Back to Nursery

On the 5^th September Leo went back to play school for his very first funded session. In the weeks of Summer that quickly passed us by, Leo seemed to blossom before our very eyes. He began to string more and more sentences together, and he made such an effort to use his words. We used to Summer as a spring board and got out and about to really make the most of the weather and each other’s company. I had a feeling that the nursery would also see a huge improvement in just how far Leo had come over the Summer holidays, and I hoped that I wasn't alone in these thoughts.

With Leo’s funding now in place for his final pre-school year before starting reception next year, I prepared his school bag the same way I always did. I packed a spare change of clothes, some fruit and his juice cup. I woke Leo up from his slumber and a very excited child replaced the sleeping child who had been fast asleep only moments before. Leo was so excited to be going back to nursery again and when I dropped him off on the Friday for his first session, he didn't even say goodbye before he ran off to join his class mates.

When the time came to pick Leo up from school, I arrived and peeked in through the window. The entire class was sat together on the carpet talking, and when I got to the front of the line, they called for Leo to come over ready to go home. The nursery leaders each had some incredibly positive remarks about how they had found Leo’s first day back at school. One said ‘Hasn't he grown up over the Summer!?’ another said ‘I have noticed a huge improvement in his speech!’ and another said ‘I am understanding so much more of what he says!’. I was so pleased, Leo has been taking his time but been improving all the time, and now I feel like we are finally bridging the gap that has stopped him getting his point of view across.

Wednesday 10th September marked Leo’s very first full day at nursery,  we prepared Leo’s school bag and even made up his lunch box ready for that very first session. Leo was even more excited at the prospect of taking lunch along with him, that once he had his Planes Lunch box in hand he insisted on having his Ham and Cheese Sandwich for breakfast. So to save his lunch we had to make him up a second sandwich that he could enjoy at that precise moment in time.

Granny dropped Leo off for a 9am start, and then that was the last we saw of Leo until 3pm that same day. It is the longest Leo has ever been out of our care and it was a surreal moment to arrive home from work for lunch, to not have Leo at home. Leo had gone off as happy as always and found his name badge out of all of the other names and proudly stuck it on his hook. Leo then spent the day at nursery for the very first time.

Leo has come on so much since that very first nursery session back in January, he is more confident and willing to give new things a try. I find it incredibly hard to believe that this time next year, my baby boy will be in reception and 4 years old. Time really has got a wicked sense of humor to say the least, but it is not relenting. Time is speeding by and shaping my little man as it goes, each day he does something new and surprises me in a whole new way.

I am so pleased at how well Leo has just slipped back into nursery life, and just accepted that now he is older he gets to go more. I have put Leo into nursery on a Monday, Tuesday morning. He attends Wednesday all day and then has Thursday off to spend an entire day doing things with me, and then goes back in refreshed for Friday’s afternoon session.

I wanted Leo to do one full day so that when he does begin reception next year it won’t be such a shock to the system. I now that as this year progresses he is going to continue to grow up, and when next September does roll around, he will be more than ready to take on big school with all of his peers.

38 Months Old

On the 27th of August 2014 you turned 38 months old. 

3 Years and 2 months old.

All of a sudden your personality is blooming.

You’re funny, cheeky and mischievous.

You’re lovable, cuddly and you’re a wind up!

The wind up side of you is coming out to play daily these days, ever since your 3^rd birthday rolled around it has become much more apparent. You have worked out what to say and the actions that complement them, and your away.

It was just the other day that I told you not to do something for one reason or another, only to be met with your reply of ‘I funny!’. Of course at the time I didn't think your actions were funny, but just hearing you state that you were indeed funny, proceeded to put a smile smack bang on my face.

So now whenever you do something that you potentially shouldn't, you tell me that your funny. In fact when anyone does something that they shouldn't, you tell me that they are funny too. Your cousin Josh decided to try his luck at running away, followed closely by his Mummy, and then by us. We really were a sight chasing Josh laden up with bags, and of course you in my arms while you had a moment of refusing to walk for the umpteenth time. When we eventually caught him, you looked at me and grinned from ear to ear, then you told me ‘Josh runaway! Josh funny!’.

Then of course your cheekiness expands further, you are now mimicking people. A few weeks back we paid a visit to the seaside, and we popped into the pub for a meal. A man walked in shouting loudly, so you looked and me and said ‘man’ and proceeded to make the strange sounds that he had made moments before… In fact recently you managed to really wind up your Aunty Alice. Alice had been playing with you and getting you over excited, of course she then got tired of playing… Whereas you wanted to keep going. You continued to climb all over her, and eventually she got so annoyed that she threw a complete hissy fit. You looked in my general direction to weigh up whether or not you were in trouble, and when you realised Alice was just having a moment, you re-in acted it for everyone in the lounge. You laughed and smiled even more when you saw how funny everyone thought you were, except for Alice of course!

