Within moments of settling into our seats, I hear the principal instruct the kids to line up at the door and leave their parents behind. The eager kids dash to be the first to the door; the nervous ones let go of their parents’ hands in slow motion and shuffle to the rear of the line. The petrified ones—including my son—cling to moms and dads.
Somehow I am still the only parent who ends up walking her child to the kindergarten room. But by the time we get there, half a dozen are in tears and the principal is sending them back to their parents.
I can’t imagine a better way to be introduced to your elementary school—future classmates sobbing all around you. (It reminded me vaguely of a scene from the Hunger Games.)
Next up was a reading from a kindergarten teacher about a little boy who was nervous to start school (and who could blame him?), followed by an activity designed to evaluate the kids. Trenton didn’t want me more than a few feet from his side, but he did sit in the desk long enough to slowly and painfully write his name (complete with his signature upsidedown letter E) and then draw the most bare-bones stick figure you’ve ever seen. While many of the other kids filled their drawings with color and flowers and playground swings, he completed the assigned task as efficiently as he could so that he could get back to my side.
I have no doubt he’ll do just fine in kindergarten. But as I sat on that carpet watching kids take turns showing their picture to the group, I thought about all those parents crammed in the library down the hall. Each of us feels like our child is the best thing to ever walk onto that campus. Any of them would probably babble on to the kindergarten teacher if they had the chance.
“He really can color—more than that sorry little stick figure he just did for you. And he’s smart. And eager. He wants to please. He might need a little encouragement for the first few days, to come out of his shell. But once he gets to know you, he’ll probably talk your ear off. He loves talking to adults who will really listen. Do you ever read the class books about Transformers? Probably not, but he’d like that. You’ll take care of him, right?”
Clearly, it’s a good thing I never got the teacher’s ear that day. 🙂
I have three more months until I officially send my first baby into that room. Summer’s here. The clock is ticking.
By the way, you may have noticed I did a little tweaking on the design here over the weekend. Hope you like it! More to come.
How fun that you got to see what the other parents didn’t. I still remember so many things about Kindergarten, he’ll love it once he’s acclimated. And I like the new header!
That’s so cute that you remember kindergarten well! I remember my teacher’s name and that I thought she wore pretty dresses. That’s about it. 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment, Lisa! (See you at the park tomorrow, hopefully!)
Kindergarten was the year I learned about plagierism, about “if your friends jumped off a cliff…,” and about stalling tactics. But apparently I missed the day where we learned Right and Left. It was a formative year! (ha!)
I felt slightly like that for the start of preschool. I can’t imagine moving on up to kindergarten.
Love this. I’m laughing about what we would all say to teachers if we could.
Now I’m laughing imagining all that you might say about Adrie. That little firecracker. 🙂
I’m sorry the experience was so stressful! It seems like the school could have done more to make the process a little more friendly and welcoming. Reading about your transitions with Trenton (preschool graduation and now entering kindergarten in the fall) makes me realize how soon I’ll be experiencing the same things. It’s sobering. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
Ahhh! Can’t believe he is that old! How terribly exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Oh, I remember!! (First grade is worse!!) 🙁 Good luck!
You are such a good writer. First I read that as a teacher, and it made me laugh…and then I read that as a parent, and it made me laugh, and then I went into denial that I will ever have to send my children to school. 🙂
That is so funny, Lorie! My mom taught kindergarten for years and years, so I kind of saw the whole scenario through her eyes too. But more than anything I FELT it all as a mom. 🙂 Miss ya!
Erica, I am SO with you. My heart aches just to think about it. My older daughter did so much growing this past year in kindergarten. Trenton will do great, even if there are some bumps along the way. We had bumps. Many bumps. But I can still say overall it was a great year for my daughter. I hope you’ll be saying the same in another year. Oh, this part is so hard! Sending you a big hug!
Thank so much, Becky! Now I feel like I need to pick your brain about the kindergarten bumps, so I can be more prepared! Feel free to share! 🙂
Aw. How exciting/nerve-racking to send your child to kindergarten. He’ll do great, though!
Also… Love, love, LOVE your new design! So feminine. So… YOU!