Today we went to meet the teachers for preschool. I registered the twins in February but today they got to go and see the school and meet the different teachers, as well as give me an opportunity to see them in action and make a request for which teacher I would prefer if I have one.
We did the walk through with the director and met the first teacher, who on Open House day I thought was my 'favorite'. Meaning we seemed to click and I liked her. Alexa didn't seem to mind her, but I think just liked the toys in her classroom better. Mason wasn't so wild about her or her classroom...and after watching her interact with kids and really look at the classroom, I wasn't sure she was my favorite anymore. I found the class room very noisy, there was loud music playing, LOTS of stimulation and the teacher didn't seem to be interacting as much with the kids as I would have thought or liked. She also seemed to be very....strict. Which I suppose isn't a bad thing, and I'm sure she has learned to be this way after dealing with 3 and 4 year olds for so many years, and I appreciate that rules need to be in place to avoid chaos and provide structure, but I also believe in leniency (anyone who knows my husband and I know we differ greatly on this point). Case in point, Mason wanted to play with a toy that was up on top of a cupboard. She told him that those toys were not to be played with right now but if he asked he could have it. When I say 'asked' I mean he had to make a complete sentence. 'Mrs. (fill in teachers name here), can I play with that toy please?' I pretended not to notice so he wouldn't just look at me and start crying. He gave it his best shot and got most words out, but he has a really hard time with his speech. He doesn't make complete sentences, or at least not long ones and he stutters, especially when he's under stress. Well, even after his best attempt which had most of the words but not all and he reversed two words he wasn't allowed the toy because he didn't say the sentence. This is where I think you should get points for trying. Now maybe I only think this because i'm his mother, but I honestly thought, good grief, he tried and got most of it, give him the damn toy! He got upset and came to find me and I decided our visit was done and we left.
When we went into the other classroom the teacher was sitting with her kids doing a craft, there were a few kids off playing with other toys. The class had no music playing and was fairly quiet with slightly less toys. Mason seemed very at ease in that room and the teacher came across as very calm and quiet which I knew he would respond to. What surprised me was on Open House day this teacher seemed really excited and loud and chatty which I wasn't wild about but I guess she was trying to sell the school to me, right. This teacher is also younger and has 3 young daughters of her own and was a teachers assistant before this.
One of the teachers asked me if I would consider separating the kids since they each seemed to prefer different rooms, and I said no, which the director agreed with me on. After seeing the way Mason reacted upon entering the classroom (he hid between my legs) she agreed that having his sister in the same class would be good for him and hopefully help him be comfortable and bring him out of his shell. Also since they are so different I don't think they'll get in each others way, but can be a support to each other instead. I suspect Alexa will end up standing up her brother from time to time as well (which is fitting since her name means defender of men!). I intend to keep them in the same classroom until it doesn't made sense anymore. I think they need each other for support and unless they tell me or convince me otherwise I think it's for the best. Some schools have policies in place already as to how they deal with the twins which I'm totally opposed to. Each set of twins is different and needs different things. My cousins twin girls have always been separated, but they needed that. It should be up the discretion of the parents, in my opinion.
I decided I want the kids with the second teacher. Alexa will learn just as much, and Mason will be better off and they will remain together. Plus, I believe over stimulation causes other issues, and there is enough going on with everything they need to learn in preschool, they don't need to be over stimulated, too.
It broke my heart to watch Mason struggle. I had to cry the entire way home. I realize this is only the beginning of his life struggles and struggling helps build character and self esteem when you finally learn something that was hard for you, but my mama bear instincts just kicked in and I wanted to protect him. Since we left the school he's been stuttering a lot, and he's been so good for almost a week and a half, which tells me I've stressed him. I know this change is going to be good for all of us in the long term, but man change can be hard.
