Polly and Maureen are at different stages for their oldest kiddos. While Polly is preparing her son for college, Maureen is gearing her daughter up to face kindergarten. Is it possible there is overlap between such different ages? There’s only one way to find out, an interview between two moms!
MAUREEN INTERVIEWS POLLY ABOUT HER HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, LUKE
What part of Luke’s senior year are you most looking forward to?
Much of Senior Year is preparing for where they will end up next year. I look forward to touring colleges, watching him apply, and seeing where things lock into place for Luke. Watching all these years of parenting and education finally culminate into adulthood is what I’m looking forward to the most.
What is your favorite memory of Luke from kindergarten? The second day of school, Luke told me that he didn’t feel very good. I didn’t take him seriously and sent him to school. He threw up all over Isabell’s brand-new pink tennis shoes. Major parenting fail. Sorry Isabell!!
… From elementary school? There are so many great memories from elementary school. During the early years, Luke turned every picture he would color into a Batman scene. In the later years, he always loved presentations, wax museum, the country presentation, it was always fun to see him in his element. I started to see glimpses of who he would become.
…from middle school? Luke was always a good kid but I’d prefer not to reflect on middle school. Can I get an AMEN?
…from high school? Sophomore year, Luke’s school has them do a presentation to their parents and faculty. The presentation requires them to reflect at the mid-point of their high school career. They look back on what got them to where they are, and who helped them along the way. They discuss what they did well, and what they could do better. Then look forward to Junior and Senior years and cast goals and desires for their remaining high school experience. It was a wonderful. They also have “Mom Prom” (Mother Son Dance), it is always a great evening full of memories.
What do you hope Luke takes away from his senior year, something specific that he can only experience as a senior?
I hope Luke takes away confidence.
Luke plans to attend college next year, and all the schools he has looked at would mean he will move away from home. What are Luke’s innate qualities that will suit him well in college? Have they changed since he was in kindergarten?
Luke has always been strong willed, outgoing, and adventurous from kindergarten to today. It doesn’t surprise me that he wants to move away. He’s always been good at academics and very self/internally motivated. He’s an ambitious guy that wants to accomplish big things. I think that eye on the future will keep him on a good path.
What advice would you give to a mom whose oldest child is starting kindergarten this year?
Ask them a lot of questions. Document their answers. Know their friends and their friend’s families. Get involved as much as you can, it will make the experience richer. Take all the photos. Get to know them again and again as they mature. Give a lot of grace and don’t sweat the small stuff. Advocate for your child but remember that teachers may have a more objective view of your child than you do. Be willing to accept constructive criticism and see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement for your child, not an indictment about your parenting. Put off giving them a phone as long as possible. I have a lot more, mostly attached to my regrets!
POLLY INTERVIEWS MAUREEN ABOUT HER KINDERGARTNER, TEAGAN
As Teagan starts Kindergarten what are you most excited about for her?
Meeting new friends and experiencing a wide range of people to interact with; also, the non-academic classes like P.E., music, art, etc. Those were my favorite in school and I can’t wait to see what she thinks.
What do you want most for Teagan during these elementary years?
To feel confident in her ability to try new things, and to realize that it can sometimes take a while to master a skill.
Do you have any traditions you’re starting for the first day of school? Going out for ice cream at the end of the day!
How do you anticipate starting school will change things for you or your family?
For one thing, a really tired kindergartener! Teagan took naps at daycare up until the day before school started – yikes! But mostly, I anticipate integrating into the elementary school community and all of its activities will be fun and exhausting.
Has Teagan said or done anything funny or things you find interesting about starting school or about her first school experiences?
Teagan got really excited that her daycare van got stuck in a “traffic jam” on the way to school one day. She said “I’ve always wanted to be in a traffic jam!” I wonder if she still feels that way after actually being in one!
Did you have any conversations with Teagan to prepare her for Kindergarten and what she might encounter?
We had many conversations with Teagan to prepare her for kindergarten. We focused on discussing the similarities and differences between kindergarten and her daycare experience.
Early in the summer, Teagan became upset about being separated from her best daycare friend, as they would be starting at different elementary schools. This presented an opportunity to discuss broader concepts like friendship dynamics and how they differ from family relationships.
These conversations were truly fascinating from a parental perspective. They challenged me to distill complex, abstract concepts into simple terms that Teagan could understand. I found these dialogues incredibly important, as they play a role in shaping her understanding of relationships and her overall development as a person.
