Well. My baby started kindergarten yesterday. For a whole hour.
His school staggers the arrival of kindergarteners the first week of school.
Monday they come for an hour.
Tuesday half the class comes all day while the other half stays home and Wednesday they switch places.
Thursday and Friday are all day for everyone.
Having been in preschool the past three years with the past two years going every day, he is more than ready just to jump right in.
So, we decided to let him ride the bus in the morning and be a car rider in the afternoon, mostly due to my work schedule. This morning was to be his first morning riding the bus, which was scheduled to arrive at 7:16 (whew!). We were told to give the bus a ten minute leeway, so we arrived (me having to drive him because it's over 1/4 mile away from our house...don't get me started) about 7:05. And he and I chatted about this and that and then listened to a "Magic Treehouse" cd. And then it was about 7:16, and I said, "Look, Matthew! It's exactly when your bus is supposed to come!" Only it wasn't there. And then Alan drove up (on his way to work) and stayed to see Matthew get on. And then kids going to another elementary school showed up to wait for their bus. And their mom tells me that they left the house at 7:25. And the bus still wasn't there. So, Alan goes on to work and Matthew and I continue standing there and chatting. Me getting nervous because I am supposed to be at work at 8 am. So, at 7:40 the bus still wasn't there. We give up and fly back to the house so I can finish getting ready for work and then we fly to his school getting him there - on his first official full day - right at the late bell and then I fly to work.
And proceed to worry about my boy all day long. Because I am one of those moms. Again, for the record, I am also one of those moms that doesn't let her kid swim in the deep end if he can't swim, and I make him hold my hand in the parking lot, and I discourage stuffing his mouth full of food and talking, and I enforce the helmet policy while riding a bike. THAT mom. You know, in my head, I know he would be just fine. After all, he's kind of an old hat at this school thing after three years in preschool. But in my heart I wonder if he'll be able to get his thermos opened and if he will have a friend to talk with at lunch and if the day will feel too long to him and if he'll find my friend Becky's car to bring him home. Becky the Saint (who works with me and knew how I was feeling) called me as soon as she picked him up and let me talk to him. And, of course, he had a great day and is excited and full of stories. And finally, the knots left my stomach and I was able to take full breaths again. And smile. And feel proud.
And proceed to worry about my boy all day long. Because I am one of those moms. Again, for the record, I am also one of those moms that doesn't let her kid swim in the deep end if he can't swim, and I make him hold my hand in the parking lot, and I discourage stuffing his mouth full of food and talking, and I enforce the helmet policy while riding a bike. THAT mom. You know, in my head, I know he would be just fine. After all, he's kind of an old hat at this school thing after three years in preschool. But in my heart I wonder if he'll be able to get his thermos opened and if he will have a friend to talk with at lunch and if the day will feel too long to him and if he'll find my friend Becky's car to bring him home. Becky the Saint (who works with me and knew how I was feeling) called me as soon as she picked him up and let me talk to him. And, of course, he had a great day and is excited and full of stories. And finally, the knots left my stomach and I was able to take full breaths again. And smile. And feel proud.
Yay Matthew. I've been thinking about you all week with school and work starting. I think the bus craziness takes a few days (weeks?) to iron out. I'm proud of Matthew and proud of you. And can't EVEN believe that it seemed like it was yesterday when I held him right after he was born.
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