First Day!

Isaac and Ms. Katy

Today was Izey's FIRST first day of school!  He goes to a public neighborhood preschool from 3:00 to 5:30 on Monday through Thursday this year.  It's so weird that he has this place to be now! 

We spent so much time preparing Spike for his first day.  We talked about it, we prayed about it, we rented library books about it, we told stories about Spike going to school, about Diego going to school, about Dora going to school....this kid knew what to expect.  And yet...there were tears. 

Okay, I really added this one because I think Anders looks cute in it.  :)

Before we left, Isaac was excited.  He packed his back pack with one pencil and a snack-trap of Cheerios.  He told Anders, "Ando, did you know today is my first day of school!?  And you, and Daddy, and Momma are all coming to drop me off and then I'm going to go all by myself!  And my teacher's name is Ms. Katy!" 

Our first indication that all was not well in Izey-land -- notice the tell-tale furrowed brow?

But as Ms. Katy lined up all the kiddos and started calling their names, he started furrowing his little brows and wouldn't take his eyes off the sidewalk in front of him.  The parents were invited in and he asked me to "stay for a little bit."  I stayed to take a few pics, give a little pep talk, and then I was off.  I stood outside the door (where he couldn't see me) to listen and was discouraged that he cried hard for quite awhile.  Eventually I didn't think I could hear him anymore, so I went to join Zach and Anders at the park outside.  

Other parents had been in the room with him and gave me reports, "Your son is crying!  It is so sad!"  I said I knew and that I thought he'd be okay.  I asked one mom how her son did and she said, "He was excited.  But we prepared him."  As if I didn't!  I tried not to be irritated.  

When we went back in to pick him up, Ms. Katy had lined them up at the door and called each kid's name as he left the room.  It felt a little bit like a wedding party but I suppressed the urge to cheer for each kid as he came out.  There was this super cute short and chubby boy who started to cry when he saw his family.  Ms. Katy said he had been fine throughout the whole time until he saw his parents!  Aww!  Another girl was a mess -- she had obviously been crying the entire time and had a snotty, wet, and red face.  Poor kid!

Then she finally called "Isaac Danielson."  This child feels all of his emotions deeply and dramatically.  Hmm.  Where does he get that?  He came running out with arms wide open, eye brows raised, and mouth grinning ear to ear.  "Momma!"  I got a hug that almost bowled me over and so did Daddy and Anders.  All the other parents laughed.  That's my boy.  Never a dull moment.  

His report was, "At preschool, I tried to cry, but then I couldn't cry anymore!"  Ms. Katy said he suddenly shouted, "I don't have to cry anymore!" in the middle of a story.  Sounds familiar!

He was pretty excited about his cubby and about a song about bubble gum.  I am pretty excited that somebody else gets to nurture my enthusiastic (that's my nice way to say it) child during the most difficult time of our day! 

Good thing he brought his empty back pack!