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Power of The Kissing Hand

Posted on September 7, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Both of the boys are back in school and full time now. I have a fourth grader and kindergarten kid in the house. For three days now, JSL has cried at drop off. Thursday was a little different since he went in about 40 minutes late after an ENT appointment. We have found something that seems to help at least a little (unless his teachers tell me otherwise). We implemented The Kissing Hand technique thanks to the book by Audrey Penn. Each morning, when I drop JSL off, we power-up our kissing hands to make sure we are both ready for the day away from each other.

When he came out of school on Thursday, I noticed his left hand was rather blue. We arrived at home and there was a surprise inside his backpack. Check this out:

JSL’s blue outlined fingers were from making his own kissing hand. I may not be Mrs. Raccoon and JSL isn’t Chester, but this may be a great tradition that works for us at the start of a new school year, or a day he’s nervous or sad.

So my question for you today:

Do you have any traditions or items that you have done to help your kids to ease into the school routine? If you do not have children, what helped you as a child?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #219

Categories:
Aloha Friday books jsl me moments milestone school

Fourth Grade and Kindergarten Kids

Posted on September 6, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

My house is eerily quiet right now. Both boys started school full time and I have to admit it is strange. We were together all day the entire summer. I got used to the chatter and voices in the house. I actually do better work when there is some background noise around. For now, Pandora Internet Radio and Spotify are my friends.

For five years, I often wondered what it would feel like taking my youngest for his first day of full day kindergarten. I wrote about NHL’s first day years ago, but it seemed less dramatic in my mind. The morning was calm. NHL was excited to see friends and meet the long term substitute that would be in for his teacher. There were no visible nerves, which makes me know we are in the right school now. Then there was JSL. My kindergarten kid was saying his tummy hurt, that he wanted to go back to sleep in my room, and that he was scared. The strings of my heart were starting to tighten.

When we went outside, it was time to do the traditional first day of school photos. The boys cooperated to amuse me.

JSL’s outfit looked vaguely familiar. It really made me wonder why. Since I blogged when NHL started kindergarten, I went back to that post. This is the reason why:

I seriously did not plan that, but it’s kind of funny that I liked the same outfit four years later. Anyway, once we got to school JSL was not smiling as much. Thank goodness NHL was ready to go. We walked him to the back of school and he immediately ran over to say hello to the assistant principal. One kiddo happy and off for his first day of fourth grade.

Then, it was time to take the kindergarten kid to his room. When we arrived in the hall, it was a little confusing. JSL did not want to let go of TechyDad. We were eventually told to head into the room to drop off items into their cubby. When we went back outside of the room, JSL sat next to some other children. The photo below was taken just before one of us ended up in tears.

Yes, JSL started to cry. TechyDad followed him into the classroom as he sobbed. I knew we had to say goodbye and leave. After a bit I walked into the room, nodded to the teacher who was trying to help and told her we would see both of them at the end of the day after he rocked kindergarten.

TechyDad went off to work and when I got to my car my tears started to flow. It hit me that things were going to be different forever. My little guy who had been with me since I left my classroom when he was born was going to school. I knew he was going to be fine, but it still hurt knowing how upset he was.

Thanks to some amazing friends, I was ready with something to greet JSL with after school. This is what was waiting for the little guy when he climbed into my car after his first full day of school.

I knew that JSL was familiar with The Kissing Hand and I wanted to let him know that I had forgotten to do this very important item. I did not kiss his hand or have him kiss mine before day one.

We made sure to do this before going to school for day two. There were less tears, but still an emotional morning. I know things will get better. The smile on JSL’s face when he came out and told me kindergarten was stupendous was all that I needed to hear.

So how do you help your children to adjust to a new school, classroom, teacher, or other item that may be stressful for them?

Categories:
brothers jsl looking back me moments milestone nhl photos school TechyDad

Fun Times at Snip-its

Posted on September 1, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

Getting hair cuts for the two of you has not exactly been one of my favorite items to accomplish over the years. I think we often wait until your hair is beyond ready to get a trim because it has always been an adventure. Whether it was bad cuts, too many noises, people that were not friendly with children, or our favorite person leaving – something always seemed to happen.

Over the years, I have documented a lot of your hair cut milestones. There was the time NHL decided to be a barber at six years old and we had a hair emergency. There was the photo shoot of JSL’s first hair cut back in November 2008. Thanks to this, it should not be a shock to either one of you that I had to take photos when we finally went to have your hair done at the Snip-Its last weekend (they opened during the winter).

