Where did you learn that?

I can't say enough good things about the preschool Payton and Owen attend.  Over the past three years, it has been tough to fight the internal battle of wanting to continue my career as a pediatric nurse and wanting to stay home with my children.  Had Payton never entered preschool, my decision wouldn't be as difficult.  At this point, I feel like I could indeed quit my job and stay home with the kids - I probably wouldn't LOVE every second...and, I'm sure I would be pulling my hair out some days....but, I would love to stay home and do more arts and crafts, cook with my kids, sing and act silly, hit the local libraries, spend more time at the pool, the beach, the park, the aquarium, enjoy teaching my kids things about nature.....etc., etc., etc.  The only problem now is that Payton thrives in his preschool.  THRIVES!  He loves going to school.  He loves his teachers.  He loves his friends.  We love his teachers. LOVE!  I would have never imagined a school and two teachers could have such an impact on a little 3 year old.  Owen's teachers are great too...don't get me wrong, they provide excellent care and I feel 100% comfortable leaving him in their care each day.  But, right now, I'm just overwhelmed by all that Payton's teachers provide for him.  It isn't just about teaching or having fun - they are planting seeds in him that will help mold him into the person he will one day become.

Sure, he's learned his numbers, his letters, his colors - the kid knows more words that I could ever count.  He has learned songs, rhymes, days of the week, months of the year.  They have learned about seasons, oceans, plants, animals.  He eats with good manners, he uses utensils properly, drinks out of a big boy cup, clears his place when finished, uses manners, sits quietly when asked, uses the potty like a big boy, etc.  All the typical stuff that three year olds learn about.  The two things that make me so proud are things that I feel they have gone above and beyond to teach my son.  

First, they say a prayer.  This has been going on all school year - and, I could not be happier.  One day, Payton sang a prayer that we had never heard....he learned it at school.  Tears!  So, so proud.  He knows to say his prayers before every meal - yes, we teach him that at home, but they have also emphasized this at school and I am forever grateful!

Secondly, they have learned about and celebrated holidays.  The most recent holiday, Memorial Day was a big deal.  One of Payton's teachers has a very personal reason to celebrate Memorial Day - we all do, don't we?  But, I know that it is an extra special holiday for her.  Maybe that has nothing to do with all they learned over the past two weeks...but, if it does, I hope she knows she is doing her part to make a small group of 3 year olds as patriotic as possible!

For their Memorial Day celebrations, they started by making red, white and blue tie-dyed shirts.  They all wore them on the same day and decorated their bikes with flags and had a little parade.  On top of that, they started learning a few new things.  First, one night at dinner, Payton started singing...."I'm proud to be an American....."  My FAVORITE song!  Where did you learn that? "Miss R taught me at school today."  Do all of your friends know it?  "Yes."  My heart skipped a beat.  Had I been home with him, would I have thought to teach him that song....I doubt it, I really do.  But, his teachers took the time to teach him and it has made such an impression on me.  

A few days later we heard...."I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America....."  Really?  Again, Payton, Where did you learn that?  "Miss R taught me at school."  Do all of your friends know it?  "Yes, we say it every morning."  Really?  Awesome!  My heart skips a beat as he finishes up with "one Nation, under God."  He often stands at full attention when he says it as well.

For Memorial Day, we hung our American flag out on our porch.  He immediately saluted the flag and said the Pledge of Allegiance.  I'm embarrassed to admit (for myself and for my country), I don't know the last time I had heard the Pledge of Allegiance otherwise.  So, again, I ask, would I have taught this to him at home?  Probably not.  Again, I am comforted to know that while I'm at work, he is learning such wonderful things.  

Finally, the most powerful thing is not something that he learned to recite but instead something he truly learned - and carried with him for a few days - and was able to tell us about it at home.  We had a big cookout for Memorial Day on Sunday afternoon and Chad and I both had the day off on Monday.  While we were spending our day together on Monday, I asked Payton if he knew why we were home from work.  He didn't, so I explained it was Memorial Day.  I asked him if he knew why we celebrated Memorial Day (I was expecting him to say no, and I was going to use that as a teaching opportunity).  He promptly answered that we celebrate "for the soldiers who fight for our freedom."  Big tears filled my eyes!  How innocent and how sweet he is - but, he has already learned this.  While the impact of war - past and present - doesn't seem to impact my life right now and is seemingly a world away, only witnessed via facebook or on the evening news - I am grateful for all those who past and present who fight for our freedom.  All of my grandfathers were in the military and I tried to explain this to Payton - he remembered seeing a picture of Papaw Joe in his army suit.  Although it should be more present in my mind (and, thanks to my 3 year old, it is now), war, freedom and patriotism are not the things I think to teach my kids about at home.  Thank you Miss R (and Miss S) for devoting your time to teaching Payton so many WONDERFUL things.  Each time I hear the Pledge of Allegiance, hear Lee Greenwood's song, or celebrate Memorial Day in the future, I will think of you!  You are both amazing teachers and I appreciate all you do!  Thank you for making Payton so happy every day - you are the only reason I feel comfortable working full time and sending him to school....you couldn't be doing any better!

We took a video of his saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing God Bless the USA.  They aren't the best quality - and, I'm pretty sure they can also double as proof that he will one day be diagnosed with ADHD - but, I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!  I hope his innocence and excitement will remind you to thank a soldier - today and everyday for the freedom we have today!