So, parenting experts, how do you handle this situation?

Jodi&Joe

Cam did not want to go to school this morning.  Had to fight to get her dressed, fight to get her shoes on (which she took off about 10 times) fight to get her coat on, fight to get her in the car, fight to bring her in WITHOUT her milk.

It was hellish.

She didn't want to go.  I told her she had to.  What is the explanation there?  Technically, it's preschool.  She doesn't *really* have to go.  And to get in to the whole "Well dear, I'm trying to prepare you for when you really DO have to go, etc etc etc" which, IMO, would be over her head, I just tell her "you have to go to school.  Period!"

MommyofAlissa

Just because it's preschool doesn't mean she doesn't have to go. You are the parent and have made the decision that she is going, so she's going. End of story.

On an unrelated note, have you ordered your dvd? How freaking awesome would it be to get one of the keys?!?

amiamish

When DS has those days I tell him, "you have to go to school because Mommy has to go to work." and that's the end of it. I'll repeat it as much as I need to, but there's no other option.

JOEBunny

I just tell DD that it is her job, just like daddy has a job and mommy has a job, preschool is her job.  She always loves it after she gets there.

Jodi&Joe

YES - ordered the DVD yesterday.  And YES I would love one of the keys.

I have to call today and confirm my  order went through -- and only once (I hit submit twice thinking it didn't go through).  I don't see any pending charges on my debit. But I called them yesterday and they said they had my order, and only once.

buffalo_buckeye

We have been there. Usually when ds wants to stay home and play with something. I try to remind him how much he likes school and he will argue with me. I have driven him crying all the way into the classroom. The teachers tell me he is fine 2 minutes after I leave and usually had a great day. I mostly make him go because I don't really want to send the message that school is an option. And 2. Because I don't want him thinking he can just say he doesn't want to do something important that I told him he needs to do. I guess this is something I won't give in on.

joseysbride

We have those days, too.  I don't blame her because some days I wish I could have a little more relax time in my pj's in the morning, too.  In my case, she has to go because I have to go to work. 

I usually just try to focus on the positive and give her a little more control over getting ready that I usually do.  I'll let her pick out what she wants to wear to make it more fun for her, and I'll remind her of all the things she likes about school...seeing her friends, learning (fill in the blank), etc.

Sometimes I'll even let her pick out something from home to take with her to show her friends, even if it's just a book to share at storytime.  Her teacher is more than accepting of this, so that's nice.

femmegem

We do a lot of helping DS anticipate the fun things they'll do at school that day. We have him guess what activities the teachers will have out, etc. to try to get him excited.

If that fails, we have little yogurt drinks that he loves (they're literally like 1-2 ounces of liquid) and he gets one of those every day on his way to school, so that usually helps get him ready and into the car.

And if all else fails, I tell him he has to go because we have to work, that sometimes we don't get to do what we want to do, and I carry him out to the car like a sack of grain.

Jodi&Joe

HILARIOUS!  "And if all else fails, I tell him he has to go because we have to work, that sometimes we don't get to do what we want to do, and I carry him out to the car like a sack of grain. "

We call that "carrying like a log" in our house -- due to Joe being the tree guy and all.  I'm very familiar with that carry! 

mauceddie

I tell her that Mommy has to go to work, and that it's against the law for her to stay home alone. That we all have things we don't want to do sometimes Iike mommy going to work), but we do them anyway.

Frankly, I dont' think kids need to know all of our reasoning. We are the boss and they follow our instruction.

ETA: and yes, she ends up going kicking and screaming some times.

hopefulmom

Usually not a problem at our house...he loves preschool.  I just remind him of his friends and his teachers (saying their names helps) and some of the things I know they do.  He usually will get out of a "bad" mood fairly quickly.  I try to redirect a LOT.

Rebekah1021

I usually tell her that she has to go because we already paid for it and it's her job to go.

Glendi2.0

Did you ask her why she didn't want to go? Esp. if that's not typical of her, I'd have asked... sometimes Amelia pulls that and when I ask why, it's always something easy to solve like, "because I want to wear my princess outfit" or something... I just tell her she can wear it when she comes home and she's usually fine.

cbidt*sgirl

i do a lot of what is already mentioned so i won't bother repeating. 

 

in addition i try to get him thinking beyond school and say "well, today is a schoolday but on Saturday we are going to the children's museum" (or whatever else).  usually that stops the whining and once i get him off that track he's happy to go along with getting ready and going to school.  

 my ds loves school, but is at a stage where he never wants to do what is on the sched.  so if it is a school day he tells me no, if it is a home day he doesn't want to stay home etc...