First grade has arrived. I normally write a first day of school post. First day of school was last Thursday. I guess after monumental preschool and kindergarten years, the arrival of first grade, even at a new school, seemed tame in comparison.
Nonetheless, I don’t want to let this important milestone pass.
The kids started first grade with, mostly, excitement at a new school at our home church. Each of our past two schools (two years of Pre-K at one and kindergarten at another) were a gift specifically for that time, but this school feels like home. Everyone is incredibly warm and welcoming, and God gifted us with some special friends at the school before we even started.
I won’t get into the details of how we loved this school but wondered about the cost because God made a way for us to financially get our three kids there. Another illustration this year of His timing and miracle-working. There was no question this was the place we were supposed to be.
And, because the school goes through eighth grade, Lord-willing we won’t have to school shop for YEARS to come!
My first day of school tradition has been the same for three years, and it’s one of my favorites (the kids too). I take the kids to school and walk them in with their new uniforms and loaded backpacks. This year I barely got a backwards glance when I walked them to the door. Clearly there will be no more tearful goodbyes (thankfully I was dry-eyed for the first time in a couple of years too!).
Then, I work from home and arrive ridiculously early to the carpool pick up so I can be one of the first cars. (Last year I was the FIRST car but this year I only made the top three!) From carpool pick up, we go to the same bakery/gelato place near our neighborhood to get yummy gelato or treats and proceed with the FULL download.
Normally, when I arrive home around 6 pm after work, I never get the full download. But when I pick them up, it’s fresh and they’re jabbering over each other to share stories. (Although, I’ve resuscitated the curling up in bed with them at bedtime this week. So I’m getting the skinny during that downtime. I wish I could record every syllable.)
What do you think of your new teacher? Did you make new friends? How was lunch? What’s your schedule like? What was your favorite part of the day? On and on I go like the litigator I was trained to be in law school. We round-robin the questions so each one gets a turn to answer one first.
They each love their teacher. Couldn’t say enough how sweet they were. Little bit remarked that even when someone had to be corrected Mrs. G did it in “her nicest voice.” Oh I laughed at that (I may not have mastered that technique six years in).
The baby and little lady each found friends. The eldest was slower to find, one but by last night he reported having made a friend. When recess was rained out they got to stay in and watch a video (oh joy!). The two first grade classes join up at recess and P.E. and lunch. The baby is solo this year, but the eldest still has his brother to sit near during social times as he warms to the others. The eldest’s only “negative” was no lunchtime prayers. I advised him he was free to say them on his own!
The eldest is obsessed with football. College and professional. The Texans come in a close second to LSU – he watched old games on the iPad all summer just to tide him over until he could watch live ball again this month. He wants to travel to the furthest places from Texas and is counting down to our DC trip next month.
The little lady is completely taken with dolls. Particularly American Girl dolls. She’ll get her first one for her seventh birthday and will have a few girls for lunch at their bistro to soak in everything dolly. She’s my introvert and she sits in her room and reads and plays with them and wants to be a kindergarten teacher.
The baby loves to build and create. He says building and fixing is his “gift.” He knows he has other talents and enjoys sports, particularly fishing, but it’s building that focused on. He also loves to cook with me in the kitchen (everyone can crack their own eggs), chase and catch lizards, and come up with wheeled Lego creations.
Oh friends, this is such a sweet time. They play kickball and jump rope and tell their momma their stories. I pray that if I keep asking the questions and keep carving out time to listen, they’ll never stop. They’re certainly stretching their big kid muscles. The eldest with his desire to be 12 overnight. The baby with his defiance of “any” authority. The little lady with her attitude. But mostly it’s so good. It’s still innocent and the concerns are tackle-able. We’re talking about having our first sleep over and we still have dance parties in the bedroom where I can (barely) spin them around. I’m so excited about their first grade year!
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