OK, I have two questions.
One is related to my freak-out about Emma starting kindergarten this year. Any tips from those who have been there-done that? Pack a lunch or buy? What to include in a packed lunch? Ride the bus or pick them up? Any other tips on sending your first one off to kindergarten?
The second is about my shower. How do I get the soap scum off the walls?
You buy a cleaner that says “removes soap scum”. Easily found in the bath cleaning section. M
Thanks, Mom :/ The one I tried didn’t work so well. I wondered if there was one better than the other.
I’m loving Scrubbing Bubbles for soap scum.
I totally understand the anxiety. My my oldest child and dd started kindergarten this past year. I about freaked out when I enrolled her too. So here is my advice. I hope it helps.
Have a positive attitude towards school. Be excited for her and with her. It will help ease the anxiety she will have starting school. I have chosen to pack lunches most days. I usually let her pick 2 days a month to eat hot lunch. I only give her the options when I think the meal is healthy and that she will eat it. Otherwise she packs.Try not pack more then she will eat. I usually pack a main (sandwich, leftovers from dinner that she likes, slice of homemade pizza) a fruit, a vegetable with dip, a cheese stick and juice box or water. The key is packing enough protein to get her through the day. L.L. Bean has a junior sized backpack that is pretty cheap if you compare prices and will last her for a couple of years. They also sell matching lunch boxes. The cheapest one works great. I let my dd pick her own pattern and matched the backpack and lunch box. I ordered both and it cost a little over $30, not bad. Order them early or they might be back ordered and not have them on time. I, personally, don’t like buses. I drop off and pick up, but I don’t have a busing option, I live in town. However, even if it was an option I’m not sure I would do it. There is an education that you get on the bus that I do not care for. Since busing or dropping off is probably necessary for you, I’d drop off/ pick up for the first couple of weeks and then let her ride the bus sometimes. Ask about her day, what was good what was bad (favorite, least favorite.) Talk to the teacher and see how she’s doing, what can you help her with at home. Get to know her friends parents and have play dates. Be ready for some high emotions, especially for the first few weeks. It’s a whole new ball game for kids, too. Be patient. Be prepared to up her bed time. I put my dd to bed a 7pm because she needs more sleep then she she did before (she’s up at 6:30am to get ready for school.) Just be there and talk to her. Advocate for her when she needs you to. You will do great and so will she.
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We had the same anxieties when Grayson started school, trust me. After having no preschool experience, I almost felt like we were “throwing him to the wolves” where he would be just a number and mixed in with everyone else to be forgotten. I felt sure they would lose him or he would be left behind somewhere, but that didn’t happen.
I have to say that all my fears were unfounded and he is now a 3rd grader. Everything works out. The best advice I can give you is to be an advocate for your child, make your presence known (in a good way, though) and do whatever you can to make it a positive thing in Emma’s eyes and all will be fine.
Meredith starts in August, too, so we will have no more babies at home! Unreal…
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I have a 5 year old boy in kindergarten. I pack his lunch because I think it is cheaper than buying it (it is $1.75). I pack a sandwich, fruit snacks, and chips, with a juicebox. I mix up the fruit snack, some days it is a rollup,snacks, jello,etc. I also let him ride the bus, but I must admit that was very hard to do, for the first week, it bothered me, but it’s fine now. Kindergarten was much harder on me than on him:)
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My oldest is in 1st grade this year, but how I remember those first weeks as the mother of a k-er!!! Kindergarten was an awesome experience, so if you go into it with excitement, you little one will too!
I started the year packing her lunch all the time. It was predictable for her, and it gave me the chance to make sure she was getting a good meal and a few cute notes from me.
Here is my lunch plan:
-something with protein: pb&j (we use fruit spread), deli meat, tuna, leftover chicken or turkey if I have baked a bird recently or bought a rotisserie one, pb on celery, etc.
-a veggie (you know what those are!)
-a fruit (those too)
-a treat: sometimes a second fruit like raisins or strawberries, yogurt covered raisins, fruit snacks, a piece of holiday candy, a bit of leftover dessert, pretzels, goldfish, whatever would be fun that was laying around and/or needed to be eaten.
-a drink: water or juice box
Mid year she wanted to start buying, so we went over the menu each week and decided what days she wanted to buy and what days she didn’t like the choices and wanted to bring.
I bet that you’ll feel better about it after registration, after you’ve had the chance to read all of the stuff they give you, after you find out who’s class she’s in, after you know more. It really does help to know all of the answers to the crazy questions that swirl around in your head. And if you are still crazy unsure, you can probably ask your school to visit one day – either during the school day or after school to have a chance to see the rooms and talk to a teacher (if it’s after school). We had moved to a new state before my daughter started school. I toured the school, and I am so glad I did. It gave me a visual of what to expect and where she would be when she was in the cafeteria, etc.
Blessings!
I’m a preschool teacher & I used to teach kindergarten, so here is my advice
1. Let your child decide whether she would like to pack or buy on the first day of school – there are enough other anxieties…I would recommend that she buys at least once during the first week, though, since that is when the teacher is most likely to be providing more assistance in helping your child get used to the routine and knowing what to do.
2. I would have your daughter ride the bus to school…I always found that when kids were dropped off by their parents, they tended to draw out the goodbye & it made it harder in the end for the child to get in the groove of our school day. They get much more closure and defined roles as they watch their parents wave goodbye as the bus drives off…as opposed to “ok, one more hug…now I want another kiss Mom, oh I forgot to tell you I love you…” kind of things.
3. Good luck!
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My daughter (age 5) is in kindergarten right now. It has really been a year of change for us, and she has really grown a lot through being in school. Here are some thoughts I have about kindergarten:
1. The biggest adjustment for us was the length of the school day–8:20-3:40. Previously, she had attended preschool 2 mornings per week. She was very tired after school, especially at the beginning of the year. And I felt like she was never home!
2. I haven’t looked at your blog to see about younger siblings, but I also have a 4 year old boy. When Grace went to school, he was very lonely and bored! I realized that he had really never had to play by himself! So plan some fun things for the younger sibling, especially at the beginning of the year.
3. My daughter is a very picky eater, so she does better bringing her lunch. She probably buys her lunch every few weeks when they serve some form of chicken nuggets. After you get the school menu, you can pick days that look good to you and your child.
4. I take and pick up my daughter. The school is less than a mile from our home, and we usually get home a full 25-30 minutes earlier than the bus would arrive. My daughter is a young kindergartener and fairly “innocent” (as 5 year olds should be.) I didn’t want her exposed to riding the bus with older kids. The carpool line works great for us!
5. The best thing I did this year was get involved at the school. For example, I work in the school library while her class comes in. I also made myself known to her teacher as a willing volunteer and helper. In addition, our school lets parents come eat lunch with their child anytime. I probably do that once every week or two.
Kindergarten has been a real learning experience for both myself and my daughter. My daughter has become more outgoing and confident. And I have learned to let go a little bit.
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Thanks for all the comments so far, they really do help. Don’t hesitate to add more if you’re just reading this.