well-regarded by parents. I went to volunteer in her room for the first time this week - she only speaks Spanish with me, which I love. Never mind about the students, I am learning a lot with her! She is firm and loving at the same time. She refers to the students as “mi amor.” The kids fall right in line with her. I’m also impressed that in the first two weeks, the school decided to re-organize kindergarten classes based on different developmental levels as the district changed the birthdates so that the ages range is actually greater. They had a parent meeting to discuss; I was impressed.
Teeth
As mentioned above, JJ lost a tooth at school, his second tooth. He lost his first a month earlier. These lost teeth are such a source of pride. Both times, the Tooth Fairy left him a little note and two quarters under his pillow. This led to the need to have a piggy bank to save all his incoming loot. Though I did overhear him saying: “Hey, Tooth Fairy, you bring me too much coins. Can you bring candy or something?”
Chinese School
As I write this, I am sitting behind J at yet another new school. He began classes last week at the Greater Kansas City Chinese School. They start them in kindergarten and I think he can go through Jr. High or High School. It is basically just 2 hrs on Sunday afternoons. Last week we were obviously in the wrong classroom, they put him with older students given he understands some Chinese already, but attention-wise that wasn’t going to work for us. They have two tracks - one is “traditional” study, pretty rigorous that most of the native Chinese put their kids in that track; the other is a different approach stressing conversation, less rigorous, they learn phonetically v. Chinese characters, etc. At the break one of the Chinese moms was encouraging me to have him change classes to the traditional track, so we may still be in for a change.
I must say I have been a bit anxious with all of these transitions. I’m glad we are two weeks into it. Lots of forms to sign, caregivers to get to know, medical arrangements with his seasonal asthma, etc. We already know the nurse personally, given all his accidents. I noticed I was gauging my days based on the absence of accidents the first few days-he had some issues with wet pants on top of it all, which he usually does when he is transitioning with something. True to form, as a whole, he seemed to go with the flow better than I (pun intended). When I instituted the incentive to earn an ice cream cone with dry pants, he was all set. He also earns a coin with good attention for the day. Oy Vay.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed and don’t even realize it’s sneaking up on me. I came home from dropping JJ off at school this a.m. and just started crying. I’ve been sick this week - a cold/flu thing, which doesn’t help. It really is different being a single parent. Even when you sign up for it and wouldn’t change anything, it’s still hard and I’m allowing myself moments to just let that be, without any admonishments to “suck it up.” Some days it’s just hard. Allowed and accepted.
Random Joaquinisms
8.29.11 Things JJ Did in School
“I went to LINC” (aftercare
“I went to lunchtime”
“I learned to listen”
“I had speech with Ms. Luna”
“I earned a sticker”
“Cold and hot mix together to make warm”
8:30.11 Things JJ Learned in School
“autobus”
“the number game”
The gym teacher calls me Ja Quan: “Ja Quan is absent”
“The lights went out in the gym”
“I had a red light day - didn’t listen
8.31.11
Red light day at school - hitting on the playground
“Everything is all my fault at school. “I will be running away - you can go with me too”
9.5.11
Responding to a restaurant being closed:
“Did the cooker teacher go on a trip?”
9.6.11
“My friend Aaron Burton. I tell him our dreams about spooky day. I talk to him about shots.” ie. JJ shares with him all his deepest fears and concerns :)
9.7.11 Things JJ Learned in School
“The earth is kinda bumpy.”
9.9.11 Observation while eating a boiled egg:
“Is it gonna hatch? No, too late, has to be warm or chickens will hatch...or dragons.”
9.11.11 Overheard while playing with his toy cell phone: “Hi Auntie Shar and Uncle Ronnie - what are you doing? Wanna come over? O.K. Mommy has allergies because the Fall because the leaves changing, she’s sick, o.k., see you soon.”
9.20.11
Snap Cracker Pop = Rice Krispies
9.23.11 When Mommy hugged JJ too tight:
“Don’t squeeze my breaths.”
9.25.11 When trying to gauge Mom’s mood:
“What feel are you? Are you mad?”
9.30.11
JJ: “What’s “free cage?” Mom: What do you mean? JJ: ”The little ones at school...i.e. “Pre-K”
9.30.11
“Let’s go to the Art Fairy” ie. the Plaza Art Fair in KC
10.2.11
“The whole entire world and the earth is bugging me at the gym” JJ was tired of playing.
Current Fears: men on stilts, giant rabbits
Favorite accessory: measuring tape, likes to take measurements of just about anything right now
Favorite pasttime: noticing and creating patterns. I opened up the refrigerator door to find the vanilla and chocolate pudding lined up by alternating colors.
10.8.11 Mom asked, “where is your shirt? J replied, “I have no ideas.”
When J is angry with me, he’ll say: “I’m not gonna be your best grownup.” Meaning, you are not my favorite grown-up.
10.1.11 JJ has been practicing his writing skills more and more. He scribbled on a sticky note a short list of the members on his soccer team that he believed were due to bring snacks:
1. Joaquin
2. C R S (Kris)
3. S U L M N (Solomon)
4. I S I C (Isaac)
10.14.11 When we were out running errands, JJ kept saying, “Are we going to guitar?” I couldn’t figure out what he meant, he finally looked at me, exasperated, and said, “Guitar, with the red circle!” He meant the Target store.
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