Wow! Wow! and again Wow! Do I really have a Kindergartener? Yup, today was living proof. Woke up, got ready for school, left, parked, walked him up, dropped him off, and he literally walked away, happy, not sad and a Kindergartener!! Was away for the longest day, from 8-3:30...picked him up and he was still smiling, and talking, and wired. Where was the little boy we expected to be beat, tired and maybe not wanting to go back? Still looking for him.
If you know Mateo, you know he can be a moody little dude. And you can NEVER predict what his mood will be like when he wakes up. Add to that, a little boy who clung onto me for the 1st month of preschool as a 3 year old, and cried the 1st few days as a 4 year old. I have been tearing myself up, dreading about and thinking about this day, and hoping it would go well. We have talked up Kindergarten like you wouldn't believe. He has talked about wanting to go back to his old school and not go to a new school. He wanted to go where his friends would be. We talked about how fun it would be, how cool it was gonna be to make new friends, how he was going to learn how to read and could read books to Marco pretty soon. At his new school the kids gather with their class outside the gates in the morning and walk in as a class. Parents are NOT allowed to go in with them to ease the transition. I have been thinking about this for weeks. They warned us at back to school night, walk away quickly, it will make things easier...really...uugghh!
Now fast forward to today. Last night we took baths early, picked out clothes, prepared his backpack and lunch box, got ready for bed and struggled to get to sleep. Finally, he slept! This morning, I so wanted him to wake up in a good mood...and YES, he was happy, slept good, and ready. We got dressed and had breakfast. Breakfast of champions - Fruit loops and "white" donuts. Yum! (if you remember we had white donuts on his birthday too, definitely a special occasion food). Daddy even stayed home today for the big day. We got ready, left for school, parked, walked him up, (not once, ok maybe one time kinda he mentioned not wanting to go but I think he was more doing it to get my reaction) passed him off to his teacher, he found a friend to talk with, and daddy and I were history. He never looked back. (And just a little note for me to remember, as we passed the high schoolers walking in, that is what brought tears to my eyes first, fast forwarding to that day....uggh...lol). Probably would have been in tears but wanted to spare him so he wouldn't want to turn back.
Fast forward to 3:30. Got to the school, lined up with our cards to pick him up. Saw him walk out of the gates with that look on his face to see if we were there but still smiling. Got to the front of the line, his teacher brought him up and said he had a great day. And he started talking and never stopped.
Went to dinner at Black Bear. Had chocolate chip pancakes again. Was surprisingly wired.
Then ended his full day with the 1st day of soccer practice, which he went to happily. Practiced, had fun. Got to play at the park for a little while and finally home. And still wired and not tired....WHAT?
After a bath and books...finally the little man passed out. Says he's ready to go back tomorrow...fingers crossed!!!
Breakfast of Champions!
1st school lunch
Still smiling (much to my relief!)
Not crying, just rubbed his eyes
Walked right up, my big little boy
The end of the day and still smiling!
Basically, Keep out~!
Little man's choice for dinner
1st day of soccer practice, they're so darn cute out there~!
Marco wanting to try on Mateo's shin guards
Mateo's 1st Kindergarten project ~ now proudly displayed in his room
Wheew! That was a long day
