School's in Session - the Pre-K episode

by Megan

Can I just tell you all how excited I was for our 4 year-old to start preschool this year???  I was so excited!  4 days a week. 3 hours each day.  Things were starting to look up around here.  I was going to have those mornings to be home alone with our 2 year old and really work on stuff!  Clean the house, play games with him, take care of therapy appointments with no older brother causing fights.  It was going to be a game changer.

Let me tell you something... the game has definitely changed...

What in the world has happened to my kid???  He used to be so sweet and happy and now he screams, cries, whines, and has temper tantrums.  He comes home from school "hangry" and ready to fight with anyone who gets in his way.  Everything is a struggle for him and it seems as though he walks around this house like he owns the joint.  Like he pays the bills, does the shopping, cleans up, makes dinner, does laundry.  Well guess what little man?  Last time I checked you do none of those things.

Now, there is something that makes me feel better about all of this.  I've been doing some informal research among friends and family and it seems like this is a world wide epidemic.  Preschoolers and toddlers all around the country are going through the exact same things.  This whole school thing is some serious business.  Being a former kindergarten teacher I know how hard the first month or so of school is for those kids. On top of it all, I taught full day so it was really something to watch those kids just LOSE their minds by the time lunch was over.  Never ever, not once, did I ever think about what their parents went though once they got home.  Pre-school is just a few hours... what the heck will happen when he's in kindergarten next year??? Perhaps an even more frightening question is, what will happen if my soon-to-be 3 year old starts in January?  I can't even begin to think about that yet, first we must get though this.

So, what do we do about all of it?  We live in a small house and the boys share a room so it's pretty hard for any of us to get any personal time or to have a room to ourselves.  Plus, they are little still so they can't handle not being close enough to touch me for more than 30 seconds.  I tried to reinstitute nap time for the 4 year-old and that was met with so much protest and flailing that I soon gave up that fight.  To make things even more interesting, the 2 year-old has decided that now would be a great time to start skipping naps.  Did I mention he has sensory issues and does not do well with change?  I've tried quiet time, exploration tubs, books, movies, iPads, games, coloring, 1-on-1 time, bribes, and none of this has worked.  I hate to say this, but I'm still trying to figure it out!  Most nights my husband just gets them to bed and I sit on the couch thinking about all the things I should be doing.

I guess what I'm getting at with all of this is that I have no clue what I'm doing. None.  I do my best every day and every night, once they are asleep, I sneak in their room and stare at them sleeping.  I love those little psychos with all of my heart, no matter how hard they try to drive me insane :)

Anything you have come up with to help you though all the changes this time of year?  Post in the comments and let me know... I need the help!!!