School Daze

Today was Bode's first day of preschool. Yup. August 8th and school is underway. It was actually supposed to start on the 6th but MOLD was discovered at multiple schools in the area (mold in CO??). So that had to be remediated and tested and all that caused a delay. So anyway, we live in a school district that is considered year-round. The kids will get a 2-week fall break in October, which i think is pretty cool. 2-weeks at Christmas, 2-week Spring Break and then done Memorial Day. It's a bit strange to me since I'm used to school starting after Labor Day, but I think it has its perks.

Anywho, Bode was pretty excited about going to school. Well, at least somewhat enthusiastic. He was happy about his Thomas backpack and the fact that I packed a snack in there just in case. He was cool about it all, until, we walked in the door of the school. Then, there was no way he was going into class. Lots of "I don't want to go to school"s and much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Luckily I was able to pawn Keegen off on my friend, Angela, who had just dropped Zeke off at the preschool class next door. I picked Bode up and carried him into the classroom, plopped down with him at a table and tried to engage him in different things that were on the tables. We found his nametag and his peg on the wall for his backpack. There were probably 12 kids there and 4 teachers (one teacher and 3 aides?). So I eventually told him I had to go, reminded him that when he went to school last year that I left and came back to get him when it was time. He cried and told me not to go, hugged my leg and all that. Miss Debbie came to him and took him as I left. I thought she was a bit gruff--i would have preferred the warmer-fuzzier teacher who was nearby, but what to do.

I headed home with Keegen who was surprisingly desperate for a morning nap (he really only takes a PM one these days). I was more than happy to oblige as it gave me about 2 hours to myself and I finally got the last of my flowers in the ground out back and cleaned up the kitchen(again...). Nice.

I went to pick him up and spied him through the window sitting in circle time. He wasn't doing the knee-pat motions they were doing, but just the fact that he was sitting in the circle was huge. They were going around asking each kid something they did during the summer. And then I heard his name called and he actually ANSWERED. What he said I couldn't hear (for all I know he told them to bug-off), but just the fact that he responded as opposed to silence is a big deal. Per his teachers he cried for awhile but eventually stopped and participated and did especially well after time on the playground (no shock there).

In his oh so cool way he was happy to see me. He told me what he had for snack and that he had cried for awhile and that he got to play outside in the sandbox. He had his backpack on and was ready to roll. We went and waited outside Zeke's door since we were going to KFC for a little lunch celebration. After lunch we headed to the park to burn off some energy. The kids had a blast.

All in all it was a good first day. I think we'll have more difficult drop-offs for awhile, but I think he's come a long way. My friend Kristen reminded me that he did well last year and thinks he'll get in a groove faster having that brief school experience tucked away. And I hope she's right!