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I am going to say something and people will either have an opinion or not have an opinion, and the reality is, I don't really care.
My four year old does not go to preschool.
At all.
Yet.
Why?
No real reason, actually.
Life. Time. It keeps slipping my mind. It entered my mind a few times over the summer, must go look around at preschools but then it would get pulled back into the waves of the ocean. I'd written it down on several hundred million to do lists call preschools for A but then I couldn't read my to do lists through the blur of laughter in the haze of summer, and those to do lists turned into middle school supply lists, and on some days I simply cannot imagine leaving my third and last child anywhere because, truth be told, lately Life just seems so short and fragile. And fast.
I have digressed, because this is not really about not going to preschool.
It's about staying home.
With me.
Where I work in a makeshift invisible office to the sounds of Team Umizoomi. Where I keep topping off the same cold cup of coffee I carried downstairs from the end table next to my bed too many hours ago. Where, after 9 am, the house grows almost eerily devoid all things big brother and sister and where, invariably, Aidan will at some point ask me once or a hundred times when they will be back?
Which is what made this a perfect time to receive a green box full of awesome stuff in the mail.
Aidan absolutely loves art and has always been super creative in the "arts and crafts" department. There is not a single day that goes by that he doesn't at the very least draw. Not a single. day. The playroom wall is wallpapered with artwork. So, when I found out that I would be getting a Kiwi Crate to check out, I kept it a secret because I knew it would coincide with the beginning of the school year and it was just a great way to show him that yes, yes even though he got stuck being my third and final child who gets and does nothing and even though his brother and sister suck up all the remaining minutes of my days and even though I sit and type shit and make too many phone calls and not enough cookies, yes, even though there is all of that, there is also awesomeness in a box. It was a great way to show him that I don't completely suck at parenting my third child.
Each Kiwi Crate has a theme, and comes with two complete quality projects, delivered to your door monthly. So, I didn't even have to put real pants on. And I have to say, this, my friends, may just have to get filed under the Rock Star files.
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| image copyright 2012 Amommaly |
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| image copyright 2012 Amommaly |
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| image copyright 2012 Amommaly |
We loved the "magic sponges" that came with our kit. They were flat, and "grew" in water, and I am telling you, BIG HIT over here. ( I am starting to think my kids don't get out much)
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| image copyright 2012 Amommaly |
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| image copyright 2012 Amommaly |
Visit Kiwi Crate and check out some sample crates. Each themed crate is delivered right to your door monthly. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
Kiwi Crate has lots of options for gift subscriptions , too. (*hint hint*) Kidding. Just thought I'd mention it, since, you know, the holidays and all.
While I did receive a complimentary Kiwi Crate for review, I was in no way compensated for my opinions. All of the opinions expressed here are my own, as always, and forever. Please note that some links on Amommaly may be affiliate links, which simply means I get a few pennies, but only so that I can keep my sweatpants on. That, and keep writing. For always and forever.*
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OMG, I just wrote a whole comment out and then went off the page. I am so annoyed at myself. Basically, it said that Danielle and Sami don't go to preschool either. I never got around to researching ones that we could afford. Twins = expensive. Kayla went and thrived. The littles are at home with my husband and he teaches them and does "school" 3 days a week for 2.5 hours - letters & numbers, crafts, "science", reading stories, etc. They love it. I feel bad about not enrolling them, and I worry that kindergarten is going to be ROUGH on them because they never went to daycare or preschool and it's whole day kindergarten here. Bus pickup and all. So, we'll see how traumatized they are next September. But for now, this works for us and makes sense.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've been drooling over the kiwi crates for awhile now. I totally am going to ask my family to get those for Christmas for D & S. I never thought to ask for that before. The crates are awesome.
Some days, I feel like I am really messing up with the whole Non Preschool Thing.
DeleteOther days, I don't even think about it. My Life is so different now...my first son went, and thrived. He needed to go though, because he needed to interact with other kids. I was "young" ( 22 ) when I had him and none of my other friends had really had kids yet. With my daughter, she was "in and out"..never went full time because I had home care for her when she was a baby, when I worked out of the house, etc.
But now? I don't know...it is hard to explain. Aidan is seriously so "well adjusted" ( we'll see, right? Famous last words: Kindergarten will probably traumatize him, yes)...he has a bunch of friends, lots right here in the neighborhood, and some are even exactly his age. I have this twisted notion that he will be totally fine getting on that K-bus in September.
I am signing him up to play t-ball, though, in the spring. So, you know, go me, right? LOL.
The crates ARE awesome, especially for the price, it really is so reasonable. And the stuff is QUALITY materials. For realz.
ps. They better order 'dem crates for 'dis here super awesome website. Or ELSE.
kidding.
maybe.
tee hee.
I am in rare form today. I just woke up. It's 11 am. My four year old slept until 11 am.
