Saying Goodbye to Preschool

When Emma and Walker each were around 2 1/2 years old, we started taking them to a wonderful little preschool called MiniGente.  It means "little people".  And they were definately little!  If we had been in the states, I don't think I would have sent them that young since I did not have to work full-time.  But, we felt it was really important to have them in a spanish speaking environment at least a few days a week to learn the language and to be immersed into the Paraguayan culture.  We realized that with Emma, when she hit this age, she really was not able to play with Paraguayan kids her age because she could not speak the language very well. (We have always spoken english in our home)  We weren't sure how well she was going to adapt or if it was even the best solution for her, but we wanted to try.  Within just a few days, we knew it was the right thing to do.  She started feeling more comfortable when we were at church, she became less shy around spanish speakers, she started playing more with the kids in our condominium and she just seemed all around happier.  So, when Walker was at the same age, even though he seemed so young, we started taking him too.  We loved their little school from the beginning.  The owners were so attentive and helpful.  The teachers were so sweet and kind and loved on all of the kids every chance they got.  All of the teachers knew mine and Chris's names, they knew Emma, Walker and Olivia's names even though once Walker started, Emma stayed at home with me to homeschool.  They even knew our dog's name!  They always knew when it was someone in our family's birthday and even made cards or crafts for us.  Once when we went on furlough and Emma was still in school, they made her a going away card and then they helped her paint a card for each set of grandparents!  It was so neat to mine and Chris's parents to receive cards in spanish from their grandkids!The kids made new little Paraguayan friends and I got to know and love lots of Paraguayan moms.  The kids even learned lots of new spanish songs that I had never heard of.  The only problem was when they tried to ask me for help on remembering all of the words!  (because I had no clue!)

So, as we are preparing to leave the country, saying goodbye to their school and teachers, was pretty important.  Both Emma and Walker still call it their "school".  I took them by one day a few weeks ago and they got to play and say "goodbye" to many of the teachers.  I am going to take them back by once school actually starts and let them say "goobye" again while some of their friends are there and their specific classroom teachers are there too.  We felt very blessed to have a place that we felt comfortable sending them and knowing that they would be safe, well taken care of and loved.  As I look back on our time here in Paraguay, I am often amazed at the many blessings that we have received.

Walker playing on the sand playground with a giant dumptruck.  He could not have been happier!

Emma and Walker swinging in the outside walkway.  This is not the normal location of the swingset- they were cleaning and preparing the school for classes to start back-up so everything was out of the way so they could work.

Emma with the owners, Tania and Achi and the two main helpers.

Me, Walker and Emma with Tania and Achi.  Walker was not very cooperative in getting his picture made that day!

Emma and Walker out front with the sign.  This school holds lots of precious memories for the kids and our family.