Well today was another big day around these parts! Pooks headed off to the school down the road for the very first time. Her teacher Ashley set me up with the lady who taught the crystal class that Pookie missed (because she was sick) and she invited Pookie to come see the class at another school since she wasn’t able to go with her class. The school she was teaching at today is a private school down the road that a handful of kids go to from town. It is significantly larger than Sophie’s current class and full of kids her age. She only knew one of the kids today as the other two (her best buds from art class) are in France until October. This school goes from age 2 through 1st grade.

Before learning about Ashley I had showed Pooks pictures of this school and she has been on the property several times but she never had any interest in going (even after i told her that her buds from art class go there). This school is run by a super sweet lady from London, and she focuses a bunch on the arts and learning through play. She really is fantastic. It has been around for years now and every parent that has their child there really raves about it. People in town have been asking me ever since Pookie turned 2 years old if she is attending this school.

There is only one other private school in town of this size and it is at the opposite end of town. The town is pretty divided about the two schools and it tends to be a bit of a battle over which one is better. I was never drawn to either, though if i were going to chose one, it was always going to be the one she went to today. My major issues with it were only that it was strictly 5 days a week no matter what age (9am-2pm), it is only until grade 1 (which means Pookie would be there for just 2 years and then have to switch to another school), the school that most the kids go to after this one is 1/2 hour away in Cobano (which for me is not an option), and Pooks never wanted to go for whatever reason, no matter what positive details i told her about it. That being said, this is the first time she ever agreed to go check it out and both Will and I thought it was important to let her see what a big school would be like, and also what it would be like to be at school with a bunch of kids her age. This environment is much closer to a traditional school environment and although we are not into it, I wanted to make sure that we weren’t making that decision for her and she was given the opportunity to decide for herself.

I asked her the night before if she wanted me to go with her or if she wanted to just go by herself. She said, “Umm, if you come the other kids are going to be like Whyyyy is your mom here, so I don’t want to be embarrassed”. Ah, ok Pookie, i forgot you were 13 years old (puke). I’m kidding, i was laughing inside and super happy that she just has such confidence and independence.

I walked her to the gate and brought her into Sonya. She introduced her to the little kiddos (only one said Hi when she first sat down) and Pooks gave me a kiss and said goodbye. She had no hesitation going right in, she didn’t flinch saying goodbye to me, and Sabs was the only one crying when we were walking out (she wanted to stay with sissy). It was very different than when i dropped her off for the first day at Ashley’s class. At Ashley’s all the kids came out and said Hi Sophie! The little girl Gaia wrote that she was thankful to have Sophie at school that day and that was one of her 5 things she was grateful for that morning. Ugh, i was secretly hoping Pooks wouldn’t like this school as much b/c I love the influence of the other school but i was holding that all in and staying really positive so she would have an unbiased opinion and her own decision. The class of kids her age really wasn’t that big compared to traditional schools. It was only about 10-12 kids (most of which were boys) but there were kids of all ages running around everywhere. It felt like a kid factory when i dropped her off. Im not sure who teaches the class she was in and actually she wasn’t sure when i picked her up either. It is a big open space and really people were just everywhere. Ok, on to Pooks day.

So I went back at 1:45pm to pick her up. Sabs was sleeping at home so i went by myself and Dada stayed with Sabs. When i walked into the school, Pookie was off in the yard with a little clipboard busy jotting some things down. I saw Sonya in the back corner so i walked over to her to thank her for having Pooks and stood to the side so Pooks wouldnt see me. Sonya and I know each other from town and she has seen Pooks ever since she was 2 years old at different events, the grocery store etc. Her and I have the conversation in the past how Sophie wasn’t in school and she was home with Will and I all day. Sonya was always very supportive of that and always agreed that all kids are different and it is fantastic that we are both able to be home with her. When I saw her yesterday she asked me about the classes Sophie was taking and commented that we obviously did an amazing job so far because she couldn’t believe how Sophie walked right in and talked to everyone like she had been going there for years. She said that she was so adaptable, friendly, and confident. I thanked her all the while thinking, crap Pooks liked this school (wahhhhhh). Yes, those were my genuine thoughts, followed by my beaming pride of course knowing how amazing she is and glowing feedback we always receive.

Once Pooks was done writing on her clipboard Sonya and I both walked over to see her little illustrations. She told Sonya all about them, we said thank you and went on our way to the quad. About 2 minutes into the walk down to the quad we started chatting:

ME: Pooks what great drawings you made, these look awesome! How did you like this school?
POOKS: I had fun but I only want Ashley to be my teacher. I like hers better. I wonder who my teacher was here, I dont even know?
ME: Well what about the crystals?
POOKS: They were fun, but a boy took a picture of me and I was holding a blue crystal for sadness so i hope he doesnt send you that picture b/c why would he take a picture of sadness.
ME: Were you sad?
POOKS: No but i look sad in the pic b/c i was holding a blue crystal.
ME: What about all the little kids your age?
POOKS: They were nice. I made friends with a little girl with a ponytail. But i like the kids at Ashley’s school more.
ME: OK, then Ashley’s school it is (insert happy dance here)

And so you have it. She chose the school we thought she would love all along but I am glad we still double checked and had her try out another place for herself to know for sure she wanted to be where she is now. Yay for Pooks. I am so excited for her learning journey, which is exactly that…her journey. So proud of our sweet wee bit.

We messaged Ashley after school and told her what Sophie said and she said we made her day. The day before this she was worried her last lesson was a little too much for Pooks and that she bored her. She is so amazing that she messaged me because she wanted to know if it would be ok that she just hang out with Pookie for a half hour or so one day this week on her own time to just have fun with her. She wanted to make sure that she didnt discouraged her. Actually here was her exact message from two nights ago after a learning session with Pooks:

Hi michelle, feeling a little guilty tonight. I have some fun ideas, an alphabet scavenger hunt… And I found a song for her. I’m on this. Tonight was a little boring for her… I need to think outside the boX, maybe I could even see her for a half hour one day this week aside from Sunday, my own time:). Like I mean it would make me feel better, and no charge. Just hangin with her;) thank you for everything. Xx

I of course told her she is looney and Sophie had a blast, to which she replied this

Thank you Michelle… I adore you and the your family and want to make sure that I make a difference… So having something she will like 🙂 xxx thank you for the kind words;) xx means a ton

UGH SERIOUSLY, she is the greatest. She has limited access to supplies here, teaches kids from age 5 through teenagers, has to create all different projects for each one and creatively does so each week, is always staying later during her tutoring sessions and asking us if we mind (at no charge), like really, asking us if we mind that she is running over!?! She really is one of a kind and clearly it shows through, since our lil pooks chose her hands down over a school full of five year olds. It also shows through in the group of kids she teaches who are all super respectful, kind, and chill. LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY! Ok it is obvious i could gush about her for days, and well, apparently im going to get to be able to b/c this is where Pooks wants to be! BIG FAT YAY!

Here are some pics from Pooks first big day at a different school and a pic of her with Sonya and her clipboard. All such good memories from both places 🙂

After school yesterday Sophie had about an hour to eat, get dressed and head to yoga class. She had a blast again at yoga! At dinner she started falling asleep at the table. Guess the little busy bee is adjusting to her fun filled schedule :).