Tears and Cheers?

Monday was the first day of school for Lake Travis Elementary. Sydnee and Skylar were up bright and early ready to go!

Our PTA sponsors an annual breakfast on the first day of school for parents. It's called Tears and Cheers. One side is full of parents with pom-poms cheering... "Hooray!! The summer is over! The kids are back in school!!" The other side is sparsely filled with parents, mostly moms of kindergarteners, boo-hooing that the summer is over and their babies are back in school. Can you guess which side I was on??!!

This year Sydnee is in the 3rd grade and Skylar starts her first year of school in kindergarten. Starting school is old hat for Sydnee and she did well without a hitch. We dropped her off, gave her the usual hugs and kisses and went on our merry way for the next destination... the dreaded Kindergarten Hall.

As Brian and I walked down the long kindergarten hall with Skylar and witnessed countless children crying, whining and begging on their hands and knees... "PLEASE MOMMY... DON'T LEAVE MEEEEEEE!", it was comforting that Skylar wasn't at all nervous but happy and down right content to be waving goodbye to us. We walked her in her classroom, she promptly turned around and never looked back. I'm serious... no bye... no I'll miss you... nothing. She just melted right in with her classmates, as happy as a lark. At that moment, I felt a twinge of sadness (ok, I admit... who am I kidding?? It wasn't a twinge but more like a sock in the stomach). I wondered how comforting was it really that she didn't even look back? Brian saw the look of panic in my eyes and quickly scooted me out the door where I joined the kindergarten cry fest - the one in the hall with the other kindergarten children.

Fortunately, that same Monday (which I think I will henceforth refer to as "Black Monday" - that seems fitting) I started work at the school, so I'm able to peek in on the kids and see them in the halls from time to time. Again, I think its clear - its much more of a comfort to me than it is to my kids that I'm close by. Those little well-adjusted buggers! Is there such thing as overly-well-adjusted?!? Nah, I didn't think so.

This morning at school - while I was "working", I had a chat with a little kindergartener and she was crying hysterically and telling me how much she missed her Mommy. She said no one else can make things right like her Mommy can. She also was quick to tell me that calling her on the phone just won't do - it will only make it worse since she can only hear her voice and can't actually see her. I tried my best to comfort her and tell her it would get a little easier every day. She looked up at me with her big puffy blue eyes and said calmly and frankly, "Ms. Griffin, I'm sorry but, I just don't think this Kindergarten thing is for me". It was hard not to crack a smile at that one. I guess I should be glad that my kids think the school thing is for them - for now.

Until next time... Jen :)