4 years old

My Princess has been 4 years old for almost a month now. Being 4 has changed things. She's more independent. She's more helpful. She's more loving. She's more interested in learning. She's more everything.

Being 4 has made her so grown up. She and I have snuggle time just about every day and it's my most favorite times of the day. She will lace her fingers through mine and we will just visit about whatever comes to her mind. We've talked about her favorite toys and about when she'll finally get to go to school. We talk about what she wants to do that day. We talk about girl stuff, like "paint polish" and curling hair and clothes.

Here in Georgia they have an all day Pre-K program for all of the 4 year old kids. Lots of people who I know, and even some I don't know, seem to think I'm crazy for keeping my sweet 4 year old home from Pre-K. But each day she snuggles with me and calls me her best friend, I am reminded why she's home with me and not at school. Pre-K is not just for a few days a week for a few hours, no it's all day from 8-2:30, just like kindergarten. And I am just not ready to make that kind of committment.

I didn't put my Buddy in any kind of schooling to help him get ready, we just did fun things at home. And he's not behind at school at all. He actually was paid a compliment by his teacher a couple of weeks ago. She was filling out some sort of form and asked me if my Buddy had gone to Pre-K. I said, "no, he's always just been at home with me"

"Ok. That's impressive. Most kids who stay at home usually cry when they come to school, not him, he's very well adjusted."

I thought that was just about the coolest thing she could have said. So for now I am sticking to my guns and keeping my Princess home because to me, it's much more important for her to be with her mom as long as she can, so she knows how much I love her. Plus, I can teach her all of the things she needs to know to get ready for school.

What about you, do you like the idea of an all day Pre-K program?

What is your favorite thing to do for your birthday?

--We thought about going to see Wicked, but I don't think the cards are going to line up for that. Maybe we'll just go to a movie and leave the kids with a babysitter. Would kind of be nice for it to just be the two of us!