What's a mom to do?
When your little kindergartener doesn't want to go to school? Poor Meg actually was crying and just clingy to me last night saying she didn't want to go to school and just wanted to stay home and play with Zoe.
I took her to school this morning, hoping that would help. It did some, but she stopped eating her breakfast and said her tummy hurt and she thought she should stay home. I gave her some Pepto and went through the whole "Everyone has to go to school. It's not optional." speech again.
She teared up again as she was getting her coat on, but I took her anyway. I can't let her start staying home and I can't take her and pick her up each day--not with 2 other little ones here escpecially.
I wish they didn't push them so hard in Kindergarten. The poor kids start school at 7:40 and don't stop til 2:25. They only get about 20 minutes for lunch and they stopped taking naps after Christmas. To add to that, Meg has to get on the bus at 6:45 and doesn't get home until after 3 pm.
I'm just not sure what to do about it. Megan as my first has always been my "guinea pig", so I'm learning as I go with her. She's doing very well in school--a great reader, good behavior, learning math well. I hope she doesn't go downhill because of this. I'm hoping it's just a phase, a normal "burnout".
Things I'm trying: snack and nap or rest after school, helping and encouraging her with reading assignments, hanging up pictures she brings home, heaping praise for good grades and good behavior reports. Other than that, if you moms of slightly older school-age kids have any ideas, I'm all ears!
6 comments:
Emily, my oldest, was like that when she was in kindergarten and a couple of grades after that! She would tell me she missed us when she was at school and would cry. So, I decided to get a family picture and put it in a clear protector thing and put it on a necklace so she would have it to look at during the day. That didn't work at all! She said when she looked at it that she missed us more!!! I think it's a trial-and-error sort of thing with each child. Good luck....say lots of prayers as well!!
This is from Cheryl:
When I was little I remember mom would put a note in my backpack. I went through a sad phase about going to school. She said when you get sad read the note and know I am with you.
You know that note meant so much to me. I would get sad and read that note and I would feel better. It definitely made an impression on me because I still remember those feelings today about being comforted while at school. You might try that. It was very comforting to me.
Bless her little heart. This too shall pass... Cheryl
I went and ate lunch with my kids some. It let them know I appreciated their day, and they got to share a "down" part of their day with me.
Also, spending some time in Nathan's class seemed to help. He was actually fine when it was time for me to go. I prepared him that I couldn't stay all the time, was just visiting, or just helping his teacher.
It stays a pull and tug...today, I'm tearful over an incident, yesterday, I was over a different one. It's hard to be their mom when somebody else is in charge of them. I appreciate the teachers so much, still...
prep for CATS testing has my daughter stressed especially right now. She was very nervous about it.
Have you considered homeschooling? This post really got to my heart. I'm thinking of homeschooling, but I'm not sure how it will all work out yet.
I've put a little note in her backpack. Zoe and I are going to go eat lunch with her today. Other than that, I guess we'll just get through it.
I have considered homeschooling, yet I don't think Megan or I have the patience to deal with each other on an academic level all day, especially with littler ones here. She would be easily distracted and wanting to play and I would get easily frustrated.
Wow that IS a long day for Kindergarteners--especially the bus kids. There is no way I could have homeschooled Maddie. She needed somebody besides me to tell her what to do. Maddie did have a hard time adjusting to the routine in class for a couple months. We set up a reward system with the teacher-if we got a good report that Maddie was cooperative in class and cleaned up after herself, she could watch a video that day. I also prayed for her using the book "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie O'Martian. Great book.
Does she tell you in specifics why she doesn't want to go? Have you asked her if she's afraid of something? Has someone said something to make her sad? Maddie seemed defiant in some areas but we found out it was because she didn't understand what the teacher was asking of her--she didn't know the meaning of some of the words the teacher used and she was too afraid to ask what they meant so she would defy the teacher and not do anything. Oh how it helped to figure THAT out. Good luck and I just prayed for you guys!
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