On the first day
For weeks Sophie has had her backpack packed. She noticed when the school bus first appeared on our street and she brought her bag to the door. She was ready. "I READY for skooyul!" she yelled, wanting to make sure that I understood that it was TIME.
We brought Sophie to the Early Childhood class and she was right at home. She started playing with the toys, running from one thing to the next. She sat still during circle time, paying attention to the teacher and singing songs even when she didn't know the words. She was the first one to sit in front of the teacher for storytime, shoving over to make room for the other kids and smiling at the girls sitting next to her. She said "uh hmm" conversationally as the teacher turned each page, letting her know that she was listening and engaged.
I was distracted for a bit, looking around the room, wondering if any of these girls would be her future BFF. I tried not to whisper to Marty every few seconds to make sure that he was watching her, did he see how good she was? How proud she was making me? Did he notice that the two girls next to Sophie were Ava and Zeta? Get it? She was between Ava and Zeta - A and Z?
I pulled myself back to the moment to watch Sophie join the other kids at the snack table. I had previously explained to the teacher that Sophie is allergic to dairy, and knew that she could have the crackers but not the cheese they would be serving. I hoped that she wouldn't mind too much, having something different than the other kids, that there would be something everyone else was eating that she could not. She didn't mind, she was polite and ate her crackers, behaved like a little princess.
She is growing so fast. And she made me so proud.
Editorial note: I made a promise to myself long ago that I would not be one of those women who recounted the things that their kids said by using the exact kid-talk phrasing, which in the past has always struck me as a bit annoying. Like many times before, I've now realized that I have passed unwarranted judgment. It might be annoying to read "I ready for skooyul" instead of "I'm ready for school, madam" which is obviously what she MEANT. But, that's not what she SAID. So, I guess in the interest of accuracy, I'm writin' it like I'm hearin' it. Plus, "skooyul?" That's just so cute, and it won't stay for long, so I'm keeping it. Right here.
We brought Sophie to the Early Childhood class and she was right at home. She started playing with the toys, running from one thing to the next. She sat still during circle time, paying attention to the teacher and singing songs even when she didn't know the words. She was the first one to sit in front of the teacher for storytime, shoving over to make room for the other kids and smiling at the girls sitting next to her. She said "uh hmm" conversationally as the teacher turned each page, letting her know that she was listening and engaged.
I was distracted for a bit, looking around the room, wondering if any of these girls would be her future BFF. I tried not to whisper to Marty every few seconds to make sure that he was watching her, did he see how good she was? How proud she was making me? Did he notice that the two girls next to Sophie were Ava and Zeta? Get it? She was between Ava and Zeta - A and Z?
I pulled myself back to the moment to watch Sophie join the other kids at the snack table. I had previously explained to the teacher that Sophie is allergic to dairy, and knew that she could have the crackers but not the cheese they would be serving. I hoped that she wouldn't mind too much, having something different than the other kids, that there would be something everyone else was eating that she could not. She didn't mind, she was polite and ate her crackers, behaved like a little princess.
She is growing so fast. And she made me so proud.
Editorial note: I made a promise to myself long ago that I would not be one of those women who recounted the things that their kids said by using the exact kid-talk phrasing, which in the past has always struck me as a bit annoying. Like many times before, I've now realized that I have passed unwarranted judgment. It might be annoying to read "I ready for skooyul" instead of "I'm ready for school, madam" which is obviously what she MEANT. But, that's not what she SAID. So, I guess in the interest of accuracy, I'm writin' it like I'm hearin' it. Plus, "skooyul?" That's just so cute, and it won't stay for long, so I'm keeping it. Right here.
You do realize part of Sophie going to skooyul is you leaving her there, right? Because it pretty much sounds like you were there all day...
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Oh yes, but we're not at that stage of skooyul yet. We're in the parent and child kind of classroom. Which is good for me, because I'm not ready (or READY) for the other kind yet.
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I really laughed at Jenine's comment. Remember that if you ever judged any other parent in regard to how the were handling or responding to them, you will be experiencing it! This is an easy one to get pay back on, just don't ever say "My child would NEVER do..."
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How great that she was so eager to go and such an engaged student. You should be proud!
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