I will admit that I am now kicking myself for not taking both of you here before this time. It was not just a place to get hair cuts, it was an experience. From the moment you walked in, the two of you were mesmerized. Snip-its was bright, beautiful, and beyond kid friendly. The two of you kept busy while I chatted with the owner and filled out some forms to get coupons in the mail. Then, it was time to get your hair done.

Both of you were so quiet the entire time. Neither of you were wiggly, upset, or bothered by the new location. Of course, I do believe I now know the secret of success at Snip-its. Yes, they have a great weapon to keep kids happy and it worked brilliantly.

The two of you were more worried about your gaming than anything else. There was a milestone of sorts on this adventure. JSL, you finally had a haircut that used clippers. Since you are going to kindergarten and the amazing hairstylist showed you not to be afraid you agreed. When we asked if it was too short, you said you wanted more off. I have a feeling you would have kept going until you were bald because you were so happy. When it was finally time to go, you used your passes to get your prize.

I know that we will be back to Snip-its because we all had a wonderful experience. The people there were fantastic with both of you, they get working with kids and that means a lot. Thank goodness Daddy was on his toes. Before we went in, we took a photo of the two of you with the figure outside the store. When your hair cuts were done and paid for, we did another one. Here are the results:

I hope both of you agree that we will be heading back to Snip-its again when your hair needs some attention. We will leave it to the professionals who know what they are doing and work well with kids.

Love,

Categories:
Dear Kid Saturday fun jsl Local Business milestone nhl photos shopping

Kindergarten Kid Take Two

Posted on August 31, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

In our part of the country, we do not head back to school until after Labor Day. We have an extra winter break to save on heating, so school does not get out until the June 22. This summer has been a whirl wind for me. There were days that were amazing, and yes there were days that dragged and I could not wait until TechyDad got home. Of course, I would not change the fact that I have been home with the boys since JSL was born.

It’s hard to believe that now, five years later, my little guy is ready to be a kindergarten kid. This may be my second time sending a child to start school, but I think it is more difficult this time around. JSL is my “baby” and he’s been with me all of these years. In addition to this, we are not at the same school that NHL started in years ago. It’s all new to me in this building and I have to admit – it is a little overwhelming.

Thank goodness JSL seems very excited about kindergarten. We went earlier in the week to orientation where he met both of his teachers and was able to explore his classroom. After we took a pile of papers out of his cubby, we sat down by his seat for him to do a little assignment for his teachers.

As soon as I read the instructions, he was ready to go. He wrote his name and got started. He knew exactly what he wanted to draw for his new teachers and when finished I asked to take a quick photo.

As the other children finished, the teachers called them over to the rug in the front of the room. They read The Kissing Hand (one of my favorites) to the group while parents worked on filling out some of the papers given to us. Then, the kids talked about the story, asked questions, and even parents had the opportunity to inquire about things.

As I get ready to send another kiddo into kindergarten, it inspired my question this week:

What kindergarten or elementary school memory is one of your favorites and why? It could be from your childhood or one of your children’s if you have any.

Disclosure: An Amazon Affiliate link for The Kissing Hand is included above. If you use it to purchase the book, I will receive a percentage from the sale.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #218

Categories:
Aloha Friday Educational jsl milestone photos school

They Grow up too Fast

Posted on August 23, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The fact that my “baby” is heading to kindergarten has hit me hard. By the time JSL starts school after Labor Day, I will likely be a mess. I should stock my car with tissues now. I know that he is ready, but I’m not too sure about me. The little guy has been my side kick for five years now. Sure, he’s been at preschool, but that was different. Suddenly, he’s going to be thrust into a full day of school, soon he will be reading on his own all the time, and there will be homework.

Last week on NHL’s birthday, the boys were in our bed and a photo flashed before my eyes.

This was NHL on his fourth birthday next to his barely three month old little brother. Look how young and innocent they were. Not a care in the world. They simply loved each other and spending time together.

The boys still adore each other. They squabble here and there like all siblings, but there is just something extra special about their relationship. What I love is how they truly look out for each other. NHL wants to teach his little brother everything he has learned in school. JSL wants to take his big brother’s hand and reassure him about everything and model what he is taught.

Of course, when that photo of the boys flashed before my eyes I followed them into the living room. Five years later, JSL was a lot more animated. He curled up on the couch next to NHL to watch his big brother check out all of his new presents. Do you notice someone else wearing something familiar in the latest photo below?

Now, my two boys are going to be heading to the same elementary school to learn, grow, and become independent thinkers. Not only will TechyDad and I help them to follow their dreams, but I know they each have another person in their corner – their brother.