7/05/2011

Hugmonkey Flummoxes Me Again

Last Wednesday I had all but decided to red-shirt my 2 year old so that he could have the amazing teacher. Almost everyone who kindly commented or emailed suggested holding him back. It's not like I was worried about him being academically behind by going to preschool only one morning a week*, so I was all but decided.

And then I picked Hugmonkey up from camp on Thursday and he was all smiles. Same thing Friday. On Sunday, he asked if he could go to camp. I signed him up for another week, sure that this was a fluke brought on by especially good snacks or something.



So we proceeded with Week 2. And he loved it again. He wants to go back next week. Clearly he's enjoying the whole experience and clearly he can handle the teacher's non-amazingness. He's singing songs he learned at camp - I've never been able to get him to sing anything, ever - and telling us about the "cwafs" he's made. I'm pretty sure he's going to freak out when his camp is over and the older two are still going to theirs. 

As a result, I've made a decision. I'm not pushing him back to the 2 year old program. I'm leaving him where he's supposed to be age-wise and letting him have a less amazing teacher. Because apparently he doesn't care so much if his teacher is amazing, as long as she helps him make crafts and sing songs and get along with the other kids. She may not care so much what happens to him after he leaves her classroom and she may not give me detailed reports of his activities each day, but I can tell that he's happy there. That's the point, isn't it? 

And I swear this has nothing to do with the fact that putting him in the 2.5 year old class gives me two mornings a week WITHOUT KIDS. Although that's a nice bonus, isn't it? 



*Some people in my area would, in fact, say I was depriving my child of the early academic experiences that he needed to get ahead. Those people scare me a little.

4 comments:

Caitlin MidAtlantic said...

Amazing how children are able to let us know exactly what they are and are not ready for. You are an awesome mom for deciphering and listening to your son's needs!

Abbie said...

Isn't wonderful when children are happy!
Makes being a mom so much easier!!

Its good to hear other people's opinions it can give you a different way of looking at things but it all comes down to what is best for your child You know your child better than anyone else.

Triplezmom said...

Mrs. MidAtlantic - I'm trying. And thank you!

Abbie - It was so eye-opening to think that he was just happy with a teacher who did all the basics, who didn't love him and know him as the awesome teacher would.

silken said...

you're a good mom to follow your child's lead. and now you're getting a bonus on top of it too! :)