whatsup

Marisa started Kindergarten!

Marisa is an official "big kid" now.  She started Kindergarten last week and may be finally getting into the routine of things.  She was super excited the first day, but then didn't want to go back for the rest of the week.  I couldn't really blame her.  The first day was a madhouse.  There's currently 28 kids in her class and even with the teacher plus and aide, it's just too darn many.  This week, we got word that the school has hired an additional kindergarten teacher who will start next week, so things will get a little better.  I'm just relieved that I won't have to pitch a really big fit to get the school to do what they should have done before school even started.  These numbers are insane and I don't see how DoDDS can continue to justify them.

So, stepping down from my soapbox, I'll tell you more about Marisa.  She is having some good times in class and some challenges.  She likes visiting the library (of course!) and learning Spanish.  Kindergartners have Spanish about twice a week as part of their specials rotation.  They also have host nation (German language and culture), art, music and PE.    Marisa says that the best part about Kindergarten is the drawing.  Her pictures are really getting good; her people have fingers and hair and feet.  Lots of details!

And then sometimes not....

Marisa did a real 180 today and it wasn't fun.  She and I had done nothing but hang around the house all day, so when the big kids got out of school, I thought it would be nice to hit the playground for a little outdoor time.  We got shoes on and headed out.  Immediately, Marisa went into her "complaining" mode and decided that she was heading off on vacation.  She didn't specify a destination, but when she didn't stop about 30 yards away, Jillian offered to fetch her.  That didn't work, so I had to drag her back.  I explained that not coming when called was inappropriate and that she had to remain by my side.  So she proceeded to complain louder, cry and fuss, saying that she wanted to go inside.  I told her that we would do so in 10 minutes.  So I got 10 minutes of non-stop noise.  When I announced that the 10 minutes was up, she immediately announced that she wanted to stay outside.  ARGH.

So we headed toward the apartment, but stopped to sit on the stoop.  Friends joined us and I figured we were through with being contrary.  Nope.  This time she walked off until I called her name and then she ran.  When we got inside she had a time out with the timer.  When it dinged, she sat there for an additional half hour because she refused to acknowledge that she knew why she ended up in time-out in the first place.  Total 2-year-old independence stuff.  Finally she realized that I really meant it and confessed that she knew that it was wrong to run away.

Now she's fairly normal, but I sure don't want to take her to Tae Kwon Do.  That's been her favorite place to act up lately.  I hope that Mike is home early tonight!