WOW! What a whirlwind of excitement these past few weeks have been filled with! Kelsey has now been attending Kindergarten for 3 weeks. It has been packed with many ups and many downs. From not eating a proper, complete breakfast to having a few difficulties going to bed at night. My poor baby has anxiety! I often wonder why? She has had this anxiety during 3 and 4 year old preschool. I can’t understand why and how her brain can already process these types of feelings? I try and try to get her to overcome it, but it normally takes 4 to 6 weeks. Sigh!?
The excitement of the first day of school ran rapid here. We always plan fun activities the weekend before, as a family – AND most importantly she gets to pick! She picked to go to Jungle Java and the Planetarium at Cranbrook (HONESTLY she LOVES space)! I took her shopping to get accessories, school supplies, kitty folder, and any book bag she picked with a matching snack bag long before school started. Many friends and family members called her, sent her prizes, and tried their best to be a part of her special day! Gary (my husband) and I read her different stories about Kindergarten the night before. She was PREPARED!
She woke up, VERY excited, but a little scared she informed us! I knew…..UH OH! So, my husband and I played it off. We made her a special breakfast, got her dressed in her adorable uniform with saddle oxfords, she picked out her hair style, got her new Perry the Platypus book bag & snack bag & we took a million pictures! She was READY…..
Slowly, Gary and I could see the fear appear…
We were able to take her into the building her first day. My stomach dropped as she entered the building & classroom. Could I really trust these strangers to take care of my baby? When we entered the classroom, I knew I could. She was one of the only kids who could immediately read her own name, took her seat, and smiled from ear to ear. Then it happened…the teacher said these words that I will never forget as I was snapping a picture of her waving & smiling….
“Ok, boys and girls wave goodbye to your Mommies & Daddies”– and this is what I saw.
Our hearts broke, we literally ran out of there before she could see US crying, parents gave us tissues, we were a hot mess! How many of you cried on your child’s first day? Gary and I went to lunch and our stomachs were in knots. We were so nervous, that we sat in the parking lot 45 minutes before school was dismissed! Yes, we were THOSE parents!
One of the best moments of my life, was caught on video – as she ran as fast as she could and grabbed a hold of me saying how much she missed us. She was okay! PHEW! She was in one piece, and she hugged us SO hard! It was adorable!
She is still having a rough time. We speak daily about school. Academically, she is very prepared. They focus on a letter or 2 a week – they write it, work on phonetic skills, and complete many hands-on activities. One thing she is struggling with is finger spacing her letters, but that is normal and she is slowly getting it! Socially, I am noticing she tries really hard with the girls (these are only from the stories I hear) and the boys she gets along with great! Today, one little boy came up waving good bye to her as we got into the car – BYE KELSEY – and she responded with BYE! Then, the cutest thing EVER – he said, “BYE MY BEST FRIEND KELSEY!” My heart melted, because he sits next to her, in the classroom, and she speaks about him all the time! They read her notes, I send during snack, talk about kid stuff, and help each other – I am SO thrilled! But she is still very homesick, already saying she loves the weekends because she gets to be with Mommy and Daddy all day!
I think deep down, she likes school, but it still afraid. Honestly, I miss her! I miss our Tuesday and Thursday outings we had, since preschool was 3 days a week! I miss waking up and having her crawl in bed with me, and just vegging out an entire day. I see other Mommies running errands, and frazzled with their little ones, and I miss her! So, Mommy is having a hard time too. By no means am I bored, I just miss her and it is an adjustment in my life too! So, I get it.
She is reciting prayers now, which I think is wonderful! I’m so proud of her, her Daddy, and myself! We have prepared her for this first step, now – we will continue ….
TO BE CONTINUED…..
