Where did January go?

In some ways it's great that January is almost over, as it is such a challenging month, but at the same time, I don't wish time to fly by too quickly!

First of all on the adoption number 2 front, we have not had any new news!  We were told not to expect any until the new year, but January is almost over and Tet around the corner so really hoping some news comes soon!  The last few months feel a bit surreal still.

As for Matteo, going back to school after the holidays was hard (change is always hard for him) and for the first week he cried most mornings at drop off and I've just been told he is being very sensitive through the day and cries more than once for various reasons…mostly when he doesn't want to do something he's being asked to do, or gets frustrated when things aren't working out as he wants, and if he is too tired (still loves his afternoon naps which he doesn't get any more at school though he is getting to bed at a good time for this adjustment).

…All of this isn't new, but the tears are happening more often at school….so I continue to encourage him to use his words, to just continue to try and have fun learning his letters for instance, and to try to follow teacher instructions which he has been great with in the past.  He told me he cried on Thursday because he didn't want to participate with yoga (something he wasn't keen on in his daycare either)

….but then he said he tried…..He's in a small class of both junior and senior kindergarten students, and it is a very active and creative classroom. French in the mornings (and he is picking up lots) and English in the afternoon and lots of singing, which he loves…the teachers switch rooms.  There is an EA through the day, and he is thriving there; however, definitely concerned with the increase of tears that I was alerted to.  He, like his mom, is a homebody!!  We love spending time at home or visiting museums, parks, shopping etc….but aren't keen on rushing out the door to work and school!! So we move forward one day at a time, hoping he moves back to a more comfortable space.

….As for me, I'm recovering from pneumonia (and thank God Matteo hasn't gotten sick!!)…missed three days of work at a critical time when students are getting ready for final exams…they start on Monday, so it is a busy time and not being healthy isn't great. I have one more week left at this school then I will change schools. I'm sure that is causing some stress, as end of term is hard enough without having to pack up and leave. It has been a great school,  and feel sad to leave, mostly because of the great colleagues, such a wonderfully professional and humane group of teachers and many great students but not without some challenges too.  The only downside has been that it is much farther from home than I like.  I should find out on Tuesday what my next assignment is and pray I stay healthy enough to make it through a busy week of grading exams for 80 students and calculating final grades, adding comments and learning skills assessments!!  Fun Fun Fun.

…Anyhow am already looking forward to spring, just because we've had some bitterly cold weather and makes the early mornings much more challenging!!  But again, as I said earlier, just praying that time doesn't go too quickly, as that's like wishing our life away, but at the same time after the awful fall and/winter we had, I am so looking forward to the rebirth of spring and the sunshine and warmth of summer.