Changing the way they do snacks...

This year, for the first time, they decided to change how the kindergarten and first grade kids have their morning snack.  Instead of me packing a snack for Darren on the days he has school, I am to supply a store-bought, list approved snack for the entire class to share.  No homemade treats are allowed.  This is all done for the kids that may have a peanut allergy.

I see pros and cons to this arrangement, but I guess it is a fact that if I send in a peanut butter treat with Darren, it could seriously injury or kill the kid next to him.

UPDATE:  The first week of school students with the last name A-K were to bring enough snacks in for the entire class and the snacks would be stored until they were needed.  Once those are gone, then the students with the last name L-Z were to bring snacks in.  So I am not sure how often I will have to bring snacks in.  For instance, I brought in (2) 12 packs of snack size Cheez Its.  With 17 kids in the class, that means they will have a surplus of seven Cheez Its.  If every parent sends in a surplus, there is a chance that I may only have to buy snacks once more this year.

School issues already

As many of you may know, I was hesitant about sending Darren to school this year and I did not know what I was going to do from one moment to the next.  I ultimately decided to send him and his scheduled school days are Tuesday and Thursday with every other Monday.  That means that he went to school on Thursday (they started on Wednesday) and when asked what his favorite part of school was he said it was riding the bus.  I was picking on him and asked if he got his name on the board and in all seriousness he said, "not on the first day of school Mom.  Maybe later on."

I asked what they did all day and he said he could not remember.  I asked if they held hands and sang songs.  Noooo.  Did they stand on their heads all day.  Noooo.  Did they play games all day.  Noooo.  I asked if he made any friends.  He told me that he made a friend and her name was Kaylee.  I told him that didn't count as that is your neighbor and you already play with her.  He said that he also played with another little boy but he could not remember his name.

Then this past Monday when I get him out of bed and tell him that he has school today, he tells me that he does not want to go to school anymore.  What?  I don't know if he was picking on me or if he saw what all the excitement was about and decided that school was not as cool as he thought it was going to be.

He was super excited though last night because he knew one of his popcorn words and thought that it was neat that he could read.  We had to do the "can" flash card about a dozen times last night.

Tired of therapy

I know that Bruce has to be tired of busting his butt after work to get the boys picked up and meet me in Sidney twice a week for Nathan's vision therapy.  Luckily since school starts this week, he has this week off.

Although, Nathan is now seeing a therapist once a week so he will still have to make one trip to Sidney this week.  I am not sure how much to say on Nathan seeing a therapist as it does make me feel like a failure as a parent.  I know that isn't necessarily logical, but that is how I feel.  Hopefully she can help him and we will see improvement and that will also help the situation with his younger brothers.

Victory!

Recently Bruce was at a family auction of his grandparents and bought a bedroom suite with the intentions of putting it upstairs for the boys.  Before we invested in a lot of time and materials in cleaning, painting and such, we decided to do a test run.  All three boys slept upstairs last night! 

I may be a little premature in stating victory as the boys had fallen asleep on the couch and then we guided them upstairs to tuck them in.  We will see how well they do when we send them up one at a time and expect them to stay up there and fall asleep.  I am not above bribery if it works!

Share Bear

Bruce and I were talking the other night about how Nathan and Justin bond together over tormenting their brother Darren.  We were trying to figure out how to get the oldest and youngest from picking on Darren so much.  I am not sure if they pick on him because Darren is the sibling closest to them in age or what.  While Darren is definitely a troublemaker, he is also the kid that is the most giving. 

He will let Justin have the last piece of cake.  He will get off my lap so that Justin can sit down.  He just shares everything better than his two siblings.  Last night, for the first time since showing the boys that I can make milkshakes at home 6-8 weeks ago, I asked if I could have a drink of Nathan's since he got the cup with the most.  He told me no and then walked away.  I just stood there shocked.  Darren then speaks up and says that he will share with me and Dad too if he wants some.  Thanks D.  At least someone will share with me!

Sound off

I think my boys have super sonic hearing.  This magic power only works when I go to the bathroom, otherwise they can't hear me ask/yell at them eighty gazillion times to pick up their shoes or whatever.  I was in my bedroom folding a load of laundry, Nathan was in the living room watching TV, Darren was on the computer and Justin was visiting with his brothers and trying to find trouble. 

I walk into the bathroom, pull down my pants and sit down to pee.  In walks Justin who then insists on opening the drawer that hold my brushes, hair ties, headbands, mirror, etc.  Then Darren walks in a few seconds later and starts trying to make Justin mad.  Nathan comes in a few seconds after that to ask me a question and I finally lose it.  I told them to get out and stay in the bedroom because I want to talk to them when I am done.

I explain that I need some privacy when I am going to the bathroom and that is not the time to ask me to get them something to drink, or ask if they can go outside or to show me something.  I told them that if I walked in on them going to the bathroom I always walk out and let them have some privacy.  They are no where to be found when work has to be done, but the second I sit down (on the couch, toilet) they are right there demanding something.