Kindergarten!!

Noah is SIX AND IN KINDERGARTEN. This is not possible. And very exciting. At the same time.

Thankfully, our local school gradually initiated the newbies with a Meet the Teacher night, a morning screening with their teacher, a half-day with half the class, then two full days before they tackled a whole week...

Arriving for Noah's half day with the boys in his class (holding his nap mat)

After the introductory assembly in the "Multi-Purpose Room" (gym)

Checking out the Cafeteria -- both boys' favorite feature of their new school. I hear about the chocolate milk almost daily.

I think Noah floated through his first half-day, convinced he was going to the equivalent of Disneyland every day. Meanwhile, I stayed home and hosted a pity party. After spending the summer playing with my boys -- making pancakes, watching movies, going to the zoo, etc -- they were suddenly. both. gone. Granted it was only for a few hours, but I felt the loss acutely and unexpectedly. I had thought by the time summer ended, I'd be ready to send them packing. But summer was too short. I was still having fun with them, so I plunged into a temporary grieving for the season that was passing.

It did help me to remember that:
1) Mothers have been experiencing this for decades - including my own mother.
2) They ALL tell me it doesn't take long to adjust.  (post-script: they were right)
3) We're not doing boarding school. They will be back every afternoon, all weekend, lots of holidays, and for at least 10 more summers, give or take a few...

I still used every bit of the next 4 days my boys had off to soak them up before the long days began. By then, I was more prepared for a new season...

The big breakfast and send-off with Daddy before his First Full Day

---------------------FULL DISCLOSURE: We're cheatin' a little bit here. We missed the bus the first day of school. #motheroftheyear In my defense, we'd all seen an elementary bus pick up kids for years at the cul-de-sac next to our house -- right next to where Aaron's bus comes -- so we assumed Noah's bus would pick-up there, too. After 30min of waiting and calling neighbors, we realized our mistake and rushed Noah to school just in time. Then, the next day, we took pics of the school bus (seamlessly inserted here) which both boys love almost as much as Mommy.-----------------------------

Running toward me (with Isaac) at the bus stop (photo cred: Daddy)

Wait a sec. Who's that? ;) Only 30 years between...

Goin' in...

Waiting for the bus that afternoon...

Home and slightly ecstatic

Me: How was school?
Him: It was very, very, very, very, very fun! Can I come back for 1st and 2nd and 3rd grade?!

#misshimSOmuch #andsohappyforhim #kindergartenhoneymoon
#startingoffright #mostly