Its officially official. My little guy is a big boy, he is a kindergartener.
He and I have both been counting the days down since the start of Summer. Him out of sheer excitement, and me out of sheer panic. Dylan couldn't wait to be able to go to school "EVERY SINGLE DAY!", and I couldn't picture spending every single (week)day with out him home with me and London.
Everyone assured me that he was going to love school every bit as much as he hoped he would. They assured me that I was going to be fine, that London was going to be fine, and that in fact, she and I were going to enjoy some one on one time together... and we have, but more on that later. Also, someone told me that the anticipation of it all was much worse than the actuality. And boy, she was right!
The day needed to start off with pancakes. Why? Because thats what Dylan has been asking me to make for his first day of school for a week prior. Not just any pancakes either, "some special pancakes". No problem, thats so my cup of tea. Exept for that at about 9 that night, I realized that I had no tea leaves for my cup of tea! Or in this case, eggs to make my pancakes! Panic set in. I thought of calling my sweet neighbor, but it was too late and I would never call or knock on the door as early in the morning as I would need them. My boy was not going to start his first day of "big school" with out pancakes though! So, I set my alarm for 5:30 in the AM so that I could go to the store and be home in time to make his pancakes before waking him.
His excitement was more than worth the small bit of trouble that the pancakes caused. I would do it again every single year, if need be. But next year, I will be sure to check the day before to make sure I have leaves for my cup of tea!
After breakfast, we got the children dressed and talked about how much fun Dylan was going to have. London wasn't quite sure what to make of it all, but we told her she was going to have a fun day too. Dylan was a big ball of excitement all morning. You really would have thought it was Christmas.
I warned him that I was going to take a million pictures before we left, but promised to be super fast as long as he gave me that beautiful smile of his. He did, and I did my best to be fast.
the one above is going in a frame!
London even participated nicely for pictures. I may or may not have bribed her a little.
As good of a sport as he was, Dylan was finally done with me and my picture taking. "Hurry! We don't want to be late, Mommy!" So, we piled into the car and headed down the road for a super long 5 minute drive. Seriously, I was so nervous it felt like it took forever!
When we got to the school, the place was MAD HOUSE. We had to park way down the hill and walk a good ways. Just like when we had to for Meet the Teacher, it was nice to have that time to talk to Dylan and take everything in.
London was just as excited as Dylan, I think, to get him to class. She wanted a book bag, so Dylan let her borrow one of his old ones.
The only time Dylan seemed to get nervous, was right as we were about to walk in the door. His eyes were so wide, and I think he was really gripping Daniel's hand. Daniel told him to take a deep breath, and we reminded him how fun this was going to be, and he calmed right back down. I was so proud of him!
In the past, I have always had to help him with putting his book bag away, but he went straight to his cubby and did it all on his own. It made me just little sad but so very proud of him. There wasn't a huge goodbye. Just a quick hug and a wave. Everything happened so fast that when we got back out to the hall way, I told Daniel I didn't even get a kiss and I felt like I should go back in to get one! Daniel assured me that it was okay and that we would be picking Dylan up in just a few hours (the first week is half days) and that I would get plenty of kisses then.
After school, we picked Dylan up and took him to lunch at the place of his choice, which was Sub Hub. He was so excited to tell us all about his day. He did great and loved it. And he has loved every single day this week. In fact, I think he was even more excited to go back on Tuesday than he was to start on Monday! My little man is officially in kindergarten kid!!!
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Dylan Rides The Bus!
All Summer Dylan has been telling me he wanted to ride the buss, and all summer I have been changing the subject. I can't help it, I'm a helicopter mom. I hover. Its my nature. Well, this week he had been very persistent and Daniel thought it was a good idea to let him try it. This week only, the only kids on the bus were kindergarteners, so I figured if ever there was a time... this would be it.
So, Wednesday I told the teacher that he could ride the bus. She sent me to the office to sign a waiver and said she would make sure he got on the right bus. I was a nervous wreck as I went to the office to sign off on my baby riding a bus all alone (I realize as I type how dramatic that is, but those who know me know!). The lady at the front desk was so nice and I think she could tell I was nervous. I asked her if they had ever lost a kindergartener, and she laughed and told me that they had never. She told me they would also give him a name tag with his address on it and the bus driver wouldn't let him off anywhere other than at our address. Normal people would be completely at ease by this point, and I was for the most part. But only for the most part. I was bit on edge all morning all the way until I saw his little self get off the bus in front of my house.
I'm sure the driver thought I looked a little nutty, sitting out on my front lawn in my chair, camera up and ready to go, as the bus turned onto our street. But she smiled and waved so nicely as I thanked her for bringing him home.
I love this picture, London was jumping up and down, she was so excited for Dylan to be on the bus!
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Really Spreading His Wings
I give the kid a little taste of independence, and he's ready to move out of the house and be on his own! Okay, so really he just wants to be able to walk to his classroom with out me and order his own lunch in the cafeteria, but still!
By the third day, Mr Independence had his morning routine down pat. He was ready to get out of the car in the drop off line. My heart isn't quite ready to do that one yet. I'm crazy enough to wonder all day long if he made it to the classroom with out getting lost. I would litterally be telling myself to relax, that someone would call if he turned up missing, so no news... that would be good news. I'm telling you, I know I have issues. Those who know me know also, and most of them still love me!
So, while I was not ready to drop him off at the curb, I did allow him to walk all the way to his class alone one day. Grant it, this was only because we were at the door to the school when we realized that he left his book bag in the car, and if I drug him back to the car with me, he would miss the tardy bell. Still, the point is that I let go and let him walk to class a lone. I asked him if he was sure that he knew where to go, and he assured me that he would be fine. I told him I would be there in a couple of minutes with his bag. He was off before I finished the sentence.
I was right, by the time I grabbed his bag and walked back up to the building, the bell had rung. This meant that I had to go in through the office. I explained the situation to the same sweet lady that helped me with the bus. She reached for the bag and said someone would take it down to her. I clung to the bag with white knuckles. She must have seen the crazy in my eyes, because she said in the sweetest tone "If you would rather walk it down to him, your welcome to. Just check in." I thanked her and told her that I justed wanted to see for myself that he had in fact made it to his room. She smiled as said she understood completely. I'm sure she did, I think all mom's would, even if they aren't all quite as nutty as I am.
He did make there just fine. He was sitting in a circle with his class and didn't even look over, even though I may have taken too long to put away his bag on the off chance that he would, to wave bye. He was more than fine.
Today was the first day that all the kindergarteners ate lunch at school. I have been planning in my head all of the cute lunches that I will send to school with Dylan. Dylan has been planning in his head how awesome it will be to order lunch in the cafeteria. I still planned on sending lunch today, but this morning he was so excited about getting to eat a cafeteria lunch, that I caved. I told him that today he could, and that every Friday I would let him, but every other day I would send him lunch. Agreed. Great! He was beyond thrilled to eat a "school lunch", as he calls it. Again, I hoped he would hate it and be grateful for such a rad mom that packs yummy and cute lunches, but he loved it and can't wait for next Friday.
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