So strange to even say the words preschool drama but I guess that's what has happened recently. We've had some drama over Liam's preschool and it's been so stressful and annoying I can't even begin to describe it so I guess I should start from the very beginning.
Chris & I agreed to have Liam attend preschool at the age of 4. We knew there were MDO programs that allowed kids to go to school as young as 2 but we decided on 4 being the better age to start any kind of school program. But when I was pregnant with Blake my Mom was visiting and she suggested that we may want to try Liam in a MDO type of program two times a week so he can have an outlet and I could have a break when baby Blake came. I was very hesitant at first but after a few days of talking about it with Chris we decided to have Liam try out a two day a week MDO program and see how it would go. I then started asking around for recommendations of good MDO programs. I found out there were so many to choose from it was a bit overwhelming. It was also the end of July which meant that most of the MDO programs were filled and lots had waiting lists. I had no idea you had register back in February to guarantee a spot. After much disappointed I finally found out that our church had a MDO program and had just one spot opened so we decided to go with our church MDO program and we signed Liam up right away and he was in for the 3 year old class.
All seemed to be going okay. It was Liam's first time in a school setting. He had to get use to be around the other kids and listening and obeying the rules etc. He seemed to enjoy it. He is a little quiet at first when he is doing something for the first time but then he usually warms up. I did not feel like the MDO program was that wonderful to be honest. The classes were large ( over 16 3 year olds) the two teachers were okay but were not as warm and friendly and loving as I had wished for Liam. They seemed to think he was so shy and wondered if he was ever going to open up. But after January he proved to them that he was a warm, happy kid and was great. The teachers were always impressed by how smart he was. He always shouted out the answers during the circle time. He showed them his love for math, reading, and writing. They would say "WOW he is so smart he is going to be a great student one day you are so blessed and must be so proud!" And we are believe me.
So the year ended and Liam completed the 3 year old MDO program. But back in January we decided that we better start looking at preschools since registration starts in February. We really thought hard and decided that we did not want Liam to return to the MDO program he was attending at our church. I was so disappointed since it was our church but just felt that he needed something more than just two days a week and he needed to learn more than what they were teaching. With Liam's high IQ it was important for him to be stimulated and I think he would be bored there he needed to be challenged more. So we shopped around for preschools. We visited and toured about 4 preschools. My #1 choice was at a Presbyterian church and had such high ratings and excellent reviews that we really knew this was the preschool for Liam. But unfortunately they had a waiting list. We actually were on the waiting list back for the 3 year old class but they were still full for all the preschool classes. So disappointing. So I then was trying to find another school but nothing seemed right. We decided to just register for our church preschool program justas a back up in case we were not able to find another school so Liam would be in preschool class at least (bad idea!) I also decided to look more into homeschooling which Chris really wants to do once Liam is school aged. I saw a homeschool co-group that I decided to join
I put down and deposit there and thought this would be a better alternative. I could homeschool 3 days a week and Liam could take classes with the homeschool co-op 2 days a week. But later found out that there was a lot more volunteer hours involved for parents and I knew I would not be able to make a commitment like that with Chris' crazy work schedule so I pulled out and decided not to do the co-op. So August came and Liam was going to the preschool at our church. I was trying to be optimistic that maybe things would work out for the best and it would be better but I was so disappointed again.
Middle of October came and by that time I was just having doubts about the preschool program. It came down to that we did not like the teachers and what they were teaching. Liam had missed a few days due to being sick so he'd only been there for a total 10 days which is like two weeks (also attending only two days Tue & Thurs). The teachers did tell us they had no doubt he was a very smart boy. They were impressed by his math, writing, and reading ability but thought he was disruptive at times and needed to work on some things. They said would shout out the answers during circle time, finish a project early and get up write on the board. He took off his shoes during quiet time which was a no no (What?) I thought yes he should not be doing some of these things like yelling out the answers during story time but thought that it had only been 10 days and he may need some more time to learn. So one day when I picked Liam up from class they said they needed to have a talk with me because Liam keeps taking his shoes off and it's disruptive because all the other kids are following his lead. They wanted me to come and observe his behavior then have a meeting with the director. I couldn't believe my ears I told her I was very surprised she thought that and walked out with Liam. We decided this is it time to go. So we left that and didn't return. It broke my heart I was tears over it and didn't know why these teachers would say what they did about Liam. It was very clear that he was too advanced for that class and finished early with his work and was extremely bored there.
Just by luck I called up the presbyterian church preschool (our first choice) and spoke to the director basically begging her if there was a spot open explaining what had happened and if Liam could join. To our pleasant surprise there was one opening in a preschool class! What a relief! So we went down and signed Liam up immediately. He started this week just before Halloween so he won't miss and parties. His teacher is Mrs. Williams and she is absolutely wonderful. We shared our concerns and experience we had at the other school and they understood and think Liam is wonderful. He has different things we need to work on but overall so far Mrs. Williams says he's doing great!
So it's really hard to have a smart 4 year old. Who ever said that it would be smooth sailing with a smart kid is nuts. Liam has a very high IQ very smart and it will continue to be a challenge I'm sure with teachers and just people in general not understanding him sometimes. Liam is also the youngest in his class having with his birthday being on August 29th he just misses the cut off. I see no reason to keep him back at this point. I think he can handle it no problem. I'm just so glad he is at the school we had picked initially so blessed he got in and so blessed he is doing so well.
