Kindergarten is going well. The girls started this Monday fulltime, and they have never turned back. I am so proud of them! Many friends have said that they obviously were well prepared for Kindergarten, since they went in, and really have never turned back. Even Lakshmi who spoke of "not" going to Kindergarten, is fine with it, but very tired after school. Priya just seems to find more power with her experience, and it is a joy to watch her as she takes it all in.
Lakshmi and Priya both finished their homework (for the week) on Monday. The teachers told me that if they could do all of that on one day, that she would be happy to increase the work. We will see. I don't want them overwhelmed, afterall, this IS Kindergarten, not first grade.
But they are doing remarkably well, considering they haven't had years of daycare and preschool like many of the kids. Frankly the selfish mom in me would love to have them home for 10 more years!
Priya's teacher is great. She is calm, and she is slowly starting the process of teaching the kids, but nothing to pushy. I am sure this week alone has been devoted to getting to know each other and falling into the routines of school. Here teacher commented after the first day, "You prepared Priya so well for Kindergarten! Very few kids are ready like Priya". Just to mention, Priya is one of the youngest children in the class, as is Lakshmi.
Lakshmi's teacher is...well...um...different. She is much older, she is a control lady, and has even given instructions at school like, "brush teeth first in the morning, then get dressed", which is exactly opposite of what we do. I don't think it is her place to tell Lakshmi "when" to brush her teeth. She is the "school" teacher. I am the home teacher, and I do all the home training, which by the way is going JUST fine. I haven't spoken to a single parent from Lakshmi's class yet. I have only spoken to the teacher twice, and that was on the first day. She told me that I should let Lakshmi walk from the entrance of the school to the classroom, and that I would not be walking her to her room after the first day. Well, I am not know for doing exactly what is told of me by people who don't know our family! I will continue to walk Lakshmi in to the class. I did it with Ravi, and the teacher was very sweet about it. I am doing it with Priya, and her teacher hasn't said a word, and many of Priya's classmates parents are doing the same thing! It is KINDERGARTEN after all!
The very day that Lakshmi's teacher gave me the "don't walk her to class speech", she sent this home in the folder.
Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk
Imagine a teacher telling a parent the very last paragraph! I don't believe Kindergarten is the time to start "letting go and saying bye". And honestly, I don't know many kids who seperate from their mom the first day without some stress, and Kindergarten certainly isn't the time when a child starts letting go for the rest of her life! No doubt this is the first step in a series of steps away from a child's parents, but this is certainly not the time to LET GO! Attitudes like this really bug me.
Well, honestly, I don't care for the teacher, but Lakshmi needs a chance to get to know her and I haven't told Lakshmi what I think afterall. But I can see such a clash in our basic values, that I am thinking ahead to the possibility of asking for a new teacher for Lakshmi. I would hate to do that, but I think Lakshmi shouldn't be coming home telling me how her teacher wants her to get ready in the morning!
Ravi is doing great, and his teacher is fabulous again! She is actually the parent of a child from his class last year. Ravi has been in school for 3 weeks, and his teacher often tells me, "I wish all my kids were like Ravi, it would make my day easier". She is refering to Ravi's good nature and focus on his grades.
Camping
We are going camping this weekend, that is if the gas stations don't close! Ravi and I went camping right before I went to Calcutta to get Lakshmi. But that was the one and only time, and I am so excited to take all three kids now. They all walk, go to the potty, and eat without full assistance now! Now it will just be the issue of keeping up with them. I am thinking about taking the bikes with us, if we can get them in the van.
Gas Prices
I am shocked, literally shocked about the gas prices! I don't know what to say, but it certainly scares me very much. We are all so dependent on gasoline. Without it we are grounded. The kids school is the furthest place from us, at 7 miles one way. While it doesn't seem like alot, it is adding up since I drive back and forth 2 times per day, Monday - Friday. I don't add anything else to my day, since I am practically driving on empty.
Several gas stations here in our city were not open today, and many more ran out of gas this evening. It seems the price isn't the worst problem. We may not even be about to get gas soon.
I hope my readers have better luck with gas prices in their cities. When I pulled up to the gas station today, the price changer was out. For a moment I thought about watching her change the price, and then it dawned on me that I should get the gas for the old price before they are changed. I bought it for $2.75, completely unacceptable, and then the price changed right after that to $3.19! I'm talking about REGULAR!! We are expecting prices to soar over $4.00 soon. I won't be able to drive after that.
Today my dad drove to a little place in Mississippi that hasn't caught up with the rest of the gas prices yet, and bought me 3/4's a tank in gas for $2.61. Thanks Dad!
Jyotsna
