The inevitable has begun, we have returned to another year of school. A week before school started we went to turn our paperwork in, and see who Madeline and Ella would have for teacher's this year.  Madeline made a hierarchal list of whom she wanted in terms of teachers (and hence, whom she didn't want) Ella was just excited to see friends.  Turns out Ella got Madeline's favorite teacher ever:  Mr. McClure, and to add insult to injury, Madeline got a brand new teacher, Ms. Knoll, who according to her ranked below all the known teachers simply because she was unknown. Madeline was certain this would mean terrible things for the coming year.  Tonight though, when we went to the back to school cookout, Madeline wanted to find two people, Ms. Knoll, and her friend Sarah.  Ryan asked her if that meant that she liked Mrs. Knoll, and Madeline looked at him like he was a dunce, "Well, yes dad, she does lots of really neat things you know".  Ella has been disappointed to discover that Mr. McKay is the strictest teacher she has had.  

It's pretty fun to see what these girls are thinking about.

Ella and Madeline 2nd and 4th graders

Max has been excited to start preschool.  A week into it, he nonchalantly told me that his teachers were so nice, he didn't think they would ever get mad at him.  Every day he walks into preschool with a huge smile on his face, and every day he leaves with a huge smile on his face.  Sam was asking so man¥ questions about who his teacher was, and where his school was that I decided to try and set up a play-date for him.  Luckily, he has recently become friends with Eric, they have been in each other's company since they were born, but have always just bristled around each other, until recently.   So, Sam has a place to call his own now as well.  When Max talks about going to play at Eric's house, Sam quickly let's him know that Eric's house is his domain alone.  

Max and Sam preschool and playmates

With the return to school, I have been focused on discipline again.  I talked Ryan into taking a love and logic class with me.  I like the idea of love and logic discipline because I think our ability to make choices, regardless of what happens around us is one of our greatest blessings.  Like money, I think kids need experience learning how agency works.  I think often of God when I am focusing on setting limits for the rules that we have, and then allowing the kids to make choices and following though with the consequences of breaking the limit.  I imagine this is something we'll be working a lot on as we start this school year.