Trained him well. :-)
I wish my kids would sleep in. They wake by 7 no matter what time they go to bed. It sucks. I wouldn't worry so much about Aidan - he has friends, older siblings - he'll be fine. I don't really think it's necessary. Kids learn what they need to and I kind of like the idea of them not being in school so early. there is so much pressure on kids. As long as they are socialized elsewhere, I think that covers it.
ReplyDeleteAh, and I'll totally give the fam your link to order via you - need to keep the sweats on :)
My oldest used to be like that...it never mattered what time I put him to bed, he would wake between 6-7 every morning. Now? Ha! Now he has hormones raging through his brain that make him a roller coaster AND a sleepyhead. Plus, it's football season for him and he is playing on two teams (long story), practice 3 nights week and a weekend choc full of games between his two, the one my daughter cheers at, and the one I coach ( cheer )..Yeah...you counted right. That's 3 football practices, 3 cheer practices, 4 games...it's really a wonder I have posted anything at all in the past 3 months. I mean, if you can call it posting, it is so scarce.
DeleteEats me up inside, really.
I just think I want to write write write.
And thanks! I love my sweats. In particular, my VS Pink sweats, those are the only ones I wear. Why? Two reasons: I believe ( ha!) that because they say "pink" scrawled down the leg or across my ass that they are acceptable to wear out in public. Also, the day I give them up is the day I admit I am older than dirt. I am going to be that lady that people look at and say "Isn't she a little OLD to wear that? Isn't she a little OLD to have long hair? That bitch needs a good haircut and some Hanes Sweats."
I've been hearing such great things about Kiwi crates and my boys LOVE doing arts and crafts. While I do too, I would rather not deal with the clean-up. haha. I too wouldn't worry about your son not being in preschool. There's so much undue pressure around school, etc. And thank you. Now I have the Team Umizoomi song stuck in my head.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the late reply!
DeleteYes! Kiwi Crate is pretty fantastic! Thhey actually 'rate' the ' mess factor' of each project. Inm my crate, they included one 'messier' project amd one 'almost no mess at all'....guess which one we did first? Hahaha.
And thanks so much for your thoughts on prechool...it seems lately people scoff, or are almost speechless...as if they had noyhing better to do than to worry about my kid.
Thanks!
Disclaimer: writing this on my iPad. I can SEE the typos, however,everything is acting weird and I cannot tap the cursor in place correcty to fix them!
Hi Kim! Finally got around to visiting your site and read this review of Kiwi Crate (I'm on IG, btw :P). I'd love to have these around the house on weekends for something to do. Other moms might have crafty stuff around the house, waiting to be turned into masterpieces, but I'm not that mom. Maybe I could buy these supplies cheaper at a craft store, but I'm too lazy. I love just having it all packaged up and delivered (LOL on your multiple references to staying in your sweats!). My original question on IG is how appropriate you thought these crates were for a 2 YO that doesn't craft at home, like ever. I guess I could give it a try and see what happens. Worse comes to worse, I could complete the crafts myself ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! So sorry for such a delayed response to your comment here! I have been scurrying around getting ready for this hurricane...ugh. Are you affected by the storm where you are? If so, hope you stay safe!!
DeleteAs for Kiwi Crate...I don't want to give you the wrong advice...I only received these projects to review, and I definitely think that a two year old who never crafts, like ever (:-)) could do them fairly independently, especially the sponge painting, which was super cute. I loved that it came with really great "background" papers, which make hanging them for display more enticing. The firefly craft had a few details that may need assistance, however, to be honest, they could be avoided altogether. lol. But the colors on the firefly are actually these super cool, almost translucent, kind of plastic-y colored square stickers! I am pretty sure if you set him up, laid it all out in front of him, and told him what to do that he would do it. BUT I am not sure where you stand with small parts, as in, does your kid like to eat stuff that isn't actually for eating? I know kids are different that way, with my kids I have one that I could never have small stuff around, and the other two would never even have considered putting random shit in their mouth. Although, my four year old once stuck a marble up his nose. Weird.
Anyhow, sorry to digress...
Bottom line? I can tell you that Kiwi Crate is good, quality supplies and creative ideas,with clear directions and lots of little extras I didn't mention in my review, like these flash cards with pictures and facts of different kinds of bugs,as well as info for more online resources. I'd say, maybe order at least one crate, or maybe 3 months worth, see how you like it, and take it from there? Maybe?
Either way, let me know what you decide, and how it all turns out!!!
Thank you so much for swinging over here, too, by the way! I appreciate it very much!
Sorry for the novella of a comment...
Hi Kim, I appreciate the response!!! And love the interaction. I think I'm going to mull-over this subscription idea. It would suck to pay out $20/month and have craft stuff all over the house and still have a bored 2-yr old!
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