A couple days ago Georgia got a letter in the mail, addressed to her and everything, from her new teacher, Ms. Clare. In it was the schedule for her Cubby Conference, the date for her first day of school (September 17th), and a supply list (change of clothes, Kleenex, extra diapers, wipes, etc...). I didn't KNOW I was the type, but when I read it aloud to Alex who had asked what the letter included, I started tearing up at the words, "Your first day of school is...I'm looking forward to seeing you!"
My baby is starting school!!!
Who knew I was such a sap? Certainly not I! I mean, it's not as if Georgia hasn't been exposed to therapies and a playgroups and, heck, she's been going to school all summer (last day was last week), but I was WITH her at those things, this is her own thing. Four hours a week when she will be out there in the world on her own (well, of course with teachers and all), but wow! My baby really IS growing up.
I never really thought I would send my child to school so early. She won't be three until December. Honestly, up north I don't seem to remember there being so many two-year-old options, but down here it does seem to be the norm--more or less. Even still, I don't think I would send Georgia if I didn't think it was in her best interest of course. In my mind, (and I hope in practice), this is going to really expose her to a lot of other kids, typical peers, with whom I am hoping she can become friends, and from whom I am hoping she will learn a lot.
That is not to say I don't have my reservations. Georgia still doesn't "DO" stairs (though she can make it up one or three, she is still climbing them in a crawl and forget about going down (unless you mean ass over tea kettle). She signs and communicates and we are starting to see a few more words and/or word approximations, but she is still for all intents and purposes not talking. My understanding is that she will not be the only non-verbal child in the class, so I guess that's good, although I DO want her to be exposed as much as possible to talkers. She will be one of the older 2yos what with her December birthday, which I think will also serve her well. She isn't TEENY, but she is certainly not a big kid either, so hopefully the other kids will not tower over her.
I have to say though, we went to a birthday party this weekend for one of her little friends (another girl with DS) who just turned three and they had a Music Together teacher there "performing" for the party. It's been a few months since we have been involved in a music class (and she is healthy and she no longer has the adenoids), and I have to say, Georgia enjoyed herself immensely. Not only did she enjoy herself, she also sat (even on the opposite side of the room from me, so I wasn't coraling her) and/or danced/played along for the entire thirty minute show. She clapped appropriately, slapped her knees and stamped her feet. She banged her drum and shook her musical egg. She didn't hit anyone. She smiled and laughed. She jumped to her feet and returned her instruments and scarves into the totes when the teacher said it was time to clean up. Like a pro! At one point, the birthday girl's father leaned over to me after she saw Georgia eagerly helping the teacher gather a few errant musical eggs and put them back in her bag and asked, "How old is Georgia?" in a tone that did little to disguise the fact that he was impressed. Heck, I was impressed, too! Here she was demonstrating what we've been teaching her at home, and in her EI classroom.
Speaking of her EI classroom, it's not always a good report at the end of the day. I often hear things like "short attention span," "does not attend to task," "has her own agenda," "is a master manipulator," etc. They also gush and go nuts when Georgia does something like sign "fish" which she signs and SAYS all the time at home. I mean, I get it, Georgia IS a master manipulator when she wants to be, she DOESN'T show off everything she can sign, say and do in the classroom. So for them, when she does the finger plays of a song, they must feel quite accomplished (though it may be something she's done for over a year at home). I let them have their little celebrations usually. It's better than hearing about her short attention span.
But I digress.
At the end of class, the teachers are not ALWAYS her favorite people in the world. They make her DO stuff, they don't let her get away with things. This is all good. I am glad there is SOMEONE else in the world who she can be pissed at besides me! :) But because of this, usually, at the end of class when the teacher announces "Who wants to give me five?" or, "Who wants to give me a bear hug?" Georgia SELDOM responds. At all.
Last week, on Georgia's last day of class, I walked in to retrieve her and DID find her embracing her teacher in a delighted hug. Progress! I always wondered about those sterotypes that have people with DS hugging everyone left and right because that's not MY daughter.
But perhaps I shouldn't speak too soon. I think given the routine at school, Georgia has learned that after a "class" such as the one at the birthday party, one is to run up and hug the teacher.
On Saturday she showed me the lesson she had learned because after the good-bye song, while all the other kids sat around sort of perplexed and wondering what was supposed to happen next, Georgia jumped into the air, ran across the room, leapt into the music teacher's lap and gave her a HUGE bear hug. I don't think there was a person in the room who didn't exclaim, "Awwwwwww...."
I just beamed. Perhaps a little bit jealous (she's not always so free with her affection at home, although she is getting better at it), but more than that, proud. Of my big little girl, her way of showing thanks, and for picking up after herself!
