Kindergarten

Paradise Education Center, Surprise, AZ.

My little boy is all grown up! With two days down of Kindergarten, I am still in shock that this is all happening. Am I ready for such a commitment to school? Just the thought of becoming a chauffeur is a bit daunting. That crazy parking lot had better calm down, b/c it's bad enough unloading with two kids in 115 degree heat, before adding a 15 min wait in line to even park!

We got Wes all dressed up in his uniform and headed out to school as a family. Because we had been in Cali the previous week, I missed out on the "meet the teacher" night. Not only did I not know what time school started, I didn't know who the teacher was, where her classroom was, or where to park! Boy did I feel incompetent. I also hadn't made bread that week, so my boy had to eat a protein bar for his lunch. Only for my first child in school would I take a picture of his lunch box. I am so silly!

Eventually we wandered to the right building and found the classroom. It was very chaotic with parents snapping pictures, backpacks being thrown around and announcements being made above the chatter. I was hoping in my heart for some grand "ceremony" to enter kindergarten. Perhaps the teacher would read us all a story and let us have a tearful good-bye, or a moment of silence so we could take one last picture of our baby entering the big kid world. NOPE. NADA.

We entered the madness alongside everyone else and did our best to figure out what to do. We found Wesley's desk, marked his attendance, found the lunchbox basket, and I figured the lady up front was most likely the teacher. We had been prepping Wesley for this day and he was excited. He has been to two years of preschool, and goes to Sunday School every week. So, this wouldn't be too big of a challenge...or so we thought.

There were so many little kids crying, that by the time it was our turn to leave, Wesley's little lip started to quiver, he quickly put up his hand over his face and started to cry! Break your heart! I wanted to cry along with him! Jared, being the great papa he is, sat down with him and talked with him about how it was O.K. to cry, how he also cried when he first went to school, and how he will do great b/c he has been to preschool before, etc. Wesley calmed down, we gave him a kiss, and off we went.

My baby is all grown up now. There is no going back. Here come the next 13+ years of education with no stops. Because I am a teacher, I have always enjoyed the first day of school. There is such an excitement in the air as new students enter in with their new shoes, new backpacks, new attitudes and new smiles. The expectations as a teacher are to create the rules together, gain respect for one another, and establish a safe environment for learning. Now that I am a parent of a student, I have a whole new perspective on the school years. Now I am worried about his lunch, getting to school on time, homework, grades, friends and uniforms! I think I would be much more understanding of a new student and a concerned parent, now that I am one myself.

It is now out of my hands. All I can do is hope that what we have been doing in our home will make up for any shortfalls that come at school. There will be many people along the way to mold my boy into a man, and although it is a bit scary to think about it, I just need to be strong.

Today after school, Wesley asked me why school was so much longer than his previous school (which ended at noon). He asked, "when I am older, will school be longer too?" (Like the older you get, the longer the school days are, etc). Yesterday he got home doing karate kicks and begging to go swimming. Today he was a tired mess who just bickered with Austin. He also told me how he didn't like the homemade bread I made him for lunch. Seriously? I was embracing myself for him to tell me how he wanted white bread like all the other kids. He then told me that some girl next to him said that she didn't like the way his PB & J sandwich smelled (she is allergic to peanuts). So, already he is insecure with even his lunch! He also was sad b/c he doesn't have any friends yet. How do you explain to a little one how friendships take time to cultivate? He has been used to the play dates I set up for him, and now he has to learn to make friends on his own. My heart strings are already being tugged b/c I want him to be happy and have friends, not feel alone and scared.

I also need to find some happy balance between after school activities, tv, homework, snack time and dinner time. AAAHHH! I am so new at this! I know Kindergarten is not a HUGE deal, but this is the beginning of the end of toddlerhood. Now comes responsibility, questions, curiosity and discipline...not to mention working on his reading and getting him to bed promptly at 7pm.

The Star Spangled Banner with Austin as we entered the classroom.
Wesley signs into the attendance with his dog bone. Check out Isaac's double chin!
We found his chair!
A quick hug good-bye to mom...

Then the tears begin...at first we don't know if he is crying or just feeling nervous...

I take a picture and this is the face Jared gave me... we laugh about it afterwards. He doesn't want Wesley to be embarrassed by any photos!

Wipe those tears big boy. I start to cry alongside him. I love you Wesley! You will be O.K!

His first day of school lunch box. Trying my best to make it well balanced. I later learned that there was no need for hand sanitizer. Well, better to be safe than sorry with those germs!