Preschool!

Nora loves preschool this year. I think her favorite part might be the ride with Daddy in the morning to carpool and then the ride with Nell to school. And it's a special treat when Nell's daddy gets to drive in with them as well! We just had our parent conference, and as usual, Nora is very quiet at school. When she speaks, it's in a very soft voice and her preferred location is either helping in the kitchen or watching the other kids from the outskirts of the play area. Like me, it sounds like she may find it a bit difficult to join in. However, she seems happy at Bluebell. Her teacher is working on encouraging her to join in with the other kids, and some days Nora does and some days she doesn't. We did learn that a few days ago she laid down in a box and started happily singing and ignoring the chaos surrounding her from all the other children's play. She's usually the first one dressed and ready to go outside - and insists on doing it all by herself. But, when it comes to the daily hike, she totally takes up the rear. I'm not really surprised about either of those either. She is very independent and does everything on her own schedule. She also enjoy looking around at everything and taking her time when walking on a hike. Plus, the teacher who follows at the end is also the teacher who does all the kitchen work...and I think that plays a bit of a factor in Nora's pace!

Getting Nora up and out of the house by 7am, however, has been an absolute nightmare! Especially recently because of all the snow days (and the holidays, and now winter break is coming up!). She goes to bed pretty early - and often she initiates the bedtime routine starting around 6! It's also been rather difficult to get into any sort of nap routine with Beth. She would most prefer to nap from 11-1, right at mid-day, and right now 3 days a week, I'm in the car for that entire time. Beth doesn't really nap all that well in the car, so she ends up getting a 10 minute nap and a nearly 2 hour rest, which is really not enough. It has made 4-5pm on school days really difficult!

We've decided for next year, we are going to move Nora to 2nd Nature Academy. It's right in Nashua, and because she's actually 3 (she misses the deadlines by 10 days), it's open to her now. It's only 2 days a week, but I think she'll still enjoy it. I really struggled with making the switch. No matter what you think of Waldorf style education, Bluebell Cottage is just an absolutely amazing place for a child to grow and play. Both my kids have enjoyed a parent and child class there and Nora has now been blessed with a year of nursery. I almost wish that we could just move the bluebell cottage somewhere closer to us, but I don't think that will happen. Between the drive time, morning struggles and really needing to consider the whole family (Nora and Beth), it just doesn't seem fair to send Nora to Bluebell to run around while Beth gets to be strapped in a car seat.