Grant started kindergarten!!!

15 years ago

Hi Everyone..sorry I've been pretty MIA lately. I dont come her much but thought I'd check in and say hello. There are so many new names here so alot of you probably wont know who I am. For everything I've missed around her...congratulations, welcome, my condolences, happy birthday, happy anniversary, and whatever else there might be that I missed!! Hope everyone is doing great and has enjoyed their summer!

So an update on us...

Grant started kindergarten today. Can you even believe it? I know I can't. These past 5 years have gone by so fast and so much has changed. He wasn't really looking forward to going and struggled this morning when we dropped him off but he held it together and ended up really enjoying his day. His teacher is incredible so I'm sure he'll have a great year.

Camryn starts preschool next month. She's 2.5 now and is outgoing and funny and strikes up a conversation with anyone and everyone she sees. Total opposite from her shy brother. She'll be fine going to preschool and will probably be teaching the class in no time. LOL

Here's a few recent pics of the kiddos!

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Comments (22)

Lindsey_CA
15 years ago
Oh, my gosh, Stephanie, it's so amazing to realize that Grant is in kindergarten! I remember the struggles you had conceiving, and how much pain and sympathy I felt for you because of the miscarriages I'd had. I remember when the doctor told you that you had most likely lost the pregnancy but you had an innate feeling that you hadn't -- and you were so, so right! I remember being in Hawaii and shopping for the surprise baby shower for you and how shocked and surprised you were. And I remember how blessed we all felt that you had shared your whole journey with us.

And then beautiful little Camryn came along (not without more struggles on your part) and how happy she made all of us, too.

Your children are beautiful, and we can see how much they are loved, and how much they love each other. Thank you so much for sharing these photos and updates with us!!
gemini40
15 years ago
Thanks for sharing the pictures Stephanie... the kids are just beautiful and it is hard to believe 5 years have come and gone and now Grant is school bound.

June
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Can I chime in as a parent of a fall birthday boy (cutoff is Dec. 2 in CA) and as an educator who did her thesis on this? (I chose this topic because of my personal interest in it) First - in public districts it is up to the discretion of the district to decide if this (academic redshirting) is allowed. Some districts allow it, some don't. If you are in a district that doesn't allow it, and decide to hold your child back and show up a year later to register your child for kindergarten, the district will place your child according to age and put him in first grade, completely missing kinder. So before you decide anything, FIND OUT if you have the freedom to make that decision at all. My son was born October 22, and we decided to start him in kindergarten on time, and in CA that meant he started at 4 1/2. CA requires that the child be 5 before December 2nd. We feel that we made the right decision. Academically, he was ready. Socially, he was good and totally done with preschool by the end of pre-K, and ready, willing, and eager to move on. We decided that we would start him in K but that if he didn't succeed, retaining him for another year (repeating K) would be our plan B. He did very well and moved on to first grade with his peers. He's now in 6th grade and just turned 11. He's doing well and is in the accelerated classes. Over the years he has gotten into a bit of trouble goofing off in class, but honestly - would that really have made a difference whether he was in 4th grade or 5th grade? Waiting that extra year in preschool is not some magical year in which the child suddenly becomes this mature studywart. If a kid is a goofball at 4, chances are he's still going to be a goofball at 6, 8, 10, 12, etc. If I had held him back, he would be 18 most of his senior year of high school - I'm not so sure that's a smart move. Many kids in his classes were held back even when they didn't need to be. He was born October 95. There is a kid that's been in many of his classes that was born April 94! Personally, I think it is wrong for a teacher to alter her curriculum to accomodate kids that could possibly be a full 18+ months OLDER than the kids that fall into the legal age range for that grade. There was a girl who was born in October in my daughter's kindergarten class last year. She came to the class at 4.5 (like my son), except she was already reading, writing, etc. Academically WAY ahead of the other kids. Socially about the same. But - her parents decided to hold her back to repeat another year of K "because she is young" - and now, at 6 and just started K again, she is complaining that her daughter is bringing home "this is the letter A" type of homework when she is already reading at around a 3rd grade level. What did she expect? If there was any kid that I think would have been the wrong candidate for academic redshirting, it was this girl. I think it is a total disservice to both the girl AND her teacher. Something to keep in mind. Kindergarten is DESIGNED for the 5 year old child. Not the 6 year old. Sure, a child "who is older" may have a better chance at success, but wouldn't any kid who is in a class that is too easy for him? I decided that I would have rather my son been around older kids and been challenged academically, rather than in a class where everything came totally easy for him. Behavior-wise, I would have again rather he been around older kids versus younger, where his behavior might regress. This is especially true if you are keeping a kindergarten-aged child in a preschool classroom, or a first-grade aged child in a kindergarten classroom. Kids tend to adapt to their environment. Personally, I would like to see states such as CA move their cutoff date to Sept. 1 to coincide with most of the rest of the nation, and ideally, to have all 50 states have the same cutoff. Similarly, I would like to see redshirting banned, except with special district approval for unique situations such as a special-needs child being mainstreamed, a child who is behind due to a long-term illness, or a child entering school with little to no previous schooling.
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kayjones
15 years ago
They are growing up so fast, Steph - you've done a wonderful job with these two angels!
millburn_nj_po_mom
15 years ago
Your children are just like my 2 youngest grandchildren. Michael is shy and also starts Kindgarten on September 6 (so it should be interesting to see how he does) and Paige who is 3 is very outgoing and will go anywhere. She also starts pre-school on September 6th.

