Did you ever just have one of those days when everything seemed to go the opposite of how you thought it would go? I’m having one of those days today.
First, I thought that we were all getting over (finally) this cold that we’ve all been passing around. Not true. I feel just as icky and congested as I did yesterday. Clayton, who was looking much better for several days, has a fever again and has been screaming, “TOO BRIGHT!!! Close the blinds!!! My eyes hurt!!!” I wonder at what age to kids start to realize that screaming and crying really will not make them feel better. And that half of the light coming into our living room can not be reduced because there are no blinds on those windows. Ugh.
Ok, I can roll with it! Clayton has been napping on and off all day. And when he’s not napping, he’s watching TV, because that seems to be the only thing that will distract him from all his aches and pains.
Which brings me to another point: today was supposed to be the day that I (AGAIN) started reducing the amount of TV time in our house. Yeah, sure, right. NOT with a sick kid, I tell you.
Plan B: I can finally get some work done! Yay! But as soon as I try, the dang server is whacked. So, here I sit, waiting for my mentor in web design to come to the rescue and bail me out… at least I’ve (FINALLY) gotten some updates on the blog!
In other news, last week was the lottery for spots at our school. I had submitted Clayton’s intent to enroll in the preschool. Our thinking was to start him in preschool (he’ll be 4 by then) so that I can have some amount of time to focus on my business and he can NOT watch movies while I do it. Can you tell I’m really hard on myself about this TV watching thing? I blame my dad for instilling in me the idea that TV will rot your brain. Thanks, Dad. Anyway, we went to a visiting session for the preschool a couple of weeks ago. I was very curious to see how Clayton would do in the classroom (since he is NOT my outgoing, independent child). He did OK. But by the end of his time along with the teachers in the class, he was crying and wanted mama and wanted to go home.
The administrator at the school told us (a group of parents of about 12 kids) that they had maybe 4-10 spots available in the preschool. I thought, “HA, you poor suckers, you may not get a spot, like US, because we are already a part of this school and our son will be entering as a sibling!”
I was wrong.
The school called last Thursday to let us know that Clayton could have a spot in the afternoon class, but there was no room in the morning class. WHAT? This is so wrong for several reasons: (1) Clayton still takes naps occasionally – and when he doesn’t he is totally having melt-downs in the afternoon. (2) Lillian is in the afternoon class now and I know that it is comprised of 5, 6 and 7 year olds and only one 4 year old. It is primarily a kindergarten class, not a preschool class. While I appreciate the value of having mixed age groupings at this school, I don’t think that my shy little Clayton will do well in a class where he is the youngest and the only one of his age.
So, we are on the waiting list for the morning session. And I am back to square one with the decision on whether or not to send him to pre-K. I really don’t want to send him to pre-K. Lillian never went to pre-K. But I do feel the struggle of trying to work from home while he is with me. He really does a much better job of playing independently than his sister, but on some level, I feel that he would be better off at school, where he can learn new things (especially putting away his toys – a major battle for us right now) and I won’t be tempted to stick him in front of the TV while I work. And as far as work is concerned, I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere with my business…. I don’t want to stop now and put it on the back burner (AGAIN) to be more focused on Clayton – which is what he really needs from me.
Can’t I just get a clone so I can do both???
Thoughts on Inspired Exchange