Wednesday, 5 September 2018

How to cope with your littlest one going to kindergarten.

I still remember being pregnant with my littlest one. Actually, nevermind, no - that's a lie. When I was pregnant with my second, I was so preoccupied with trying to keep the older toddler from flushing things down the toilet and reorganizing my Tupperware drawers that I actually don't actually remember much of those nine months.

Things didn't really slow down after the baby was born either. Actually just the opposite. The first year was a complete blur. Trying to keep a newborn and toddler alive was so incredibly difficult. Both were such needy tiny human beings. Nursing Baby in a bathroom stall while trying to keep Toddler quietly entertained. Trying to get Baby to nap in the carrier while trying to push the Toddler on a swing at the park. Trying to potty train the Toddler while holding a sleeping baby in my arms. Attempting to take a two minute shower leaving Toddler in charge and find that Baby has eaten most of the dirt in the garden.

How did we get to here? Did 5 years seriously go by since my littlest one was born? How did we get to today?
Cue the waterworks. No wait - it doesn't have to be a cry fest. This is what you do...

Step 1. Acknowledge years before your littlest one starts kindergarten that you would be an emotional wreck if you didn't develop a plan.

Step 2. Realize that The Plan would have to involve either working at your child's school, home-schooling or inventing some sort of time-freeze gun. Veto home-schooling and attempts to make time-freeze gun prototypes fail.

Step 3. Send  resume to the principal of Vancouver Christian School while Big Sis is four years old and Little Brother is two years old. No job openings at the moment but the school's current Special Education Coordinator could be retiring in a few years.

Step 4. Be patient and wait until a year or two later, God opens a door. Interview for job. Try to not blabber nervously during interview. Pray.

Step 5. Accept full time position working at your child's school!

Step 6. Go to school together everyday holding hands and skipping along.

Step 7. On the first day of school, show your kids where your office is (conveniently 8 steps away from the kindergarten class).

Step 8. Smile with glee whenever they pass by your office smiling and waving.

Step 9. Go home together everyday holding hands and skipping along.

Step 10.  Praise God that you get to do work that you love, in a school that is amazing and be steps away from your not-so-little ones every day.