This last week we have spent away in Cornwall at Land's End, you have spent so much time at the beach and you have eaten far to many fish and chips. You have loved being around your extended family and have been making the most of being the very center of attention. Just in the last week alone I have seen even more improvement in your speech, and you are stringing more and more sentences together.

You have even caught on that my name is 'Laura', and given half the chance you love to remind me that you know. 

One part of the holiday you were really looking forward to, was the possibility of going out on another boat ride. We were sat discussing the different boat options together when you told me that you didn't want to go on a big boat. I asked you why, and your response was that it would sink. Having only watched Frozen with you again that day, it suddenly clicked that you thought big boats would sink like on the film, and clearly justified your reasoning for wanting a smaller boat.

A rather big development at 38 months was that you would now actually let us sit you on the toilet. Up until now you would only use the potty, but after Alice managed to bribe you with chocolatey goodness, you haven't looked back. This has made taking you out and about so much easier as we non longer have to worry about taking a potty with us. One aspect we are still working on is getting you to co-operate with number 2's... But we aren't rushing and are tackling it in the same leisurely manner we do everything else.

The end of the summer holidays is here and you are now in your final year before starting school. This week see's you returning to nursery where you will be going Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I know that when you go back this week your nursery teachers are going to see such a big change in you. I have finally managed to eliminate the word 'Choo' from your vocabulary, and instead you say 'train' without thinking about it. I cannot wait to hear their feedback on you, I just know they are going to be pleased! 

As we go into your 39th month I still find is incredibly scary at just how fast time is flying by. Each day I feel that little bit prouder, even on the days where you push all of my buttons. You are such a clever little guy and I know that I cannot wait to continue watching you blossom. 

Nursery - 2 Months In

We are coming up to two months since Leo started attending nursery one day a week. He has gone from being incredibly excited about the whole experience to not wanting to go at all. I guess the excitement of the experience has worn off and it has become a routine that he would rather not participate in, and this is why we have decided to put Leo in a extra session during the week in a hope that he will settle in.

Leo will be now attending nursery on a Monday morning and a Friday afternoon, so that he can get used to being there on a more regular basis so that when he gets his nursery funding in September, it won't be such a big shock to the system.. Or that is the hope anyway.

Leo recognizes the way to nursery, and spent the whole car journey today telling Granny 'no school, no school!' until he got there and realised that there was no point protesting. He even told me today that his ear hurts, he is cottening on to how being ill means he won't have to go. I had to make sure that Granny warned the nursery staff that he may try to pull a fast one! Once Leo is at nursery and Granny has gone, he settles in and has fun, but as soon as Granny returns to get him, the water works start again. The most important thing is that he is happy while he is there, and for the most part he is. It's a lovely nursery and the ladies have taken him firmly under their wing, and that is why they have offered Leo this extra session a week now it has become available. They hope that it will help him ease into nursery life that little bit faster.

I think this extra session will certainly help Leo, and the fact it falls on a Friday which is one of my day's off from work may be a good combination. At the moment for the Monday session, I drop Leo at Granny's before heading off to work, and Granny takes Leo to nursery. On a Friday I will get to take Leo to nursery and I will be the one who gets to pick him up. I think this will do us both the world of good, as I have felt like I am missing out on being a parent at the school gates. I don't get to see Leo within the nursery environment and I don't get to see how he is interacting with the other children, I don't even know if he has made any friends. It isn't just going to help Leo settle in faster, it is going to let me see a side to Leo's life that often just passes me by. I will get to be the first person to see how he has got on that day, I will see the where he hangs his coat and see the arts and crafts that he makes during his sessions.

I have been talking to Leo about the extra nursery session and at the moment he is adamant that it's not happening, but I think once it becomes more of a regular thing he will begin to love it all again. After all persistence and perseverance is the key.

Leo starting nursery has highlighted to me that I miss out on some of the simplest pleasures that other parents may often take for granted. Other parents, other Mum's get to be the ones to take their little ones to nursery and school, but I don't have this luxury on a daily basis. It has got me thinking 2 years ahead to when my growing boy starts school, and I know that this is something that I am going to want to be a part of. I want to be the one to take him to school and pick him up at the end of the day. I want to be the one who he tells all about his day and the things that he has done. 

This may mean I re-jig my working day around, after all I wouldn't need to be part time if Leo is in full time education. 

I have seen such a change in Leo since he started nursery, some of the changes have to be down to the the nursery and I can tell that this extra session is going to continue to spur him on wards and upwards.