Dear Carolyn,
Yesterday you turned 4 years and 11 months old. Just one more month until you turn 5! You have changed and grown so much in the past month it’s amazing. You’ve only been in school for less than three weeks, but you’re already a bit more confident, a bit more…grown up, I guess.
You went from a complete TV addict over the summer, to insisting on playing outside from the minute you step off the bus. I imagine you do a lot of sitting all day at school, even with daily recess and P.E. three out of six days, so it shouldn’t be surprising that you want to kick around the soccer ball and play with chalk for a bit. Then you have a snack (which usually involves you finishing whatever was left of your lunch and then eating another meals’ worth of food after) and play with Anna a bit. This is working out pretty well for me, because the playing with your sister bit happens right around when I need to start dinner, and the two of you miss each other so much that you play nicely long enough for me to cook!
Your writing and drawing skills have improved considerably this month as well – from even before school started. You wrote get well notes to both me and Anna when we were sick, and you have been drawing pictures of yourself playing on the playground and riding your tricycle that are quite good. I’m happy to hear you ask me how to spell words, and I love reading your own attempts at spelling things!
As far as I’m concerned, your transition into full-time schooling has gone incredibly smoothly. For the most part, you’ve been able to go right to sleep at a reasonable hour and get up and ready for the day without too much angst. You’re a little tired and crabby right after getting off the bus, but after a bit of outside time and a snack you happily tell me about things you did at school. I’m impressed with your ability to go with the flow. I hope someday I can learn how to do that from you!
Love, Mommy