I can't believe the time finally came to send my first born, the one who made me a Mama for the first time, to Kindergarten!!! Wow, what an emotional time. First, it was excitement for him. I knew how excited he was for it and that made me excited. It seems for the last three years this boy has been counting down the days till he would get to ride the bus to "big school." He always asks when he'll get to go to "big school" like our old neighbor kids.
Kindergarten Photo Shoot by Mom
Then, as we started getting closer to the day, my heart got a little heavy. This was the start to what would be at the end of each summer. My boy, spending most of his time at school and not at home. I would miss him. I would miss our carefree summer days. He is growing up. I can still remember him as a baby, my
first baby. And now, at close to 6 years old, he was going to Kindergarten.
We went to meet-the-teacher and we really liked the school. I'm so glad for that b/c this is the place that will be our school home for the next 6-9 years to all three of our children. Still a little surreal to me that it is not in Texas by the way.
We brought the teacher a little gift at the suggestion of H's preschool teachers back home. It was a gesture to thank her in advance for what she would endure with my Kindergartener, and 20 others, that upcoming year. We filled a little basket with a candle, watermelon bath & body works soap, jumbo paper clips, a red sharpie, peanut M&M's, a turqouise earring and necklace set and a picture of H with some fun facts about him and a note on the back wishing them a fantastic year and to let her know that we are here to help her in any way. We got to see H's classroom and sign up for PTO and other things. We chatted with the teacher and got bus route info. I still couldn't believe this was all happening. We have a school age child!!
The night before his first day of K, we had a good dinner, took a bath, set out his back to school outfit and sent our little man off to dream land.
The next morning H woke up to a decorated table, he had his breakfast and off we went to take our big guy to Kindergarten! We walked him in as a family and as I walked out of that room tears began to well. "So big," I thought.
I thought about him all day, wondering how he was and what he was doing. Imagining him in the cafeteria, at recess and in the classroom. Of course, I wondered if he was behaving. I decorated his table even more and baked brownies with Em to keep me busy.
Finally it was time to get Hayden off of the bus! Eeee. Seeing my son get off the bus did things to my heart. He seemed so big, yet so little getting off that bus. Independent but still so young. I saw a vulnerablity there. He was now out there, subjected the little world of elementary school where I could not do for him, protect him, remind him to behave, pick him up when he falls and comfort him when he needed. Sigh.
He seemed soo happy though and that warmed me in ways I can't explain. A reminder that he was okay and in good hands. He would be alright. The excitement and smiles coming from him was good for my soul to see. He came home to his decorated snack table and ice cream station and yelled with such excitement "thank you Mom, this is awesome!" No my boy, "YOU are awesome," I thought. He screeched, "I love Kindergarten. My teacher is so nice!" Insert heart swells. I hope that day was a memory he'll remember.
We invited our new neighborhood friends over to join us for ice cream and snacks and the kids had fun riding bikes and just being kids. We sent Dilyn and Hudson home with some new crayons, some cars and a little lego pack. Dilyn had his first day of Pre-K at the same elementary and Hudson would be starting preschool where E would be going as well so we wanted to include them on the 'first day' fun!
All in all, it was a great way to start K!
I signed up for PTO. I'm PAL'ing (helping the teacher every other week with things she needs done like cutting, making copies, assembling booklets, etc), I'll be cooking something once a month for the teacher appreciation luncheons, taking pictures of the Hayden and his classmates for yearbook and hopefully I'll get to help present and Art lesson to H and his class sometime this year. And we regularly go have lunch with H.
Last week he got to see me, S, and Em on Thurs, and Dad on Fri. What a treat for all of us! I want to be there, where H is. And to be a part of the school that will be home for so many years to come. A way to give back to those who give to our kids. So, PTO, here I comeeeeee!
Hayden's first three weeks have gone well and we are so proud and happy for our sweet guy! There were a few hiccups in the beginning
but between the teacher's new classroom behavior initiatives and our at home behavior chart, H has had an exceptional few weeks and even the teacher mentioned to me how well he's been doing. Go my precious boy!! We love you so much and are so proud of you!
