Colds and Preschool (not related)

Kassy and I have colds. Hacking coughs. Phelgm in our chests. Plugged noses. I feel like a mucas bank. There are so many problems in the world ( in Saginaw for that matter) and I keep feeling sorry for myself because I have a cold! Kassy doesn't seem very affected. She does all her regular activites. Right now we are in the play room, the shades drawn over the giant windows. They are fabric blinds so there is an errie green glow in here, but with the sun shining the room radiates with a sort of warmth and Kassy wants to know if she can wear her swimsuit!


Kassy and I and our colds (how's that for responsible germ management?) visited a public Pre-k program this morning. (Pre-K is a fancy name for preschool). I liked the class and the teacher and since I'm looking at free pre-schools I can't be too picky. The kids seemed happy. They were clearly learning things. I don't understand though the idea behind the factory art projects. You know, yesterday the kids painted a pre-drawn circle white. Today they get to pick pre-cut shapes and hats to make a clown. All the art projects in the room were of this sort. What happened to the blank piece of paper and the directions," Paint a clown." ? Some art projects can be factory-like, but every one? Does it stifle creativity or will creative kids be creative regardless? How do you nuture creativity? Can you develop it if you aren't naturally creative? I did ask the woman who was showing me around (was this rude?). She thought it might be because the district has cut back on the number of art teachers so teachers have to do their own art. Hadley does a lot of these factory art projects too. Any thoughts you elementary teachers? I guess I will have to do blank paper projects at home.

winter

I never hated winter until I had kids. Boots, mittens (two of them) , hats, coats, slush, ice. I should just tie everything together. Tie the hat to the coat and the mittens to the coat. I doubt I could tie the boots. I never tie anything though. As much as I hate keeping track of everything, I don't want the kids to feel all tied up. Winter will get better with the ages of the kids I suspect. Experience and memory will teach them winter smarts. Last week as Kassy was stepping outside I pointed at the ice on the front step and said, " See the ice?" "Un-huh" "Hold on to my hand and be careful, ok?" I bent down to finish putting on my boots, she doesn't wait for me, steps on the ice and immediately falls down and starts screaming. I think Kassy has one of the loudest screams ever. If she was ever terrified, I wouldn't know, because her screams and cries are so loud all the time. A paper cut scream sound sounds the same as a real live monster in my room scream.

Sometimes the girls play in the snow, but only with a little nudging. Kassy is small and sometimes gets snow in her boots or down her mittens. Cold yes. Red fingers. yes. She could come in, ask for help, but no she screams and won't stop, not until five minutes after removing all offending articles. And then there are mittens. I always lost them as a kid, I often lose them as an adult and to keep track of all three of our mittens! Thank goodness for well organized and watchful Kindergarten teachers. One year I bought Hadley two pairs of the same mittens, thinking that when one got lost, I would still have a pair. Brilliant. Now I have two left handed mittens and no pair! There are days when we have no place to go and are cozy inside that the inches of white on the trees and the grass feel peaceful and pleasant. All sounds are muted. I love it, until we have to go somewhere again.

Mommy tip #1

Sometimes I find great ideas, things, etc. that I think all moms would love. Somewhere I read this idea of ice skating indoors. We roll up the rug in the back room where there is smooth laminate flooring. We rubber band wax paper or plastic produce bags to the girls' feet and they start skating. Hadley usually has a few very "ice-like" wipe outs as she practices spinning and gliding. Kassy is more cautious. One time we put wax papers on "all fours" so they could be ice skating kitties...never miss a chance to dress up! I love this activity as it usually lasts a while if I need to get things done and they are exercising, which doesn't happen as often as it should this winter. We did get to try some real skating on the way to the car this morning. We had about 15 inches of snow on the ground as of yesterday morning, then it rained all day...there was plenty of ice out there. Hadley declared it "unfun" since it wasn't smooth.

Here's another favorite winter thing that I've read in more than one place. I haven't done it yet this year, but I have in past years. Bring the snow inside! Put it in a plastic bin or the bathtub and let the kids play.