The Younger Boys Go to School

Last year, Finian started going to preschool at the same school Cole went to back in Annandale. One month into the school year, Matt realized that commuting from our new house in Fairfax back to Annandale in the same direction everyone was headed in to work was very difficult. This year, we chose a preschool that was closer to home.

Enter Spring-Mar Preschool, located inside the local Unitarian church, a fantastic new co-op school that Finian now attends. Not only that, but they also have a once a week playgroup for the under 2 siblings. Matt volunteered to help organize it, so every week, on Fridays, all three of our boys are in school.

Not too long ago, the idea of all of our boys going to school seemed to be so far off in the distant future as to be completely unthinkable. Yet, here we are! It's been a complete success for both of our boys, as well.

Last year, Finn's natural shyness, inherited from his father and, probably, inadvertently nurtured by dear old dad as well, made dropping off a long process of negotiation and tantruming. But this new school has so inspired Finn that he barely pauses to say goodbye anymore! He's so excited everyday to learn and play more and more.

We were worried at first about him not being able to handle the class. He was placed in the "Young Fours" class and happens to be the youngest in the class. Any fears were put aside after seeing him in class following along with everyone else, abiding by all the rules and taking advantage of every opportunity! Not only that, but we now love to listen to him relay all the things he's learning in class. "Daddy, do you know what echolocation is?"

Meanwhile, everyday we take Finn to class, Wes attempts to go to his classroom, too, even though the playgroup only meets on Fridays! When we take him to the car instead, he is more upset than he would be if we had taken away his dinner. During group, it's a lot of fun to watch him learn how to play with other toddlers. He seems to have made friends, although it is funny to watch him try to play with them like his brothers play with him. He's been known to take toys from other children and attempt to pick up and carry the smaller ones.

All in all, we are so very glad we switched schools and can't wait to spend the next several years watching our kids play here!