Relief.

This past week has felt like an eternity and yet it also seemed to have gone by fast. It was a stressful and anxious week but at the end of it all.. everything turned out better than we ever hoped for! Since the beginning of Grade 1, Carter has had a rough go. Its really unfortunate because he LOVED kindergarten and really had no issues. Grade 1 has been a nightmare to say the least. Well, up until this past week.

Since September, Carter has been faking sick and not wanting to go to school. He's come home saying he isn't smart enough for grade one. Saying that his teacher embarrasses him, picks on him, is mean to him.. the list goes on and on. We had met with his teacher multiples time and had constant communication via email. We had talked with the principal as well and nothing was fixing the problem. I hate to say this.. and truly, I am not a drama queen.. but his grade 1 teacher stinks and should not be teaching such young kids (just my own opinion). Enough was enough. We tried EVERYTHING. Literally EVERYTHING. Carter was starting to show signs of childhood anxiety.. saying he wasn't safe at school.. so much crazy stuff coming from the young mouth of a 6 year old. So, we did what any parents might do.. we advocated for our son and pulled Carter from the school. This final choice was Carter's. He told me straight out that he would rather go to a new school than go back into Mr. M's class ever again.

We heard him loud and clear and on Monday Carter started at a new school. So many tears were shed at night. I prayed so much. Like.. SOOOO much. Begging Heavenly Father to PLEASE make this a positive change for Carter. I wanted him to feel safe and loved and excel.

Well.. one week into his new school and he LOVES it! Best decision we ever made! His new teacher is an ANGEL! She is so kind and loving and FUN! I no longer feel sad dropping off Carter to school. He is a whole new kid! He is so excited to tell me all about his day. About the funny stories his teacher reads them. The bake sale, the field trip, the home reading.. his sticker chart and even playing with play doh in the mornings while she does attendance. He LOVES her, and so, so do I! He used to come home everyday SUPER cranky. He would fake sick every morning. Say that he does not like school.. on and on. Now, he is excited to go.. to do his home reading, to tell me about it all. He has made so many friends and really its giving him a whole new light on what grade 1 is supposed to be like!

As for me and Brian.. we are SO relieved. We feel such peace when we think of Carter in school now. We trust his teacher. She told us that Carter has just fit right in. She said he's smart and lovely and that they're all so excited to have him in their class (I heard more positive things from her in the first few days than I did from Mr. M the entire first 5 months of grade 1) She sends home their crafts and tells us all about there projects. She is so good at communicating and loving the kids in her class. I cannot be more relieved than I am now.

Everything worked out beautifully and we are starting to get our happy, smart and confident little boy back!



As for the other two little crazies of mine. Penny and Bentley have been totally accident-prone lately. Bentley got a big shiner from his littler (but bigger in size) cousin, Porter.



And Penny walked right into the table...



At least while Carter is at school, the have each other. Lately, they've been super cute together. Bentley will tell her he needs a little cuddle or love from her and she gets right into the Motherly side of her... wrapping him up, cuddling him, letting him lie down on her lap while she rubs his head and today, she shared her blanket and rubbed his back for him.



Of course, he soaked it all up.. I mean, who wouldn't?!

We are all so looking forward to next week. I no longer dread sending Carter to school and so I feel like I can accomplish so much more now during the day. Honestly, what a relief for all of us.

We are so excited for Valentines next week! Bring on the L.O.V.E!