1/30/2008

Is There Such A Thing As Boarding Preschool?

Dear Ironflower and Lovebug,

I love you two more than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone. You are beautiful, brilliant and funny.

But sometimes I want to send you to boarding school. I know that you are only three and not quite two, but just hear me out. Every time you have a baby-sitter (be it grandparents or family friend), I hear about what amazingly well-behaved children you are. Ironflower, your teacher says you NEVER whine at school. She was genuinely surprised when I picked you up yesterday and you started whining. And Lovebug, you NEVER do your screaming thing in public anymore. You only do it for me - you're already up to four screaming fits this morning. And well, children, I'm getting kind of tired of the tantrums, whining, screaming and general defiance.

Sometimes I think I must be doing something wrong and that's why all of your unpleasantness is saved for me. And that's where I got the boarding school idea. At boarding school, you wouldn't have to assert your independence - you'd already be independent! Isn't that what you want? At boarding school you would be able to be your INCREDIBLE public selves ALL THE TIME.

And I would get to spend a day or two free from screaming, tantrums and defiance.

Because kiddos, I would probably only make it without you for about two days. And then I'd have to rush up to your boarding school for hugs. And there's also the fact that you MIGHT have some separation anxiety without me for a couple of days. Especially at bedtime

So maybe the boarding school idea won't work.

So I guess that means we're going to have to improve your behavior right here at home. Got any ideas?

All my love,

Mommy

11 comments:

Yvette said...

Ohmygod! I'm having the same problem with my 2-year old! She throws a fit when we try to get her to take a bath or go to sleep. At her school, her teachers say she is so quiet they can barely hear her when she speaks. My mother, who took care of her last week, led her up to bed and said it was time to go to sleep and she lay down and LO AND BEHOLD SHE WENT TO SLEEP! She never does that with us! It's got to be the age, right? Let me know if you find a good boarding preschool!

momto4kidsny said...

I so wish there was one of these schools you speak of! I could use on at least once a week...you know just when needed.
Wish I had ideas to share but I am going through this with you as my 2 yr old does his tantrums and whining and screaming and saves it just for me!
You are not alone!

Dory said...

I was just talking about this with a girlfriend yesterday. GMTA.

LifeAsIKnowIt said...

My son used to do this all the time. Daycare would tell me he was happy all day, and as soon as I got there he'd start crying.
I read somewhere that i's actually a good thing (no, really!) that they break down around you. It means they feel safe and secure enough to let out all their crying and frustrations from the day to YOU. That's what moms are for.
Well, it made me feel better, anyway.
Hang in there!

mkate said...

I just wanted to let you know that I have officially subscribed.

anglophilefootballfanatic said...

Sign me up!! And, at least they are showing off your amazing parenting in public, right?

jerseygirl89 said...

LunaNik - Thanks for the award! And I hope that you stay lucky.

Yvette - Mine is having a bedtime tantrum right now. I'm glad she's not the only one.

Momto4NY - Thank you! I love the "when needed" idea.

Dory - It's a relief to know that I'm not alone.

Life - I read that somewhere too - but some days it just doesn't help.

Mkate - Yay! Thank you!

AFF - That's true - I guess I'd be more embarrassed if they were like this public.

Carrie said...

Uh huh...I have a 10 year old that is better behaved elsewhere....I hear ya.

FishyGirl said...

I threaten mine with military school on at least a weekly basis. The three year old whining screaming fits are horrid - I think it's the worst stage until they are teenagers. Add that to the go-limp-in-the-parking-lot-for-no-reason stage, and it's a wonder we let them survive.

Thank God it tends to get better when they are 4.

mkate said...

I just wanted to let you know that I have officially subscribed.

Dory said...

I was just talking about this with a girlfriend yesterday. GMTA.