First Day of School for Sasha! (Oh Boy, are you ready for this one?)

Hey everyone! Well, I  have known for a couple of weeks now that this day was coming. About a month ago, I was on Freecycle.org for Great Falls, MT and there was a post on there for people who are interested in a Parent Participation Preschool to contact Dana. I was skeptical at first..I mean, how good could it be if it is on FreeCycle?

Well, I got to meet with Dana soon after emailing her telling her that I was interested and she used FreeCycle to get the word out about what she wanted to do. AND....she exceeded everything I expected even from a regular preschool. :) She had a plan and had a few moms that were totally on board with her. There were a couple of moms that really only wanted a play group type thing, but were deterred I guess and that left us with 9 kids. Their ages are 2 to 4. Sasha is right in the middle. She is 3 and 3 months....so hard to believe how fast life has gone on.

I have been gathering art supplies and picking up books for the class. A lot of the moms are donating supplies and time. I really love this and all the moms are so nice.

So, Sasha's first day........Well, we put Little Miss to bed last night earlier than normal for her and she slept in today later than normal...so I know she got enough sleep. She looked so sweet in her Yo Gabba Gabba, Brobee, hooded sweatshirt and gray sweats. I tried to do her hair, but she is all about being a TOMBOY right now, so that was shot down quickly and I didn't argue with her.

You will find out from reading my blog that I have a VERY spirited daughter. My parents call it PAYBACK...REALLY?! LORD, HELP ME! ;)

We drove to Dana's house and sang the iCarly theme song all the way there...because Sasha thought it was "Good Moosic For Skoowl". We did get in the ABC song for the last couple minutes before arrival. We were welcomed and then Miss Dana read The Kissing Hand. For those of you who don't know about this book....it is about a raccoon worried about the first day of school. Well, for those of you who don't know Sasha, she loves raccoons. OH LORD. I should have known what would happen and would have made sure to have this sign attached to Sasha.

She wouldn't sit like the other kids and I quickly tried to get her to. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. NOT FOR THE REST OF THE TIME!!! EEK!

Well, then we introduced ourselves. ANYONE...who knows my daughter, knows she LOVES Chum-Chum from Fanboy and Chum-Chum on Nickelodeon. He is a cute little fellow. See??

Well, when asked what her name was and how old she was....she replied, " My name is Chum Chum." I tried to correct her and told the children, " She thinks her name is Chum Chum. But her name is Sasha." Quickly, my little one tells me and everyone, "No, I'm Chum Chum!" OH LORD!

They decided to do game time. They did Duck-Duck-Goose.  Hmmm....I knew what would happen....have you ever seen a train wreck? Well, that is what it felt like to me watching my daughter get up and run and pat people's heads and say "duck" and "goose". I looked at a mom that was on the couch looking so-not-pleased with Sasha's actions. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh at that moment or cry. I really wanted to just FLY away. LOL! With my daughter...you may ask: "WHY?" Well, I think a flight would have calmed her.

Now all this was entertaining...when it came time for worksheets there was a meltdown. Oh my! EEK! WOW! Even with Dana telling me don't worry and Sasha is fine....I saw all the other kids (even the 2 year old) doing their work! I was like, "OH MAN!" What do you do?

She did do wonderful with this lady (so very sweet), Miss Terri. Terri had a way with my girl. They did ABSeas which I helped with. It is a Discovery Toys Fishing Game that helps with he ABC's. Sasha did so good during that and also during the Playful Patterns Game. Puzzle things I am finding she is AWESOME with. She also is an awesome share-er....always has been. :)  I really felt blessed by Terri today....I think when I was at my end and thinking I am a horrible mom..Terri let me know that even her quiet, sweet little one, Molly, could wreak havoc too. (what a relief!)

She was doing a "shaking the wiggles out"

This was one of the many "looks" I got today.

Before, we left after her last meltdown (there were 3), I was talking to an awesome lady (also with 2 spirited kids--LIKE ME!!!!I think humans love when we have things like this in common with people. We don't feel so alone.)Her name was Sarah (sp?). Her daughter, Yliana, was Sasha's partner for worksheets, but Sasha was having no part in doing the worksheets. Now, looking at Miss Yliana, she is so sweet and quiet and followed directions and really blew me away. :) Well, talking to her mama, Sarah, revealed that she, like Sasha, is VERY SPIRITED. I was like, WHAT?! She is doing some dvds called Loving Logic (I think). It is really just not giving into your kids but not having the "FIGHT" that those of us with spirited kids have.  I am gonna look into this and see what it can bring to our "FEISTY TABLE".

Well, wouldn't you know, Sasha was a tiny terror until she got into the car where she said: "I wen to skoowl. Now I go Gramma'sow, Sasha was a tiny terror until she got into the car where she said: "I wen to skoowl. Now I go Gramma's!" Yep, this girl LOVES my mom-in-law to DEATH. Also, Auntie Pat who lives right next door to Gram. So, I went there after picking up lunch and she watched cartoons, visited, ate, and was "THE BEST KID". Yep, I just said that.....the best kid.  Those of you with spirited kids will NOT argue with me that OUR children may be horrid when they have their minds made up, BUT when they are good...they kick butt and are the BEST!

So, was today a good day? I say: OF COURSE! BRING ON FRIDAY! Which is the next day of preschool. Did I enjoy it? Well, not at first.....but the memories....GOLDEN and the learning experience was immeasurable for me.

Thanks for reading. :)