Cruise started 3rd grade last week into a new class with a different teacher, Mr. Middleton. I had thought he was going back into Mr. Harris's class this year, but I found out he was changing a week before, which threw me for a loop and sent me into major anxiety mode. But after talking with the Speech Therapist, Kristen, who I have a pretty good relationship with, I felt a lot better. She seemed to think he would do really well in Mr. Middleton's class and that he was ready for a more mature setting.
The day before school started, we went to Back-to-School Night and met Mr. Middleton and Jett's new teacher, Mrs. Tipton. I walked into Mr. Middleton's room, which is a lot bigger than Harris's, and was a little disappointed at the lack of posters, decoration, and color. But after thinking about it for a few minutes, I realized that it is because these kids get so distracted and many can get visually over-stimulated (like Cruise). I then met Mr. Middleton, who seems to be more of a "let's get down to business" kind of guy. Not like the nurturing feeling you get from talking to Harris. So that's a change. However, I noticed about six Apple desktop computers in the room. Apparently they use a lot of technology in the class to aid in their academic learning. Middleton explained to me that he teaches the same thing in multiple ways so that everyone will learn the concepts. I thought that was pretty cool.
Anyway, Cruise's first day arrived and he was so excited! I had printed out his To-Do chart to help him focus on what he needed to do in the morning before school. He puts a sticker next to the item he finishes and then reads what is next. For breakfast I made the boys waffles, eggs, and orange juice. Cruise put on his regular green attire, his brand new shoes, and his new Pokemon backpack with a Pokemon lunchbox inside. I had spent a couple days teaching him how to tie his laces and so he tried them on his own this day and did it! I was so proud of him. He brushed his teeth, combed his own hair, and was ready to start the 3rd grade!
I drove him to school and walked him to his classroom where he immediately bolted for the door instead of letting me hug him goodbye. He was just too excited! When I picked him up from school, he was super happy and already had earned a prize! When he got home, he wrote in his new journal the Condies gave him for his birthday:
The first week of school went really really well and came home each day happy and content.
On Saturday, Cruise had his very first guitar lesson! I asked the boys a couple months ago what instrument they'd like to learn, hoping they'd pick something in my price range (pretty much just the drums). To my surprise, Jett said violin (he starts next month) and Cruise said guitar. Luckily I was able to find teachers for both! My parents offered to pay for lessons and instruments, which is a huge relief since I didn't know how I was going to fit that in the budget. My dad ordered Cruise's guitar and case and had it sent to us, and we are going violin shopping this week for Jett.
Right before it was time to take Cruise to his lesson on Saturday, he started complaining and throwing a fit, saying that he didn't want to take lessons, he just wanted to play! I told him it was important to take lessons so he knew how to read music and to know how everything works. He still said he didn't want to go to lessons. So I said, "How about you go to the lesson today and if you don't want to do it anymore, I won't make you." He agreed to that.
I drove him to his lesson with Heidi who lives close to Cruise's school. Before we got out of the car, I told him what Heidi was going to show him and that I expected him to be nice, to not throw a fit, and to listen to his teacher. "Okay Mom."
She began by telling him what everything was on the guitar, the names of the strings and frets, and how to tune. They got right into his book where he played Rain, Rain, Go Away and Hot Cross Buns. He had to learn how hard to push down on the fret to make the sound he wanted. He also liked playing with a pick, so I'll have to get some of those. By the end of the lesson, he asked if he could play the songs again! He exceeded my expectations in both behavior and performance. I was so proud of him! The whole lesson he didn't let frustration get the best of him and he actually seemed to be calm and focused. He'd play the song, look up at Heidi and quietly ask, "Like that?" Of course, when she asked if he had any questions, he's start going off on Pokemon and inventions. So from there, she would ask, "Do you have any questions about guitar?" Ha ha!
As we were leaving, Cruise told Heidi, "Before I came here I didn't want to come because I thought it was going to be long! But it went by fast! I really like guitar. I will keep coming back." Success!
