With Kindergarten Comes a Loss of Control
Thursday, February 24th, 2011 by:I signed my son up for kindergarten yesterday. I was overcome by the fact that this is when parenting is really going to get tough.
Sure my four-year-old sleeps through the night–most of the time. He can get dressed on his own and is not nearly the picky eater he once was. But up until now, I’ve been able to control everything from who he hangs out with to the activities he does. Once he heads to the BIG school, that control is gone.
Fights over broccoli seem to pail in comparison to befriending the school bully or becoming his subject–or, worse, becoming the bully. Kindergarten marks the transition from guardian to mentor. Once our children start school, parenting becomes more about the people our children will be and less about the basics of life.
Most of me looks forward to the next steps we’ll take together. And even though my son’s only four, I’m confident he has the skills to make smart, well-informed choices–most of the time. And, when he doesn’t hopefully I’ll be able to provide help and advice he’ll listen to.
Tags: kindergarten, new school, sign up
February 24th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
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February 28th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Yes, I worry about that with my granddaughter. She’s only 1, but when it’s time for her to start school, I have to say I’m already not looking forward to it. You hear so many horrible things happening at schools of all places it’s just unbelievable. I’m starting to seriously wonder if home schooling is preferable.