Well, we did it. We survived the first full-week of kindergarten. I'm not sure who is happier that this week is over, me or Logan.
Let's start off with the bad: We had a few mornings this week with tears. This has been my least favorite part of the kindergarten experience, listening to my child say, "I want to stay with you," "But I love you..." Well, you get the picture. It's heartbreaking and I've had a hard time keeping it together so he doesn't totally fall apart. One day was particularly hard. The crying started before we headed out the door and finally Logan says, "I want to bring a picture of you." I cried. Ok. That's an understatement. I sobbed. I've choked up every time I have thought about it. I quickly found a picture and it currently resides in the little pocket of his backpack. I won't even say what Matt said when he found out Logan did not request a picture of him ;o)
One thing that I think would help the tears would be if our drop-off routine was consistant. It's been different each day so far. The first day they dropped stuff off and went into the gym, the second day they dropped stuff off and went to play outside until the bell rang, the third day his class was already at the bathrooms preparing for Mass. Another day they were already in the classroom. It's just been a strange routine and we are still figuring out where to go. I think if he could just put the stuff away and go into the classroom, he would be fine, but I don't think this is an option right now, unless we got to school a little bit later (but not late).
As soon as I leave, he is fine. So here's the good: He has brought home all "S+" work (the equivilant of an A+ in the kindergarten world. His work has really improved since preschool, you can tell that he is doing it and trying it, whereas in preschool it was just kind of like, "eh...whatever." His letters look like letters, he is writing in his name on all of his papers. The work that involves scissors looks like it has been cut instead of ripped. Even his coloring has gotten better, which really isn't saying much since the kid isn't big into coloring. And since I have seen an improvement, I'm taking his teacher's note on today's paper to "practice coloring" in stride (the entire picture wasn't colored, I'm guessing she's wanting the whole thing filled in lol).
He has brought home a "happy note" each day, which is the teacher's way of saying he had a good day. I do know that earlier in the week he and another little boy got into a bit of trouble for being loud in the bathroom. Logan's side of the story involves singing, which knowing Logan, is not surprising.
And believe it or not, he is actually telling me a fair amount of what his day is like. I heard about the lesson in bus safety, how Miss Katy (the student teacher) read them "Pete the Cat" (one of Logan's favorites), and how the hot lunch kids had hot dogs one day. And speaking of lunch, I laugh almost every time he brings home his lunchbox. The sandwich is gone, the sides are gone, but dessert is left! However, I fear he is going to get burnt out on turkey cheese sandwiches pretty quickly.
Here is what I am most amazed by: the early mornings have not hit us hard! I was so dreading the early hours (for myself, not Logan) and it's actually went really well. I'm enoying it, because I know it will not last. Even bedtime is going smooth, which is huge after all the struggles we have had the past year. After we read our stories, he actually letting me go back downstairs, as opposed to me going to my room. Granted, I'm not downstairs for long because I am usually ready to go to bed myself, but so far this is working out, and the bribe of a new Thomas movie is keeping him motivated.
All in all, it's going well, except for the drop-off, but I know in time that will change. This all-day business is a BIG change for someone who has spent his whole life at home with his momma, and there was no gradual introducing to the all day thing. They went half a day the first day, then the weekend, and then all day. It's been a big week for us, and I think we are all looking forward to the weekend.
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