Still catching up. Seth has been in school for a few weeks now and Lael started last week. Both are doing well, though I think Seth is overwhelmed by the larger public school.
Unlike private school, where making friends was easy, public school is like a big manufacturing plant where each kid manages their own assembly line. Instead of three teachers for 18 kids, it’s one teacher for 24 kids. Little time seems left for more fun classes such as art and music.
I’m working hard to find Seth playmates so he’ll feel more connected to his classmates. I have at least two play dates lined up so far.
Seth also begins taking Spanish this week. While I worry about overloading the poor kid, I think it’s essential in today’s world to learn more than one language while children are young. Before long, Seth will have to resume his Hebrew classes, too.
Equally important is increasing Seth’s physical activity. In a couple weeks, Seth will be taking a few golf lessons to see if it is a sport he wants to pursue. Two years of overlooking a Chicago golf course made an impression. I couldn’t persuade the kid to take far more affordable tennis lessons instead.
No need to load Lael up yet, since she’s much younger. But my wife and I agree that she might like gymnastics. No big fields to run around in like when I was a kid. Darn, parenting is expensive.
Stumble It!
My kids are finishing their 4th week. The Princess has reconnected with her friends from last year. The Bear is making friends with all the new kindergarten kids. Thankfully we're all in a good groove.
Are any kids Seth's age in your neighborhood?
Posted by: Grace | Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 06:23 AM
We hope to provide Seth with some continuity from this year on. Yes, Seth and Lael have lots of kids their age in our neighborhood. We're already working on play dates.
Posted by: brettdl | Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:38 AM
How do you find playdates? I've never been successful at doing that. It's always me talking to moms, and I can always tell that the moms are uncomfortable talking to me. My wife's just too busy to call these women.
Oh well, my kids don't seem to care.
We're starting a Spanish homeschool program this week. When they're older, I'd like them to learn Mandarin Chinese, so they can communicate with our Chinese overlords.
Posted by: Phil | Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 09:24 PM
I totally agree about Chinese, but the need to speak Spanish is far more immediate in AZ. Besides, Chinese is not the easiest thing to learn.
At first I thought the moms were standoffish, so I just cut through the ice with witty comments like, "Your son is so...." fill in the blank: tall, smart, violent.
Okay, just kidding on that last one. It's not natural for me to talk to people I don't know, but I find that if I can get one mom to trust me, the rest do much faster.
That or they think I'm really handsome. Hah!
Posted by: brettdl | Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 11:05 PM
They think you're really handsome. Stop talking to the moms.
Grrr.
Love,
Your Wife
Posted by: Anne | Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Won't Seth slowly get to know his classmates, then play with them on the playground and then want to play with them after school?
Are there kids in your neighborhood, and don't some of them attend school with Seth? I guess the days of playing in the street are long gone.
About making playdates, yeah, among our circle of moms, there are only a few who will consider a playdate where my wife isn't present. It's partially because the playdate is half about a friendship between the moms, and partially because of an inherent bias developed because their own husbands aren't too great when it comes to childcare (for example, losing your kid at the mall.)
Golf is okay, but also look for team sports where Seth will meet a wider range of kids.
Our daughter just started soccer after a few months of kicking the ball with dad. Next year she starts kindergarten with a Spanish immersion component.
Posted by: AJ | Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 12:30 PM
AJ: Of course Seth will, but at his age, it's till up to the parents to make things happen. The more parents I get to know, the faster they'll warm up to the idea of a playdate.
Since writing this, I've made considerable progress getting moms to trust me enough. Most want the play dates at their houses, but I'm fine with that.
BTW, I have two play dates set up for him next week.
Sports: Seth hasn't expressed much interest in team sports. I'm okay with that since I was a cross country runner, which despite its "team" elements, is mostly an individual sport. Right now, we're looking at tennis since he loved racquetball.
Posted by: brettdl | Monday, September 01, 2008 at 06:44 AM