Week Two of Preschool

What a difference a day week makes! Artem has made a 180 when it comes to preschool. We were worried that he would have another rough week because of being off for the weekend but he surprised us on Tuesday and did great at drop off. He cried when we dropped him off but it was because we passed the playground on the way in and he wanted to play in the sandbox rather than come in the room and make his craft.

On Wednesday he woke up happy and was excitedly talking about school. He proceeded to tell me:

Artem: Me not cry at school today!
Mama: You're not going to cry today? Alright!! (slaps a high five) Is it because you are a big boy?
Artem: No big boy, daddy give me money no cry today!
Mama: Oh really??? (I turn to yell for Randy who is in the other room) "Daddy...we need to talk about something!"

Needless to say, this financial arrangement that Artem had worked out was news to Daddy! He cried only a little bit on Wednesday's drop off but it wasn't even real tears, mostly heavy sighs. As soon as we walked out it all stopped.

Today he didn't cry at all when we dropped him off and was in great spirits when we picked him up. Whew!

He still doesn't sleep at school but when he comes home in the afternoon, he eats a small snack, we read a book, and he takes a short one hour nap. It's working really well so far.

Randy and I think this is a turning point for him and he happily talks about school now, sings songs that he has learned at school, and reads little books with us that he's made in class. We are all feeling a lot better now.

Tomorrow we all head back out to the lake to spend Labor Day on the water. Our friends are taking their travel trailer out to camp with us and Randy's brother and sister in law are coming up from Houston. We love being on the water and are happy to see Artem enjoying it so much. It's night and day from the little boy fresh out of the orphanage that screamed bloody murder when we tried to give him a bath.