After (the Big First Day and the First Week Reaction)

The night before school the girls were so keyed up they could hardly sleep. Madeleine was up past ten, just "thinking about school."  We had practiced getting up early and getting ready quickly, but it was hardly necessary. I went to wake up Beth and she blearily smiled, "Today is my first day of school mom!" and was up and at it in no time. Madeleine was less enthralled since waking up for school holds no novelty for her, but she still jumped to it. Mary was caught up in all the excitement but looked as though she still wasn't quite sure what all the excitement was about.  There was some hustle and bustle, but all went according to plan and we had plenty of time to snap a few pictures before we loaded in the car.  The first day was different for both Beth and Mary. Instead of a typical classroom day, they each had individual appointments with their teachers.  When I reminded Beth that she wasn't going to have class or recess, her face turned stony and she yelled,"That's not fair!" That's not fair!" She was good and ready for some kindergarten action and by golly, she was not going to be content until she got some. She toned down pretty quickly though. 

We dropped Madeleine off first. Her steps slowed as she got near the door, and she needed three hugs good-bye, but then she headed in like an old pro and didn't look back.  Beth and Mary explored the library with me until it was time for Mary's appointment. Trying to keep Mary entertained and relatively quiet while reading a book to Beth was a feat in and of itself, requiring my cell phone, a pack of gum, multiple lipsticks, and promises of food. 

Finally it was time to take Mary to her teacher. I was asked to stay in the room and fill out paperwork while Mary was guided around by one of the three teachers and introduced to the classroom routine. I didn't bring her little blue and yellow nursery-school standard book bag (it's not like she had anything to put in it yet anyway -cut me some slack!) so she used my purse to practice hanging her bag in her cubby. I had to smile when I heard her explain to the teacher, "There are lipsticks in there. That's ok."I was glad the teacher agreed that it was ok to have lipsticks in your bag or Mary may have formed a lasting grudge.  Mary seemed comfortable enough and was her usual talkative self. Before I could finish filling out the forms they had given me, she was done.  We took a break at a nearby McDonald's to wait for Beth's turn, where we called Grandma Rosie and played on the playground. 

Then it was time for Beth to go to her sort-of-first-day of Kindergarten. As we approached her classroom  She literally skipped  down the hall and bounced through the doorway. Her teacher remarked, "There's enthusiasm!" and for the next 30 minutes she had her teacher and her classroom all to herself. She was a proud little piper and I was happy for her.  Appointments complete, we went home for lunch and quiet time and before too long it was time to get Madeleine. She came bounding out grinning and exclaiming all kinds of things about her wonderful first day. (sigh of relief) One day down - one hundred and seventy nine more to go. . . 

Since that first day all three girls have done tremendously well adjusting to school and the routine. At the end of the second day (and her first day of class), when I went to pick up Mary, she greeted me by scolding "You weren't supposed to drive off without me!" I guess I didn't really explain that when she went to school I wouldn't be going with her. The third day she greeted me by moaning, "You leaved me and leaved me and leaved me here!!"  Once in that first week she did wake up and claim she didn't want to go to school, but the reminder that she needed to go trade her library book snapped her out of it and got her going. Last Friday I went to get her a little bit early, thinking she would be relieved not to be "leaved" there, but when I walked in she indifferently stated, "I haven't had my lunch yet" and left me waiting while she ate. 

Beth's expectations of Kindergarten so far have been met and exceeded. She likes to sleep in foam rollers and go to school with her hair curly. She looks forward everyday to going to her "specials" and she is pretty proud to have homework.  She has a best friend in class, Tori, and she is making more friends everyday. One day out of the blue she sighed, "I love school," and she told me that she can't believe she is in Kindergarten - that she tells herself over and over, "I'm in Kindergarten. I'm in Kindergarten and I'm not even 6 yet!" When the weekend finally came around Beth woke up on Saturday and was dissapointed to be reminded that it wasn't a school day. On Sunday night she exclaimed,"I'm so glad that in the morning I can wake up, get dressed, and ship right off to school!" She told me yesterday, "I had a fun day, and I get to keep having fun days, because everyday I get to do the same things!"

Madeleine's reaction to the first week of school was similar. One afternoon in the middle of homework she blurted out, "I LOVE third grade!" She always comes home with something that she is excited about from one of her classes - currently her hot topic is tracking a whooping crane re-population effort. Most of her friends from last year are not in her class this year so socially she is trying to get a feel for where she fits in with this new group, but that will come. She loves her teacher and says she is "sooooooo nice." 

We are soooooo glad that they are doing soooooo well. We're definitely off to a great start . . .