School

Will has officially started preschool!!! The preschool he attends focuses on helping kids who need extra support in one/several areas. Will's focus is speech with an emphasis on articulation. His school is located pretty much as far across town as can be but I had grand plans and every intention of driving him to school two days per week. Even though it meant G1 would be tardy to school if we didn't hit all the lights green on the way back across town. Well, after the first day when Will saw that they offered bus rides, he was determined he was going to ride the bus like all the other kids. I had a horrible knot in my stomach thinking about putting my tiny little guy on a bus. After asking a gadzillion questions of the teachers, office staff (once in person and once calling in),the bus garage people (two phone calls), and finding a couple of parents who had used the bus system, I could find no excuse for not letting him take the bus. There were background checks of the bus drivers, it was very organized,they have a great track record as far as safety, and G1 would not be late to school. So, I reluctantly signed him up to be a bus rider. The first day the bus was to arrive, there was much excitement in the driveway with the video camera rolling to capture the whole event. Then, W realized that G1,G2, and I were not getting on the bus with him. The tears started. Then screaming. Video camera was discarded on the driveway, all taping suspended. Then I was crying. The bus driver escorted me off the bus. G1 was patting me on the back and telling me it was going to be ok. The bus drove off with W screaming and big tears streaming down his face. It was horrible. One of the worst events to happen in my parenting career.

Then bus returned bringing a happy, smiling W. The bus driver told me he only cried for about two blocks.....SERIOUSLY?????? Could she not call me? Did she not know I was questioning my parenting decisions and stressing out about W's well being for the past three hours? Grrrr........

Well, six weeks have passed and the bus ride is one of W's favorite things about school. He LOVES waiting for the bus, talking about the bus, and makes a big deal about waving good bye to G1,G2, and me. He also loves his teacher, Ms. Lindsay. She does an excellent job and Will is so proud to show me what he has been working on in school. It was difficult to send W to school but it was the best decision. His speech has really exploded and his articulation is so much better although there is still much room for improvement. The speech therapist he works with is doing a great job and sends me regular email updates on what they are working on in the classroom so we can do this at home as well. And best of all, W seems to have gained a lot of self-confidence by having such a "big boy" thing to do that is all his own.