A Mom's First Day of Kindergarten
A Mom’s First Day of Kindergarten
So it’s that time of year -- all the kids are getting ready to go back to school. Or, if you’re like me, you are sending your little one off for the first time. I had kept telling myself ‘he’s going to be great’, ‘he’s going to have so much fun’, ‘you’re going to be OK’… And I really was -- or so I thought.
We went school shopping and purchased ALL of the school supplies his teacher had requested, got him some new clothes and shoes -- and the ever important Transformer underwear -- and he was set! We had the countdown to the first day going for over 3 weeks, and as the final days kept ticking away, the ball in my stomach kept growing and growing.
The night before his first day, he had to make sure all his clothes were laid out, his new shoes were still spotless, and his backpack was all set to go. After reading his bedtime stories, and saying prayers, I asked if he had any questions and if he was feeling nervous. After a slight shrug, he said, ’a little’. His biggest concern was meeting his classmates and making new friends. How understandable that was! I reassured him and told him what a special boy he is and reminded him of the boy he knew that would be in his class. That seemed to quell the fear, and shortly thereafter, he went to sleep.
The Big Day
My son has inherited the sleeping gene from me. It is a rare occasion for him to rise before 7:30, and, unless woken, would probably sleep until 9:00 or so. However, on the first day of Kindergarten, no prodding was needed, no threats were given. He was out of bed in a flash anxious to start his new adventure!
After eating breakfast, he disappeared down the hall for a while and came out into the living room holding two cans of hair products. He stated that he wanted to ‘do his hair’ and wanted to know which hairspray was the best. Needless to say, I felt a little motherly assistance was needed, and helped him with his hair (sans the spray). He got ready in record time, and spent the next 45 minutes asking when it was time to go to school.
The Drop Off
When 8:00 finally arrived, and it was time to head to school, I found him outside, standing in front of our house, ready for his picture. He knew exactly where he wanted it to be taken, and was as still as I had seen him in years! (He is 5, you know.) All the way to school, he kept asking how long until we would get there. As we parked, he could hardly wait until the car had stopped to unbuckle and get out. Reminders were given to watch for cars, stay on the sidewalk, don’t run in school, etc. If only I had shared all of his excitement! Don’t get me wrong -- I was excited for him, I just couldn’t escape the twinges of sadness I would feel as I imagined my days without him.
He found his room via the enormous apple hanging from the ceiling, then, his cubby. In his excitement, he had a difficult time hanging up his backpack. Once everything was settled, he cautiously entered his room. After greeting his teacher, and finding his name tag, he went right to playing. Again, I requested yet one more ‘First Day of School Picture’, and he happily obliged. I gave him a hug and kiss, told him how proud I was of him and to have so much fun, and started to leave. I was just about out the door, when I heard that little voice, ‘Mama, just one more kiss and hug’. I turned around and he ran into my arms to receive those last bits of me before I left.
As I turned to leave a second time, knowing I would not be called back, it hit me. I had just left my little boy, my playmate, my little friend, and I was going to miss him terribly. Rationally, you tell yourself, ‘this is good, he is growing up and ready to learn and make new friends’. Unfortunately, we all can’t be rational ALL of the time. As I fought the tears (and lost), I kept imagining him playing with his new friends, and telling me all about his wonderful first day of school. Then I looked down at my 3-year-old daughter and was grateful for the time I have with her and excited for our new adventure as well. We’re going to have a blast! After all, we have to get ready for a First Day of Kindergarten Party tonight!
So it’s that time of year -- all the kids are getting ready to go back to school. Or, if you’re like me, you are sending your little one off for the first time. I had kept telling myself ‘he’s going to be great’, ‘he’s going to have so much fun’, ‘you’re going to be OK’… And I really was -- or so I thought.
We went school shopping and purchased ALL of the school supplies his teacher had requested, got him some new clothes and shoes -- and the ever important Transformer underwear -- and he was set! We had the countdown to the first day going for over 3 weeks, and as the final days kept ticking away, the ball in my stomach kept growing and growing.
The night before his first day, he had to make sure all his clothes were laid out, his new shoes were still spotless, and his backpack was all set to go. After reading his bedtime stories, and saying prayers, I asked if he had any questions and if he was feeling nervous. After a slight shrug, he said, ’a little’. His biggest concern was meeting his classmates and making new friends. How understandable that was! I reassured him and told him what a special boy he is and reminded him of the boy he knew that would be in his class. That seemed to quell the fear, and shortly thereafter, he went to sleep.
The Big Day
My son has inherited the sleeping gene from me. It is a rare occasion for him to rise before 7:30, and, unless woken, would probably sleep until 9:00 or so. However, on the first day of Kindergarten, no prodding was needed, no threats were given. He was out of bed in a flash anxious to start his new adventure!
After eating breakfast, he disappeared down the hall for a while and came out into the living room holding two cans of hair products. He stated that he wanted to ‘do his hair’ and wanted to know which hairspray was the best. Needless to say, I felt a little motherly assistance was needed, and helped him with his hair (sans the spray). He got ready in record time, and spent the next 45 minutes asking when it was time to go to school.
The Drop Off
When 8:00 finally arrived, and it was time to head to school, I found him outside, standing in front of our house, ready for his picture. He knew exactly where he wanted it to be taken, and was as still as I had seen him in years! (He is 5, you know.) All the way to school, he kept asking how long until we would get there. As we parked, he could hardly wait until the car had stopped to unbuckle and get out. Reminders were given to watch for cars, stay on the sidewalk, don’t run in school, etc. If only I had shared all of his excitement! Don’t get me wrong -- I was excited for him, I just couldn’t escape the twinges of sadness I would feel as I imagined my days without him.
He found his room via the enormous apple hanging from the ceiling, then, his cubby. In his excitement, he had a difficult time hanging up his backpack. Once everything was settled, he cautiously entered his room. After greeting his teacher, and finding his name tag, he went right to playing. Again, I requested yet one more ‘First Day of School Picture’, and he happily obliged. I gave him a hug and kiss, told him how proud I was of him and to have so much fun, and started to leave. I was just about out the door, when I heard that little voice, ‘Mama, just one more kiss and hug’. I turned around and he ran into my arms to receive those last bits of me before I left.
As I turned to leave a second time, knowing I would not be called back, it hit me. I had just left my little boy, my playmate, my little friend, and I was going to miss him terribly. Rationally, you tell yourself, ‘this is good, he is growing up and ready to learn and make new friends’. Unfortunately, we all can’t be rational ALL of the time. As I fought the tears (and lost), I kept imagining him playing with his new friends, and telling me all about his wonderful first day of school. Then I looked down at my 3-year-old daughter and was grateful for the time I have with her and excited for our new adventure as well. We’re going to have a blast! After all, we have to get ready for a First Day of Kindergarten Party tonight!
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