We did it! It’s a good thing I didn’t write this post when I first thought about it, about 9:00 this morning, because it would have been much weepier!! Nathan woke up at 6:45 this morning, and went right in to brush his teeth. (He’s very motivated by finishing the chart I made to hang on the wall of his room.) He was done with breakfast and ready to go by 7:15, backpack on and uniform shirt tucked in (reluctantly, but not so bad once he got used to it!). He wanted to switch his white socks for the new black ones, quite stylish with shorts and tennis shoes. Finally by 7:35 Katya and I were ready to go so we said goodbye to dad and were on our way.
We slowly entered school along with the huge line of other moms and kids, made it to the classroom, and Nathan walked inside with the flow of people. He turned right around and walked back out! “Mom, I thought you were going to come in with me to hang up my backpack?” (Fortunately the noise in the hall covered my somewhat shaky voice in reply!)
I walked in with him, helped him put away his lunch and backpack, and gave him a hug. He went to his desk to put our family photo in his pencil box and that was that! I managed not to cry until I made it to the car, although if I had stopped to talk to anyone on the way out that would have been the end of it! Katya tried to keep me busy when we got home, and I felt a little better after I printed off his picture and schedule to hang on my bulletin board.
A trip with Gran B to Build a Bear to get a school-time frined for Buddy, followed by lunch and naptime, filled our day until 3:05. Daddy came home from work early and we all went to pick up Mr. Kindergartener. We eagerly joined the line of anxious parents and the door opened to release the troops! Nathan was tired but happy, and when Than asked him if he was ready to go home, he said “Not really, but yes.” The longer we went, the more we heard about his first day adventures. He likes his teachers, has 22 new friends (even though he can’t remember all their names yet) and didn’t learn lots of new things yet because today was just for meeting people and walking places. He ate all his lunch, and especially liked the gummy bears in his treat bag. He was very impressed that even though the girls all live in different houses, they just happened to wear the same dress. (Guess the whole meaning of uniform hasn’t hit yet!) He brought home three papers, and a red star sticker for being a good listener.
I am so proud of him and am feeling a little better about tomorrow. Not quite sure how to explain all the emotion on my part–I guess just so much change, the reality of him growing up, the end of so many good times together, the continuing of his movement towards independence, knowing that most of what happens during his day is no longer part of my knowledge, lots of time out of the safety of our influence (unless you count the missing two front teeth…!)–growing up is part of life, but suprisingly difficult for me to handle right at this moment. At least he had a great day, which makes me feel ready to do it again.
(Me on my first day of school, September 1985)
