So I guess the State of Ohio allows kindergarteners to have a "phase-in" day before school actually starts. This lets the classes divide into smaller groups and come for a shorter period of time to get a feel for what school will be like. Max's phase-in day was Tuesday. Since this will be the only time I take him to school myself (no busing for phase-in) we had to take our pictures in front of the school. He was a good sport at first but as more and more people came he grew impatient and annoyed with me snapping away! Ha!
We went inside the front doors and waited for the doors to the lobby to be unlocked. While we were waiting we saw a lot of familiar faces including Carley and Heather Breehne. Max was so excited and so brave! All three years of preschool drop offs happened with tears and fighting from him, but here we are at a brand new school with nothing but excitement. YAY!
He ended up walking down the steps to the locked doors alone, pushing through the crowd of people to get up front. Left me in the dust. When the doors opened he ran inside and took off down the hall. I had to call out to him to wait for me!!! I got this picture of him running, skipping and cheering down the hall. :)
He went right to his class, no problem!! I was so relieved!!! What a joy it was to watch him be so happy go!! Two hours later I came back to pick him up. He told me he is assigned to the table labeled "red hearts" WITH Kaylee, of all the luck! He told me he met a new friend named Cari. He told me he picked the "purple letter U" to sit on, on the alphabet rug. He told me his favorite thing was recess. Figures! :)
Today is the first day of school, officially. No Mom taking him to school. He is riding the big yellow bus! WHOA!
All morning he is asking "Is it time for school yet?"... he is used to going to preschool in the morning so this afternoon business is new to him. He had to eat an early lunch so we could get to the end of our driveway a little early. The bus is scheduled to come at 12:17. We got out there at noon, just in case! We took a lot of pictures, including one by the front door, which we do every first day of school, as well as some waiting for the bus.
Earlier this morning Max and I practiced inside what it would be like when we saw the bus coming (I get nervous just thinking about it!) up the hill. We decided we would both jump up and down and cheer!!!! The doors would open and we would wave to Janet, the driver, then he said he was going to shove me and in a deep voice yell "Seeeeee yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!". A light bulb went off in my head! I said "Max, if you really do that I will pay you $5!" Bribes are ok, right? I'm the mother! ;) He is a little greedy guy so I thought that might keep him from worrying or crying or holding on to me or refusing to get on at all.
So here we are... waiting, waiting, waiting... First we see the mail truck. Then a biker. THEN... THE BUS!!!! (seriously my heart is pounding writing this) Here it comes, up the hill... Max and I did just like we practiced... we held hands, looked at each other and started jumping up and down cheering "THE BUS! THE BUS!" The bus then pulls to a stop and the door swings open. We wave "HI JANET" very enthusiastically and then it's time... Max looks up at me... gives me a push and yells "Seeeeeee yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" and climbs up the big steps. I almost couldn't get a picture he was so fast! I couldn't believe it. He actually did it!!!!! No tears, no fear, no anxiousness... he was such a big, brave boy.
I tried my best to savor every moment. I watched the bus pull away with tears streaming down my cheeks. Chris got all of this on video but I'm cheering so loudly during parts of it that I'll spare you from watching and hearing me! :)
So that was it. Back up the driveway we walked... then Chris left and I was home alone to think back on the moments of the morning and cry. I'm so proud of Max!!!
I had a meeting at the school with Jen Johnson (Jen Tharp for those of you who went through Springboro schools with us) right after PM kindergarten started to discuss volunteers for an upcoming event at Clearcreek. I saw Max's bus pull in but didn't see him get off. Jen did tell me though that she walked by his class and he looked happy, just sitting on the rug on the floor with his friends.
Day 1= HUGE SUCCESS!!!!! Now I sit and wait to hear every detail (that he'll share anyway) about the first day! WAHOO MAX!
4 comments:
What great pics! I even teared up reading all about Max's first day! I can remember those days of putting you on the bus and crying Colleen...it is a joyful time!!!! He will have a wonderful year!!! Way to go Max!!!!! You are such a big guy now!!! We love you!!!! Love, Mamaw and PapawXOXO
Oh my! I seriously am crying just reading this. Why do they have to grow up??? I think age 4 forever would be okay for me!
Glad he loved the first Day and even rode the bus. Hopefully it is a great year!
Oh my gosh, I loved the bus story! He has grown so much and I know how exciting and scary that must be for you. You did well, too, Col! Did Chris offer you $5 to not jump on the bus with Max?
I'm glad Max had a great first day!
I think I was more nervous than Peyton was. When I took him into his class, the teacher had some activities that the parents could do with their student. Half way through it, Peyton says, "Aren't you going to leave?"
They grow-up so fast! Sniff, Sniff. I feel like he really doesn't need me too much anymore. But I'm not ready to let that happen!
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