Dylan's ABC Book

Yesterday I was busy making lunch, going over the long list of "must do's" for the day.  Miraculously, Dylan was entertaining himself, and was being quiet.  That is almost unheard of!  I had no idea what he was doing, and to be honest, he could have been hanging from the ceiling fan by his underwear and it wouldn't have bothered me.  He was entertaining himself!  Quietly!

After lunch, he told me it was time.  "Time for what?", I inquired.  "Time for you to find all the letters!", he told me with much enthusiasm.  This is what I found...

There were letters in the living room.  There were letters in the dining room.  There were letters in the kitchen.  There were letters in the hallway.  There were letters in the playroom.  There were letters on the stairs.  My initial thought was "Wow!  This is really cool and creative!", but unfortunately, that thought was followed by "Wow!  This is going to take a long time to clean up!"  I can't help it.  I try to ignore those thoughts, but I like things neat, so they just find their way into my brain.

Luckily, I ignored that thought, and focused on just how excited my kid was about these letters.  Despite the list of "things to do", I decided to just go with it.  "Want to make your very own alphabet book?", I asked a shocked Dylan.  "WE CAN DO THAT?!", he shouted.

And, that is how "Dylan's ABC Book" came to be.

"A is a A.  A is 4 Apple.  Even the A says AH"

I wrote what he told me on each page, and I really mean exactly what he told me, which is how I got such gems as "The K is the K"?,  and "The Y is always cheerful"?

When we had finished the completed book, the look on his face was utterly priceless.  To give you an idea of just how happy he was with his book... he told me "Mommy, thank you for helping me make my book!  You're my BEST FRIEND!"  Previously, I was told (quite frequently) that I was Number 2 on his list.

Want to guess what we are finishing today, after his nap?  Here's a hint...  I found this in my kitchen...

Recent Dylan Developments 2

Here is the description of the "Just for Twos" class that Dylan is currently in, even though he turned 3 in November, (because these places are all SO strict about them turning whatever age BEFORE September 1st)...

"The primary purpose of the class is to teach a child to separate comfortably from his parents, (HA! he has barely said goodbye since day 1), to be happy in the time he spends at preschool, and to know that his parents always return for him at a given time. We learn about weather, colors and numbers 1-5. Our goals include learning to have and to be a friend, and learning to follow directions and safety rules".

Okay, let's break this down. Is he happy there? I don't honestly know. Lately, he says he doesn't want to go. When I pick him up, he doesn't seem thrilled or upset. He doesn't tell me much about it. I'm pretty sure he has understood the terms "windy, cloudy, rainy, and sunny" for some time. He's known his colors for a long time. They discuss a color a month. A MONTH. Recently he asked me, "Mommy, are we STILL going to be talking about blue?" He's known the numbers 1-5 for a long time.

Learning to have and to be a friend? That is the main reason I sent him to preschool. As an only child, who is mainly around adults, he needs that social interaction. He needs to learn to share. He needs to learn that he is not the boss. He needs to learn to compromise. About a month ago, he brought home his class picture. I asked him the kids' names. He knew three of the 17 names. The fact that my kid, who has an amazing memory, cannot tell me more than 3 names tells me that "learning to have and to be a friend" is not really a focus in the class. Either that, or he is just failing miserably at it, and that makes me sad.

He can follow directions. The question is, does he want to? He's a stubborn three year old boy, so I don't know how that aspect goes. I don't know, because the teachers don't tell me ANYTHING. I used to be a preschool teacher, so this fact makes me a little... GAH!!!

When I heard that registration for next year is coming up on February 16th, I got a little(understatement) anxious. What am I gonna do? Then, one day, completely on his own, he started doing this...

and this...

and this...

And, now, I am spending all my free time researching and touring preschools. Oh my, oh my, oh my. I have come to the realization that I have VERY strong opinions about education. I am downright obnoxious and I have an opinion about every little aspect. Yes, I am one of THOSE parents. You know, the annoying ones? Hi! That's me. BUT! I'm also one of those parents that truly appreciates the good stuff the teachers and the school do. I'm verbal about it. I will sing your praises to anyone who will listen... if I think you are worthy. Yep, I just wrote "worthy". Like I said, Obnoxious.