First Day of Kindergarten {Calin}

When my oldest nephew started kindergarten I remember thinking "What a fun exciting time!" for my nephew and especially my sister-in-law. Fun isn't quite the word I would use to describe yesterday. Scary, emotional, worrisome, those are some words I would use to describe sending my own kid off to school for the first time. It was also a little exciting, sweet, and definitely memorable. And I guess it was a tad fun. It was fun seeing my friends dropping off their own kindergartners for the first time too. One of my besties was dropping her son off next door to Calin she helped me feel a bit braver and assured me I'm not the only one who is overly a tad emotional about this starting kindergarten business.

I actually thought I was doing pretty well with everything. Trying to keep busy with all the excitement of finding out who his teacher is, which friends are in which classes, back to school shopping, Meet the Teachers, Orientation, packing his first school lunch, and planning out the morning of. I wasn't too nervous. Then I woke up this morning to a full of butterflies. I couldn't even eat the delicious breakfast Jordan made, I was so nervous. And so scared! How can I send my little guy off into someone else's care all. day. long. And surrounded by so many other kids I don't know, and all of them bigger and older. What if he's not prepared? What if kids are mean to him? I'm just not ready to expose him to all the mean and scary things in the world and leave him somewhere without me there to comfort him and protect him from those things. I don't think I'll ever be ready for that. 

See what I mean about kids being bigger?! This is Cal's bud Boston. They didn't end up in the same kindergarten class, but their classes are right next door to each other :)

I don't know if it would be easier if he wasn't nervous. He was though. Quite nervous! Tuesday August 5th we went to the school to meet his teacher and see his classroom. It took about 5 minutes to get him inside. His teacher is very sweet. She talked to him for a while and asked him questions. Calin just sat there with his grumpy face on, refusing to make eye contact or utter a sound. After we left the classroom he told me he was afraid of her. We talked about how nervous he was to start preschool and then how much he ended up loving it. He said "That's because Ms. Nicole has a calendar and I got to be a helper." He does love to help (another reason I will miss him during the day!!). So we went back to the classroom and I showed him the helper board. It made him feel a tiny bit better, but still said he was afraid. 

This morning he said he was too tired to go to school. HA! That sure won't get easier as he gets older. Somehow we made it into the car and Jordan dropped me and Calin off at the front to walk back to his classroom together. Usually he will line up from the playground with his class and his teacher will lead them back, but since I was there we stood at the opposite door with some other moms and kids waiting to go in. We watched Mrs. Bradshaw bring all the kids into the class, they hung their backpacks and found their desk. Then Mrs. Bradshaw unlocked the other door for Calin and a few other kids in his class to go in. He was very hesitant and almost cried, but his teacher smiled at him and gently ushered him in. I stood at the window for a while and watched with the other moms. I probably could have stood there all day if they would let me.

I just kept watching Calin's face. Poor guy was SO nervous! Then he got up from his seat (I think he was supposed to be getting his lunch box out of his backpack) and remembered the cookies he brought for his teacher. He pulled them out and handed them to her. It was such a sweet moment to watch. His cute worried face turned into his sweet happy one with a huge smile! And Mrs. Bradshaw smiled too and gave him a little hug. He smiled all the way back to his seat. I'm so glad we decided to send him with cookies, I could see it helped him transition a little easier. 

These are pictures of him giving her the cookies.

I thought I was going to make it through the day without crying, but lost it when we got home. Then he day went by SO slowly. School is from 8:25-2:55. Long! I was ready to pick him up before noon. I prayed all day long that he was having a good time at school. And he did! When I picked him up he ran over to me with the biggest smile and gave me a huge hug and a kiss without any worries the other kids might be watching. That was one of my favorite moments. A little reassurance that he is still my sweet Calin bug. 

We went to Bahama Bucks for some shaved ice and he told me all about his first day at school. He said he made some new friends, and played with his friend Joslyn at recess and ate with her at lunch. He ate almost all of his lunch and didn't loose anything. 

When I asked him about school work he said, "I made one mistake though. I circled something I wasn't supposed to" with a worried look. Haha. He also said he isn't afraid of his teacher anymore, that he had so much fun, and is excited to go back tomorrow. I'm still not ready for him to back. Guess he's braver than me.

The age cutoff is September 1st so he could be the youngest kid in the whole school (there are 5 kindergarten classes). I know he is the youngest in his class. But I think he will do well. He's a smart kid and loves to learn. And there are so many school choices here that I feel really good about where he is at. If we move next year, that might be another story. 

I'm pretty proud of my little guy and I'm excited to see him grow this year!