First Day of First

We've been ready to get back to school around here.  Well, this Mom has been for sure.  Squirt and Duder have had WAY too much time together this summer and were overdue for a split.  I don't know that Dude had much of an opinion about it.  But ready or not, Monday was the day. 1st grade baby.  Tim and I met with his new teacher last week and walked away floating on air about how awesome she seemed.  Calmed my nerves for sure.  We'll call our new teach Mrs. M. 

We mentally pumped him up on Monday morning, fed him a hearty breakfast, talked up all the awesomeness that would come with another year of learning and growing and hoped for the best.  Amy (my Texas Amy) was in town, so we acted like "my two moms" and put him on the big yellow bus.  We then hit Starbucks and dallied over to the school where we would meet him when he got off said bus.  (This is how things are done at our school).  All the parents from our bus stop were at school too, so I wasn't the only crazy one following the bus around like a parent stalker. 

Dude jumped into my arms after he got off the bus like he hadn't seen me in a week.  He promptly held both our hands with super hero force until the bell rang to start the outdoor assembly.  He lined up with his class and sat on the black pavement (which slowly reached boiling point).  His blond spiked head kept turning around and waving at us, a sure sign of his nervousness.  They all listened intently to Principal Ryan, wrote their names in chalk on the pavement and said the Pledge.  At this point Dude was melting - I could see it.  Luckily they got up and walked into their respective class rooms.  We held his hand during this transition as well, showed him his desk and school supplies, got him situated on the rug and blew him a kiss goodbye.  He smiled his bravest smile and blew a kiss right back. 

I chose to ignore the tears that welled up in my Mama eyes as I walked out.  Didn't expect that.  I also didn't expect him to be so nervous and shy, so that took me off guard.  It helped that the school day was about 2 minutes long that day and he got off the bus to greet me once again shortly after.  Squirt was at daycare, so we took the day and ran with it.  Riley joined us for Planes (pretty cute in a total Car like fashion) and played in the toy store by the theatre.  Dude and his little sis got along like a dream that night, so the separation proved effective. 

When Dude got home from that first 1/4 day of 1st grade, he shed some light on his initial reactions.  It went something like this....

"Mom you didn't tell me about taking the BUS home!  Principal Ryan had to help me cause I was confused.  (true story...bad Mom).  The emotion I felt today was very shy to the WHOLE school.  I was very scared at recess because my teacher wasn't there and I didn't want to be in trouble for going to the wrong recess.  I asked another teacher and she said it was the right recess, so I wiped my tears, walked around the playground and did a cartwheel.  You know, I'm just getting used to this 1st grade stuff Mom.  I'm soooo glad I live here with you.  Can we stop talking about 1st grade now?  My lasagna is getting colder and colder." 

Melt. My. Heart.  I wish I could follow him around like a Mom ghost some times.  This week I've had the urge more often than not.  Ask me next week and I'm sure I'll be over it.   Amy took some sure to be fabulous first day of school pictures for me as my camera baby was at Canon getting some TLC.  I'll post those later.  Here's praying for a fantastic year.