The kindergarten years.

This is my third year with a half day kindergartener. We know this drill. We like this drill...for the most part. Luke missed the kindergarten age cutoff last year by a month. It was the same for Jessalyn (because of their October birthdays). It's a good thing really, especially for Luke. He's a boy, he needed the extra year...mostly to get his reactions under control and to assure us that he wouldn't beat the other children when he didn't win or when things didn't go his way. Yes, this is Luke's personality and we have been struggling with him for years trying to help him with his anger issues. I have read and re-read books on strong willed children and they help. They really do.

Although Luke still has his moments (daily)..he is MUCH better. People look at him and can't quite believe that we had so much trouble with him. I am glad. He is really the sweetest kid and lately, out of all of my kids, seems to be the easiest to handle.

Having an extra year before kindergarten was a big deal for him. It helped in many ways. His first instinct is not to tackle someone when he doesn't get his way anymore. This will probably benefit him while he is at school:) He was also VERY comfortable with the transition to going to school. He couldn't wait and now ranks up there with Jessalyn and Ethan as actual "school goers" and he feels like a big kid. This is cool.

It helps that all three of my kids have had the same kindergarten teacher. After Jessalyn's year with this teacher, we decided that I would request her again for Ethan. Having him comfortable with her from his daily interactions with her classroom and her while picking up Jessalyn and various other activities that we participated in was a big deal for him and his first day and year of school. We requested her again for Luke and this transition seemed to go just as smoothly as it did with Ethan. We'll see...hopefully in two years she will still be there as a kindergarten teacher and hopefully I will get what I want again in requesting her for Owen. I would love for all four of my kids to start their schooling "career" with her.

Of course, the kindergarten year doesn't come without that extra trip to the school each day. Having to drop off the big kids in the morning and then Luke in the middle of the day, then heading back up at the end...along side of whatever other trips we have to make in a day (sports, groceries etc)...it makes for many trips out the door. I don't mind this as much now when the weather is nice, but when it comes time for boots, and hats and mittens and snowpants.....and fifty feet of snow to walk through and brushing (shoveling) off the car and scraping the ice. Yeah...this is NOT fun. The middle of the day drop off also seems to make the day go by super fast. I feel like we just get back and get settled..and get into a project and then its time to head out again. I suppose this year I only have one other kid to tow around..and no baby. This will make it easier.

But...overall, Luke is enjoying school very much. I haven't heard any reports of his temper causing a problem, and honestly, at school I don't expect it to. We'll see!