First Day of School

Way back in the day Chris and I figured that we wouldn't send Xander to school until kindergarten. We weren't too hip with preschool especially since I can teach things at home. Then kindergarten became full day and I became a little nervous about going from no school to full day school with no stops in between. Then Xander became kind of smart. Granted, as my oldest I don't have other children to judge him against. However he is incredibly social with other kids and parents have occasionally commented about his speech, memory, etc. So we figure he's on the way to rocket-science-ville.

Therefore we decided to enroll Xander in prekindergarten this year. After hemming and hawing I settled on the afternoon class that meets for two and a half hours four times a week. I was, and still am, nervous because Xander is a 'young 4' meaning he turns four after the school year starts. I really think he will be ready for kindergarten as a 'young 5' so into pre-k he goes. While in California I met many a parent who was overly concerned about what age to put their child in school (as well as what school to put them in), I think it rubbed off on me a little.

We let Xander know that he'd start school this year and that announcement was met with excitement. So today when he woke up he told everyone "Today is school!" at which point I reminded him that school was after lunch. After lunch he proclaimed "Time to go to school!" and I had to rush off to change my clothes (I'm actually teaching while he's in school and Josie is with a sitter). I managed to get a few pictures in to commemorate the moment before we left.

Super excited!

Ok, I told him to look smart and maybe put his hand under his chin.

Josie is excited for Xander to go to school (and leave her alone).

Notice the nice little bruise on his forehead? He got that by running into the couch a few hours before school. Typical.

When we pulled up to the school I pointed out a mom and daughter and said that the girl was probably going to be in Xander's class. When I helped both kids out of the car, Xander raced after the girl shouting "Wait for me" and I then had to race after Xander while carrying Josie.

We went through the routine of putting his bag away, checking in and going to the restroom. At this point we were waiting in the hallway with all of the other parents and students and siblings when Xander actually became a little distraught that he wasn't in the classroom. "But Mom, I really want to go to school!"

As soon as that door opened he was off like a shot to play. I could barely get him to hug me good bye and I gave up and left. I wasn't one of the teary moms but when I got to the car I suddenly became nervous that I left him in the wrong classroom. There is only one classroom yet I somehow worried it was the wrong one.

When I picked him up at the end of the day, Xander very happy with school. When asked what he did today he replied "I drank chocolate milk!" Good to know.