September 20, 2012

Kindergarten Conundrum.

This is what she did immediately after walking through the door after school today.
DSC_0319
Cheese.
Veggies and dip.
Yogurt.
Fruit Roll Up.
Pop Tart.
She ate all of that before 4pm.

Then ate her dinner.
And wanted fruit after.
And gummies.
And anything else she could find in the cupboards.

She was starving.
You know why?
Because she doesn't eat at school.

I have never been one to panic about change.
I have never been a helicopter parent who hovers over my children at all times making sure they do what I want....what I think is right.
I have allowed them to learn independence.
I have sat back and let them learn from their mistakes.
 
This is different.
I am sad that my girl is not comfortable enough at school to ask for help if she needs it.
I am sad that lunchtime is so rushed that my slow eater might only get a few bites in before they are kicked outside for recess.
I am sad that this is going unnoticed....I think.

I just want to be a fly on the wall so I can see every single second, my shy, quiet little one is away from me.
I want to encourage her, praise her, hold her hand, tell her she is such a "big girl" and...well...make sure she is OK.

But then I would be hovering.
 
Tell me everything is going to be OK.
Tell me she will figure this school thing out and thrive.
Tell me it has happened to you and you were sad too.
Tell me that you sometimes eat Fruit Roll Ups like me.
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15 comments:

Gigi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gigi said...

She will be okay. I promise. And remember, she could be going through a growth spurt too - and you know how they eat when they are in the midst of one of those! She will figure it out and she will be fine.

Gigi said...

Sorry....I don't know what happened there.

Foursons said...

Email the teacher and let her know. I work in a lot of kinder classrooms and those teachers parent the kiddos first and teach them second. Meaning- they make sure their students are okay and thriving BEFORE putting on the "teacher" act.

Run DMT said...

Awwww bless. My youngest daughter has lunch issues too. It's not that she's afraid to ask for help, but rather she doesn't finish her lunch in the allotted time. In kindergarten and first, she would eat so slowly and be starving later. It effected her behavior. I spoke with her teachers to make sure she finished her lunch. She's in 2nd grade now and things are a little bit better, but I think she knows she has to finish now. Who knows?! Hope things get better for your daughter soon!

Menopausal New Mom said...

Oh dear. I think she is just trying to adjust to a more scheduled day when lunch is a specific time and not a leisurely activity like at home.

My little one is in Grade 1 this year and I can remember last year while she was in kindergarten, her lunch box would come home with only a few bites out of it. When I asked why, she would say "the teacher said Lunches away". She wasn't long figuring out less play and more eating at lunch time so she could finish on time.

Give your little one time. She is smart enough to figure this out too after a couple of days.

Cathy Kennedy said...

In time your daughter will catch on, but I like Denise's approach, she requested the teacher make sure her daughter finished her lunch. This may be an excellent tip to pass to your daughter's teacher because being hungry can affect the quality of how she learns. It's ok to hoover a little. =D

OLLIE MCKAY'S ~ A Chic Boutique said...

She will be fine! Making an issue out of it may make it worse! A little hovering is never a bad thing! May baby is getting married in three weeks and she turned out WONDERFUL!! :-) Happy Friday!

Cecily R said...

I'm with Foursons. Her teacher would want to know, and an email is an easy way to bring her attention to it without making a big deal of it.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Everything is going to be OK, she will figure this school thing out and thrive. How do I know? It has happened to me and I was sad too - and yes, I sometimes eat Fruit Roll Ups like you. :) Princess Nagger had the same issue when she first started school - she's a big time slow poke when it comes to eating - though her school makes sure the kids eat at least half of their lunch before they're allowed to head out to the playground - so that's a little different I think. But even now in 4th grade, she's still bringing 1/2 of her packed lunch home, and snacking on anything I'll let her snack on - but still eating her dinner - and snacking after dinner. It's partly due to a growth spurt, too - and extra activity with all that playing on the playground. ;) This too shall pass - and I like the idea of emailing or writing a note to her teacher - they may not notice that she's not eating as much as she probably should before going out to play. :) ((HUGZ!!))


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Jenners said...

It WILL work out … it might take time but eventually she will find her way. It is a big change and she will get there in her own sweet time. But I would check with the teachers about whether she is getting to eat!!

David and Cathi said...

Perhaps she just needs to acclimate to her new environment and schedule. I think she'll be okay but her teacher should be aware of the situation. ;)

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I think I said this on IG, but I would talk to her teacher, just to make sure that she's aware of the situation.

Have you asked your daughter why she's not eating? Maybe have her pick out her lunch from some options? Just ideas.

Unknown said...

I am with you I have never hovered (well maybe a little bit now that my tweens are getting older) LOL However, I do think it is important to let the teacher know because it can cause learning issues. My son is in Kindergarten this year and he is having a hard time adjusting. He keeps telling me he wants to go back to Preschool :( So I understand the conflicting feelings about not knowing what to do.

Anonymous said...

my last child was like your daughter in many ways. and he was such an easy kid at home and a fabulous eater of all kinds of unconventional food. he would bring feta and avocado wraps, stuff like that..the kids started saying. "ewee" then he only wanted to eat lunchables like everyone else, because he felt so different. i told him, yes, he was different. different than all those other kids. coming from a home with 2 parents who love you, having 7 other siblings, praying before you eat b/c you know God and know you are blessed etc etc. yes..you are different..he interpreted different as special and somehow once he internalized that and the kids knew he wasn't one bit bothered by their remarks, suddenly his lunches became interesting and exciting and he was so lucky to have all those kinds of things to eat. so, yes, it all worked out.
good luck!! and hang in there.