The pics are adorable. How time flies.

Sheryl
Marilyn Sue
15 years ago
You have two beautiful children. Thank you so much for posting and telling us all about them.

Sue
joann23456
15 years ago
They're adorable! Glad to hear you're all doing well.
wanda_va
15 years ago
It's hard to believe that Grant is old enough to go to school. Like Lindsey, I remember all the problems and then the joys of the medical miracles. Your two children are absolutely gorgeous, and the love bestowed upon them shows clearly on their faces. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Hugs to Grant and Camryn from Auntie Wanda!
jannie
15 years ago
How do you spell a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e? Camryn is so cute-with her looks and personality she will be a star. And Grant reminds me of the day I put my "baby" on the bus for kindergarten. She was crying, and stuck by her little friend Paul who was also in tears. She was fine by the time she came home. She came bouncing off the bus telling me how great school was! Thanks so much for checking in, Steph!
minnie_tx
15 years ago
Beautiful but I'm afraid the next thing you know you'll e sending them off to college.
Time really flies !!
alisande
15 years ago
Beautiful, yes, and they also look so wonderfully happy! Thanks for stopping in to share these with us.
ruthieg__tx
15 years ago
They are like our own since we went through it all with you. It's amazing to see them both so grown up and such beautiful kids.
patti43
15 years ago
I just love it when you post pictures of your little ones. The picture of Grant standing on the post made me tear up a little. He's so sweet and such a blessing.

You can tell Camryn is outgoing just by her expressions. She's just too cute!

Thanks for sharing with us. I think I was a lurker when you were expecting Grant, but I remember praying a lot for you.

Your house will be a little quiet later this week, but I know you'll find plenty to keep you busy! If you run out of ideas, you could make me some cake pops. LOL!
socks
15 years ago
I think the first day of school for a first child is so exciting. What a milestone! Grant will be fine, as you know. Those kdg teachers can charm the most suspicious child. You are sweet to check in here and keep us up to date.
gadgets
15 years ago
The right teacher can make all the difference in the world of how a child views school/education for the rest of their time in schools. I'm glad Grant got a good one.

The kids just get cuter with every posting of their pictures.

Shirley
redcurls
15 years ago
Thanks for sharing. They're both beautiful children. I miss having young'uns around.............
bulldinkie
15 years ago
Im so happy for you and your family....
Granlan_TX
15 years ago
Hi Steph! It's always such fun to hear from you and to know how well your beautiful children are doing. :)

What cuties...they fit the picture of tan and blonde Californians!
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
Your kids are adorable!
OklaMoni
15 years ago
Oh my gosh! Time flies sometimes.

Thanks for the AWESOME pictures!

Moni
williamsburgjane
15 years ago
Thanks for sharing their photos! It doesn't seem like more than 2years ago we had your shower. :o)
katlan
15 years ago
Soooo cute. And growing so fast.
susanjf_gw
15 years ago
so glad to see you post..you were my ds and dil's inspiration for baby #1...they're expecting #2 who was a surprise! now they have their own little boy and soon a christmas girl...

Grant started kindergarten!!!

Comments (22)

Lindsey_CA

gemini40

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