The Kindergartner {Week 1}

I couldn't have imagined a better start to the school year. Thursday and Friday were half days designed to ease students into their routines. I see now why that approach is GENIUS. In the past four school days our house transitioned so nicely from summer to fall.


On day 1 Buby walked into his new school at 8:40 a.m. Happy as a clam. In fact, I think I had to say "Wait up" at least once. Not an ounce of hesitation. At 2:20 p.m. he walked back out with that same confident grin. He was glowing, actually. Buby says he loves his two teachers, his bright classroom and his many new friends. During pickup that first afternoon Mrs. Q. approached me to offer, "He was a pleasure! Really." Pickup isn't the best time to get chatty with teachers, I am told, so I took it and ran.


Day 2 went just as well. Mrs. Q. pulled me aside again to say, "Ugh. Such a dream. Gavin is SUCH a DREAM to have in class!" I'd suspected another good day, but it's always nice to get confirmation. She added, "He already has bonded with a special friend named Max."


Oh yes. I heard about Max and Ari, Ava and Julia all the way home those first two days. Buby is obsessed with spelling their names. And then there's Grace. His Grace. Yesterday afternoon we stopped at the library to return 9 books, and I overheard him telling the librarian all about Grace being in the same class this year. He referred to her as Grace "who I've been friends with since we were babies, ya know." He is so proud of that fact.


At the end of each day Buby gave me a rundown of his favorite parts. He told me how he familiarized himself with the Montessori tools, used a work mat, set a butterfly free, painted a house, experimented with blocks on a scale, traced his full name in lowercase, learned several words in Spanish that he already knew, sang a song, and listened to Mrs. I tell an adventurous tale.


Yesterday was day 3 and the first full day of kindergarten. It's also when we parents started using the infamous circle for drop-off and pickup. No more parking down the hill and walking our babies to the door. There is a specific procedure for coming and going, and it doesn't allow for any dilly dally. Picture a massive single-file line of cars all with their engines running. I think I was more nervous about messing up the hand-off than about Buby's long day.


By 2 p.m. I missed my boy like crazy. I could not wait to get in line for my Buby hug. I secretly hoped he'd tell me everything about his class, friends and work the second he climbed into the car seat. Of course I knew from experience that details might have to trickle out over the next 24 hours.


Buby immediately pulled out of his bag a picture he drew and a caption he traced for his own story. It illustrated a mushroom and five ghosts on a slide. Five year olds have the best imaginations. He was eager to show me all of his work from the day, so I found a parking lot and gave him my full attention. He talked about running through the wooden playhouses on the property, sitting across from a new kid named Gus {who he swears is a 'she'}, and arriving at the snack table to discover that a silly girl had taken one bite out of every watermelon slice and put it back. That grossed him out.


It doesn't matter what my child learns in a day... these are the things he wants to chat about first. Food and recess. Also in his Communications Folder I found a black + white picture he'd cut into many puzzle pieces and glued back together.


Today was Buby's second full day of kindergarten. At pickup Mrs. I. walked him to my car and paid the best compliment. Maybe ever. She grabbed me and said, "Gavin is a REALLY good student. Already. And he is such a sweet friend to the other children... always offering to help them. You have done a very good job with him." My first thought was relief that things are going well and that he has teachers who truly appreciate him. My second was, "Wonder what she'd say about our Bleu." Heehee.


Buby got in the car and thanked me for his yummy lunch, which included a peanut butter sandwich, four slices of cheddar, raw carrots and green peppers, and red grapes for dessert. He told me of a wonderful nature hike during recess. Apparently they walked down to a lake and a butterfly garden and watched "real frogs" on lily pads. That is so Buby. I peeked in his folder and saw that he practiced writing my cell phone number and our home address, among other things. At dinner he started singing a new song a la Mrs. I. He seems content.


I believe {for my Buby at least} that a productive day at school is directly linked to a good night's sleep and a happy, unhurried morning at home. The way my children wake up tends to set the tone for their whole day, so I try keep our bedtime routine pleasant and predictable. And earlier than ever. After dinner I shower the kiddos, lay out our clothes, read books and see them to sleep. Then I spend time with My Sweets and reorganize our stuff for the next day. I prep the book bag, lunch box, water bottles, car bag, and to-do list before lining it all up by the front door.


When the alarm sounds at 6:45 a.m. the kids race into our room, hide under our top sheet and giggle. If Daddy's still in the shower they wait for him to find them. We tickle, give foot massages, brush teeth and wash faces, spike Buby's hair, eat yogurt, talk about our grand plans, and then sing and dance all the way to school. I'm a car disc jockey Monday through Friday, and the time passes incredibly fast.


I realize our morning commute will not always go smoothly. Over the next 10 months we'll probably have our share of late nights, hurt feelings, fussy mornings and sick kids. But for now I am incredibly grateful for an easy first week. It makes all the difference.


Next month we'll welcome an unpredictable newborn into the mix. I'm sure he or she will need to be nursed or held or changed the second the rest of us are ready to leave somewhere. That's part of a baby's charm, right? They force you to slow down. But being late for anything makes my little dude anxious, so my goal is to continue our morning routine and to arrive at Buby's school five minutes early every day.