Harry started kindergarten! He is in a year round elementary and I can not say enough about how blessed we are to have him there! God has been showing me sign after sign that we made the right choice to put him in this year round school. For those of you who do not know, year round has shorter summers but a lot of breaks throughout the year. Our summer full of adventures ended last Wednesday when Harry started school. His orientation was on Monday morning and first day was Wednesday. Chad was out of town during both of these events but, we were excited that Coco wanted to come experience our first "meet your teacher" night in his academic career. His teacher is highly respected and I know she is a great fit for Harry. He was so excited he couldn't stand it!
He was not excited about his bow tie but, he forgot about it once we stepped on campus! I have had some fears about Harry going to school. 1. Harry would be too wild and would not keep his hands off his classmates. 2. His teacher would be annoyed with his curiosity and spastic behavior. 3. Harry would be ignored, 3. Harry would lose his innocence. God has completely brought me peace through some experiences I must share!
The students went to their class and the parents went to the cafeteria to hear the principals spill on what to expect the first day. I dropped Harry off and was excited to see a friend of mine who has a son in Harry's class. She approached me later and said that she was worried about her son because he was flicking Harry(which Harry probably loved), and Harry said, "we don't hit in kindergarten". This may seem like no big deal to some moms but it was HUGE to me! I had been coaching Harry for that exact experience! He passed! I am sure he will not pass this test every time but for this worried mom, her words were answered prayers!
When Harry and I were walking out of the building the principal stopped what she was doing and ran to Harry, looked at him and went on and on about how excited she was to have Harry there and how great of a year it would be for him. He was beaming! I still tear up thinking about it. It meant so much to me to have her go out of her way to give Harry, and of course me, the reassuring gesture that it was going to be a great year. She did not have to do that and it meant a lot. Especially when I feared he would be ignored.
The first day of school was amazing! He was dying to go in and was a great sport with the pictures Georgia Kelley and I took of him! Yes, Georgia Kelley wanted to help take pics!
I had planned all week to make sure Harry had a yummy apple to take to his teacher the first day of class. It was Tuesday night, it was 7 pm and Harry had been at the water park all day! It was vital I got him to bed in the next hour and there was no Chad, a necessary shower, and all the kindergarten books we had to read! I called my neighbor Ashley, in hopes she would be in town(she is like me with running around) to pick up an apple at the mall. I was disappointed to hear she was at home but as soon as I told her my dilemma, she was quick to say she would be happy to run and grab it! She knows how big of a deal it was for me and went out of her way to grab this apple! His teacher better have enjoyed it:)
I begged Harry to let me kiss his hand or at least kiss mine and he would not! If you have not read The Kissing Hand, then you don't get this! I was so sad. He literally kicked me out of his classroom.
I picked him up and the first story he told me was about Pete the Cat! Our family loves Pete and he couldn't wait to tell me that Pete had left them notes all over the building! He said, "today was the best day of my whole entire life"! He said he got in trouble one time for whispering to a kid with a wildcat shirt on but, he was a really good listener!
Day Three was the day that I cried the most! I was waiting in car rider line and all the kindergartners walked out. They were walking with the principal and a lot of them didn't listen and went straight for their parent's cars. Harry was right besides my van and looked at me with an expression like "she hasn't said I could go yet". The counselor had her hand on his back and walked him to where they were suppose to be called out to for their car. I was so proud of Harry! Once again, tons of constant reinforcement for him to be a good listener and not to do what everyone else is doing paid off. I was crying when he got in the car! I also was so touched at the counselor putting her hand on his back and walking him. It was another assurance that Harry is going to be okay! He got in the car and immediately said, "Mom, I know what I learned today." Note that that is the first question I ask daily and he has not been giving me much feedback. "I made a new friend that is a girl and her name is Hunter, why can't my name be Hunter."! This made me laugh hysterically! I can totally see how that would be a cool name for a kid!
Kindergarten has been a blessing for Harry. Georgia Kelley loved having her time on the first day but, the next two days were tough. She asked me to go pick him up at least every hour. I don't blame her, I want to pick him up too! He was ready and I think we are too!
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