New Beginnings

So this last week has been full of preschool drama. I found out last week after picking up Bella from preschool that because it's the start of a new "school year", (come on, really? She's two) she would be changing classes, and as a result, changing teachers. I didn't like that. Neither did Bella. She loved her teachers & she was finally at a point where she actually wanted to go to school, looked forward to it, and here they were changing everything!

So when I called earlier this week they told me she was going to now be in room 6A & her teachers were going to be Miss Joyce & Miss Madison. So the last few days I was getting her ready for the change. Telling her her new teachers' names & yadda yadda...we show up on Thursday & when I check her in on their computer it still says she's in her old room. I asked the lady up front what room my daughter was actually supposed to be in & after looking it up, she said, "She's now in room 8 with Miss Shana."........ooookaaay, so much for me getting Bella ready to meet her new teachers.

When we went into her new room there was only one teacher in there, (Miss Shana, I presumed) & a bunch of crying, smelly kids. I told the new teacher about Bella's food thing, about how she really doesn't eat very much. I told her to give her her lunch at lunch time, & to give her a Pediasure with it so if she doesn't eat, she'll at least be getting her vitamins & whatnot, and to also give her her Pediasure at snack time, which she seemed to understand & said, "Okay" while shaking her head up & down which, as I know and as I thought she knew, is the universal sign for "I understand."

8 hours later I picked her up. She was happy to see me, which always lights me up from the inside out, & started to walk toward me when some stupid little boy walked up to her & shoved his stupid toy/blanket thing in her face. Not just close to her face, oh no, this boy grabbed the back of her head & shoved this ugly little thing INTO.HER.FACE. Well after he did that he wandered off to do it to someone else & I had to repress the urge to walk up to him & push him down. Not hard but enough to knock him on his butt. I know, I'm sick. I didn't though & instead stood there watching my baby girl comprehend what happened with first shock flitting across her face, then that sad face where she starts crying & her mouth is open & turned down at the corners. Well believe it or not, she survived even though I'm sure she thought she wouldn't & as I was signing her out the teacher (the same one that was there when I dropped her off.) said, "She didn't eat any of her lunch & didn't drink her Pediasure." "She didn't even drink her Pediasure? That's weird, she always does." I replied. Then she says, "Well I wasn't in here during lunch, that's just what the other teacher told me." I didn't like anything about this new class, new teachers, or new smells. I was confused that Bella didn't even drink her Pediasure but I thanked her & we went home.

When we got home I emptied out her lunchbox & saw, to my utter astonishment, her two cans of Pediasure were there, COMPLETELY UNOPENED. They hadn't even TRIED to give it to her. When she told me she didn't drink it, I though she meant she didn't want it, but no, they didn't even offer it to her. My daughter was in preschool from 9 AM to 5 PM and hadn't had anything ti eat & no nourishment other than whatever snack she ate (which only consists of Nilla Wafers & water or juice). Of course I gave Bella a Pediasure right away & she sucked that thing down in like 15 seconds. SO.....we're never going back there. I loved her original teachers but since Bella can't be in their class again & because of what happened this past Thursday, I'm done.

Even before this disaster I had been checking into some in-home preschools. I like the idea of Bella not being one of 15 kids but one of 5 or 6, where there are enough kids to where she can get that social stimulation she needs but not too many kids to where she gets lost in a crowd and her individual needs aren't met.

Luckily the same evening of the daycare disaster, we had an interview with a lady who runs her own in-home preschool. I checked out her website & corresponded via email about the rates & liked what I learned. We would be paying the same rate we are now BUT instead of Bella only being in preschool one day a week, it would be two which would help me out a lot & Bella as well. I've been wanting to put her in for two days a week. That also includes snacks (stuff like organic pancakes or waffles & milk & juice, not Nilla Wafers) AND a hot lunch daily. No sandwiches or lunchables but hot, cooked meals. It's awesome. So we went last night & interviewed and I loved it. Love the location, love the teacher, love the enviornment. And so did Bella. This morning she was actually bugging me non-stop about going back. So tonight I went back, signed the contract & she's in! So next Thursday Bella will be starting her new Preschool! She even has to have a backpack, it's so CUTE! I'll be sure & post a pic or two. ;)

So with that ridiculously long story behind us, nothing else much is really going on. I connected with someone today that I didn't ever think I would again, and even though we just talked a little bit, it felt good. I look forward to hopefully conversing more in the future and building a foundation for a friendly relationship. It would be good for all parties involved.

And with that, dear readers, I am off to bed. Tomorrow I will go on a mission to find a decent potty seat, one that doesn't slide all over the place making Bella refuse to sit down on it. Haha. Ahh the life of a mom.......but you know what? I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. :)