Aug 242011
Aug 232011
Tuesday
We all go to drop her off again, only today Nick pulls up and drops her and I off to walk to her classroom together.
I ask her teacher how she did yesterday and she said she did great. In fact, when she introduced herself to the class apparently she said, “I’m Hanna. I’m so excited!” LOL
We get home, feed Oliver breakfast, play, normal morning stuff. Then it’s time for Oliver’s snooze. Nick is off of work again today. We realize that we can take a nap too. Nick wants to take a “nap.” I want to take a nap. I win.
Oliver was up when it was time to go pick Hanna up today so we all go together to get her. When we get to the front of the line, apparently Hanna is in the “front” (back) of the school though. They say they’ll find her. 10 seconds later we hear over the intercom, “Hanna C… to the back pickup zone (or something).” I hop out of the car to go find her myself, because really, it’s her second whole day and like she’s going to know where the “back” front pickup zone is. *giant annoyed eye roll* The teacher assures me that they are actually sending someone to go find her though and I should just wait. Okay. A few minutes later someone appears with her and they reassure me that tomorrow they’ll make sure her teacher knows where she should be. (This might be my fault for thinking the “back” of the school was the front and putting that on the form about where we’d be picking her up at. But yesterday she was in the right place?!) We load up and head home. No tears today!
The first thing she says when she got in the car was, “There were cookies in my lunch!” Highlight of the day, I guess. She had expressed to me yesterday about how she would like cookies, “you know, the ones with sprinkles on them” in her lunch. I asked her if I got cookies if she would eat all of her healthy food first and then the cookies. She assured me she would. She ate her entire lunch today. I also put a little butterfly shaped note in the box that said, “Hanna, Have a good day! I love you! ♥ Mama” No mention of that though, just the cookies.
Before bed… ”Tomorrow is another new day of Kindergarten! I’m so excited!” I love her enthusiasm!
Aug 232011
Monday
I survive, when we dropped her off I was trying not to focus on what was actually happening. When she gave me a hug though, the tears started welling up in my eyes but I managed to not cry. Since Oliver was with me he was a good distraction, I made it home without crying either.
Nick was off of work, we basically spent the day going, “I wonder what she’s doing now?” ”It sure is quiet around here.”
After messing around in his crib for a while, Oliver finally decides to fall asleep for his afternoon nap right before it’s time to go pick Hanna up. Nick and I both wanted to go get her together. He was nice enough (although, not happy about it) to let me go pick her up.
My first ever carpool line. I was 3rd-ish in line and apparently no one comes to pick their kids up early. (Yeah, *I* was early.) The teacher is shouting for Hanna, using the wrong last name – I corrected her. Also, for some reason, they call the part of the school that faces the main road and that has the main entrance closest to it the “back” of the school. (Who thought that one up? Just to be extra confusing?!)
Hanna was in the right place and makes it to the car. Within seconds of getting in she is crying. ”Mrs. K forgot recess.” I told her it was probably too hot out. But she says they didn’t get to play at all after lunch. Who knows. I ask her what she did today. She doesn’t know. ”I just want to go home.” I’m thinking she’s overwhelmed.
After coming home and a good cry and resting for a little bit she seems better and starts remembering things. It seems like she had a fun day. I checked her lunchbox and she ate almost everything but maybe took one sip of her water. I hope she drinks more, especially with how hot it is out.
She goes to bed but sometime that night crawled into our bed. She wiggles me awake around 5 AM and whispers, “Tomorrow is another new day of Kindergarten!… I’m so excited!”
Aug 202011
Hanna, my oldest, is starting Kindergarten on Monday. I thought I’d be fine. No biggie, she’ll be gone for a few hours a day – I’ll get to spend the same alone-time with Oliver that I got to spend with her and she’ll get to let her friendly personality shine.
So why is it that when I went school supply shopping for her I wasn’t having fun? I mean, I have this strange love of office supplies and I remember when I was young spreading out my own school supplies and admiring them each year before I started school.
And why is it on Back to School Night I found myself being overly critical? The teachers were all really nice and besides a snafu in the office with our paperwork everything was smooth sailing.
I think, really, I’m going to miss my baby big kid. But you know I can’t tell her that. I already made that mistake and then she suddenly didn’t want to go to school anymore. I’ve had to spend the last half of summer convincing her how great school is going to be and that she really will love it. (While secretly wanting to hug her and smoosh her and keep her home with me forever.) Of course, all it took was that Back to School night and she’s asked me every day if tomorrow is Monday. She still has a few apprehensions but overall is gung-ho and ready to go. I might be that mom that’s crying in her car after dropping her kid off on the first day. I think it’s a really good possibility at this point.
Part of me is telling myself that she’s going to do great. She’s outgoing (unless you catch her on a bad moment), friendly, willing to try new things, loves to learn and is really excited about gym, music and art. Totally the kid you want to have to send off to school. But the other part is worried about her emotions, bullies, some crappy kid teaching her things she shouldn’t know, picking up bad habits from other kids and all that other good stuff. She’s been home with me for the most part since day one. Now she’s going to be spending 7 hours a day, 5 days a week in someone else’s care, surrounded by a bunch of children that I may or may not want around her. (I know, I’m horrible. Or maybe not.)
I hope in her first 5 1/2 years we’ve done a good enough job instilling right from wrong into her that hopefully she’ll know and act like she should. I’ve spent the last week giving her random instructions throughout the day, “for when she’s at school.”
Even though Mama and Daddy aren’t going to be there you still need to act like we are and be on your very best behavior.
Make sure you’re respectful. You remember what being respectful means, right?
You need to pay attention and eat your lunch at lunch time and not play around because when lunch is over you have to be done eating. And if you didn’t eat your lunch you don’t get to eat anything for the rest of the day (at school) and then you’ll be starving.
Don’t share hats with other kids or try on their shirts or rub your head on theirs. Sometimes kids get bugs in their hair that lay eggs and then you have to get them all picked out and it’s gross. (Whatever, I know, I’m neurotic. Lice freak me out.)
What do you do if you have a question or want to talk? Raise your hand, that’s right.
Eat your own lunch that Mama packs for you and don’t share or trade anything with other kids. They could have allergies. (And I don’t want you eating crap from someone else’s lunch.)
Be a good listener and pay attention.
Make sure you go potty when you need to go and don’t hold it.
And the list goes on. She’s taken it all very seriously and nods her head and agrees.
I’m sure she’ll do great.
Me? Not so much. My head hurts and my stomach feels unsettled a little more as the countdown continues.
Please tell me this gets easier as they get older and that it’s not as hard to let the second kid go.