faith and family | march 2018

Planting the Seeds
 
Lately, I have recognized my I need to slow down. I am often racing my children to school, sports lessons, church, play dates, planning committees, grocery shopping, birthday parties, doctors appointments, and everything else we have on the calendar.
 
In addition to the physical rushing, I sometimes find myself mentally hurrying my children to the next stage of their lives as well. I must admit I often think that “if we could get through ______ (a particular behavioral stage, or a developmental accomplishment, or a more independent place), then things would be so much easier.” For example, if my almost two-year-old could communicate better, he would have less meltdowns, or if my almost four-year-old could just understand and implement the concepts of listening and sharing with his little brother, life would be a breeze in our household. However, I am (slowly) learning that it is a journey to get there, and there is beauty in the process.
 
Our Heavenly Father tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build.”

During challenging stages, while I am tempted to hurry to get to the next phase, reading this verse in Ecclesiastes reminds me personally that this season is “a time to plant.” We are planting seeds in our children now, and we may not see the fruits of those seeds for a while. The process may be longer than we'd like, and it may require more patience than we think we can muster up. However, in this season, God has things He wants to teach us. He has things He wants us to share with others. And later, when we see the harvest that comes from the seeds we are planting now, the fruit will be all the sweeter.

summer fun 2019

Who: Weekday School students in our 2 Day Class (Madigan & Rossi), 3 Day Class and 4 Day Class.  

Hours:  9:00 - 2:00 pm each day

Dates:  Session 1 - Monday, June 3 - Thursday, June 6

            Session 2 - Monday, June 10 - Thursday, June 13

Cost: $200.00 per student per session

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• Who can attend camp? Currently enrolled 2 Day (Madigan, and Rossi) 3 Day and 4 Day students. Due to limited space, 2plus students are not eligible to attend camp.

• What will my child do at camp? Arts & Crafts, Indoor and Outdoor Play, Movement, Music, Snack, & Story Time. On the final day of camp each week there will be a jumbo bounce house/slide.

• Which class will my child be in? Children are placed with other students from their class and age group, and teachers/assistants from that age group.

• Do I need to send a lunch? Yes, you provide your student’s lunch for the first 3 days of camp. On the final day of camp, WDS will provide a pizza lunch.

• How do I drop off and pick up? The carpool line will open at 8:50 daily and pick up will begin at 1:50 daily. Early care and extended day programs are not available during camp.

what great parents do | february 2018

Great Parents Apologize

In a household with young children, there are likely to be insults, injuries, accidents, shouts and mistakes. Kids are spirited, energetic, self-centered and impulsive. As adults, we may like to think we are immune to such behavior, but it’s just not true. After a long day at work or a busy day tending the kids and running a household, we can easily say things we might regret. When a child doesn’t  follow directions or forgets the family rules for the 3rd time in 5 minutes, it can be terribly frustrating for any parent. It is for these moments and the reactions that follow; that apologies are made. 

And yet…

Adults apologizing to children can feel uncomfortable or wrong somehow. Maybe like admitting a weakness when we’re supposed to be the authority figures.

Consider this:
What if admitting when we’ve lost our cool doesn’t make us weak but instead teaches our children what to do when they make mistakes? Dr. Kate Roberts of Savvy Parenting writes, “When parents apologize they are instilling a value system and a belief that it’s okay to be human and therefore imperfect. They are role modeling accountability. They are demonstrating that taking action to accept responsibility after a mistake is more important than the mistake itself.”

In my home, a sincere apology and a gentle high five or hug go a loooong way to improving the mood of our whole household. Ephesians 4:22 reminds us to forgive, just as God has forgiven us.  In the same way that God bestows his grace upon us; freely and completely, we must strive to model both repentance and forgiveness for our kids. Shouting a grumpy “sorry” while running from the room after injuring a sibling is not the type of apology we want for our kids. In the same way, if we yell or speak in a manner we regret, we must stop what we’re doing, get down to eye level and really apologize to our children. 

Great parents are not perfect parents. Great parents admit their mistakes and apologize. Children learn to apologize by watching their parents say “I’m sorry.”

Jennifer Jacoby, WDS Mom and Assistant Teacher

try this at home | february 2018

We all know what lint is. But what about Lent? And how do you do Lent with preschoolers. Check out these tips.

Check out this fantastic summary with lots of tips: Everything You Need Know About Lent and Easter

Create a prayer space at home. Preschoolers love something they can put their hands on. Here’s an idea for making a Lent-themed prayer space (use a battery operated candle!) that is simple and sweet: Lenten Prayer Space

Make pretzels (or enjoy store bought ones!) to focus on prayer. Did you know there is a legend about pretzels and prayer? This simple snack can remind you to fold your arms and pray. Learn more here: Pretzels and Prayer Activity

Give away some unused/extra toys. This is one of the simplest ways to show a small child about giving. Preschoolers have little understanding of monetary value. They do, however, understand the value of a favorite toy. Find a local shelter or crisis pregnancy center that you can physically hand over your "once loved now ready for a new home" items to.
 

from the director | february 2018

2018 is off to a fantastic start at Weekday. We welcomed our 2 Plus class to campus in January. They seem to be loving preschool!

Our 2 Day classes enjoyed learning about safari animals and WINTER WEATHER (the weather even cooperated this year).

3 Day classes  walked to the fire station, learned about mounted patrol police officers, and met the Tooth Fairy to learn how to get the sugar bugs off their teeth. Their “Community Helpers” unit it always a hit.

“Dinosaurs” and “Space” have captivated out 4 Day children. They curated their own shape museums and spent a fun morning together exploring the Science Center.

This year, Valentine’s Day is also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is the season of preparation (40 days) leading up to Easter. It’s traditionally a time of prayer, repentance, fasting, and giving. It should come as no surprise that there is not a section at Target or Party City devoted to Lent. It’s not a flashy holiday with lots of commercial opportunities. So we must be intentional here. We must take responsibility for preparing for Easter with Lenten spiritual practices. Read here if you wonder: Why Lent Still Matters.

First Presbyterian Church offers an Ash Wednesday service that is suitable for the whole family. You can find those details here. There is also a free devotional for Lent that you can subscribe to receive in your inbox. For some ideas for your preschoolers, check out our suggestions in the “Try this at Home” section of our newsletter. 

As we move together from winter to spring, from Lent to Easter, from Valentine’s Day to Spring Break, please know that we pray for you and your children each morning as a staff.  We delight in the opportunity to grow in God’s love together.

Happy February,