Phenomemom: Vincent's First day of Pre-K (Belated)

Vincent's First day of Pre-K (Belated)

It's hard to believe how quickly our little boys are growing up. It seems like just yesterday we were brand new parents, bringing home our precious Vincent Kain. We were totally prepared to be parents...well, of a little girl anyway. For 22 weeks we had prepared for a daughter, thanks to the mistake of an ultrasound technician. Other than one mild postpartum meltdown, it was a remarkably easy adjustment.

Today, our now 4 and a half year old started Pre-K. He has been patiently crossing off the days on the calender leading up to his big day. When I woke him up this morning, he sat right up with that beautiful smile of his. Everyone else was sleeping, so we had a nice time getting ready.

We walked into his classroom that was full of loud little ones and emotional mommies and he found his desk. He sat down quietly and began to write his name in his new notebook. He looked very big next to his desk buddies. I snapped a few photos and he told me, "Mom, you can go now." I stole a quick kiss and found my way out.

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon. Without Vincent, Silas is truly a different child. The house was calm. We just lay around doing nothing. I didn't even do any housework. Bliss, I tell you.

Unfortunately, it bit me in the rear end once Vincent came home.

When we picked him up, he was bright and cheery. He told us of his first day, the friends he'd made, the pictures he'd drawn. The second we got home, the spawn of Satan was unleashed.

I remember when I was very young, my sister would spend the weekends with her dad, who had no other children at the time. Needless to say, she was spoiled for the entire weekend. When she would return, she would be the queen of all brats. This is who Vincent reminded me of today.

I thought I had prepared myself for this, knowing that he would be getting up so much earlier than normal and not not being much of a 'napper'. Hopefully, he will learn to be.

I went to clean out his lunch box and found that not a single thing in it had been touched. This had me pretty aggravated.

(Natural peanut butter and honey on whole wheat, crab stick, slices of turkey and cheddar, whole grain club crackers, apples, cucumbers, choco goldfish, and apple sauce)

I try very hard to limit the amount of pre-made and processed foods that my family consumes. I spend extra money on groceries because of this. I have always known that I would prepare my boys' lunches, knowing that even though school lunches are supposed to be balanced, they aren't typically very healthy.

Apparently, Vincent wanted cafeteria chicken nuggets instead of what I sent with him (even though he picked out what he wanted me to pack and sat watching excitedly as I cut shapes into his cheese). I don't want the lunch that I send him to be an option along with the school's provided lunch. I want him to eat what I have prepared. I think I will be sending his teacher a note to have her enforce this. I hope to start preparing his lunch Bento-style, so that should make frozen chicken nuggets less appealing.

On a yummier note, here's what(was) for dinner! A common dish in our home, Asian Peanut Noodles. (Recipe forthcoming)