Lucian Starting Kindergarten Wasn’t What I Expected
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I knew the day would come. The day that my “baby” entered our school system.
The day that he would be gone five days a week, all day instead of just a few days a week for a few hours.
The day that I would have to let him go and trust that the bus would bring him back.
Lucian was certainly ready to go to kindergarten last year. Having an end of August birthday and being a boy is the only reason we held him back and it isn’t a decision I’m certain yet was the right one.
I was really ready for this day that was delayed.
I thought I would cry. I thought that I would be at the very least emotional about this big step.
I wasn’t.
Instead I was a nervous wreck.
I was afraid I would oversleep. That somehow he would miss the bus or I wouldn’t give myself enough time in the morning.
I was also full of energy and excitement. I was so excited for him because he was so dang excited that I could have burst. I don’t know who was more thrilled, him or me.
All day all I could think about him. I kept looking at the daily schedule his teacher had given us at his open house to see what he would have been up to.
“Oh, looks like Lucian is taking a bathroom break right now.”
Exciting stuff.
So when Lucian came home late off the bus, I couldn’t wait to find out about his day. I needed to know everything! And what did I get?
“It was GREAT!”
Sure, he was excited when he said it but wrangling any actual details out of him is near impossible. And I am not exaggerating. Each day since he started has been like this. I even encouraged him the first day with a new almanac, something I knew he’d love to tell me more. It certainly helped but getting real details were still like pulling teeth. Each day now I have to bribe him with something he wants, like to play with his iPod with telling me something about his day in order to find anything out. And even then it is vague like we had music today and I played with Legos. Today he told me I packed the perfect lunch.
This brings me back to my childhood years when my mom would ask about my day and I would answer, “School was school.” But that was junior high and beyond. Not kindergarten.
A week into school I pumped him for information about his friends. He confided that he likes lots of kids in his class but one in particular more than the others.
A girl.
A girl who he told me he “gets flustered around.” This is something he says he has never felt before and he smiles whenever he talks about her. He told me about how she wears pig tails and doesn’t sit at his table during class.
Is my kindergartner really six going on sixteen? Does it really start this early?
sigh…
At least there is one thing he does that lets me know he is still my little boy. He wants one more hug and kiss from me and his brothers at the bus stop which is the end of our driveaway.
And he doesn’t even care if all the kids on the bus are watching.
I’ll just hold on to that as long as I can.
My daughter started full day kindergarten this year too! She has an October birthday and she tested in early so she is the youngest in her class (she’ll be 5 next month). Even though she had 4K last year at the same school and even took summer school over the summer with her kindergarten teacher, I was STILL a nervous wreck for her to start preschool!! I couldn’t sleep the whole week before school started because I was so nervous and when I would sleep, I’d have horrible nightmares. However, my Kindergartener was just excited that she got to eat lunch at school now, lol! My youngest daughter started preschool, so a lot of my anxiety was coming from that as well. Luckily, both of my girls LOVE school and are doing really well there!
So happy to hear your girls love school too! It certainly helps whey are excited rather than scared, doesn’t it?
Awww… love the part about the hugs and kisses at the end. I have a 4 yr old so i have some time to prepare myself. We are putting him in part time preschool very soon . It seems like your son did very well – no death grip clinching onto your neck – he looked really excited ! Way to go !
He was super excited but it certainly helps that he is a social butterfly anyway. I can’t imagine how different I’d feel if he were scared!
i know what you mean about no answers..my son will tell me nothing about his day..drives me bonkers
Definitely hold on to these moments. I am at the point right now where my son is 13 and no longer wants to give me kisses, walk with his arm around me, or anything like that. He’s just too cool for snuggle time or to kick back with mom and chat. I’m finding this period way harder than any other so far and sometimes wish I had the days back when I’d get that last kiss at the bus stop! Hopefully once he starts bringing some projects or things home, it’ll give you an open door for him to talk about it and why the teacher had them do it, what he learned, etc. Cherish each day!
You are not alone. Graham is the very same way when it comes to telling me info about school. This is completely normal and you will probably find that things will come spilling out right before bed or when you are in the car going somewhere. I promise he will share. When he is ready. Just keep on encouraging him to do his best and be a helper and all will be well.
Jack is the same way about details. I ask and ask and ask and he says he doesn’t remember. Which I don’t believe for a second because he remembers everything. Oh, and he already told me “It’s boring.” Oy.
Wonderful story! Enjoy every day! My daughter is in 2nd grade and luckily gives me lots of kisses when getting on the bus for school. The bad thing is that the “pulling teeth” to get information doesn’t stop at kindergarten or 2nd grade. I feel like a police office questioning a suspect sometimes.
Chan doesn’t divulge details if I ask, but he’s starting to come around. He was very vague about anything last year in kindergarten. Then he’d start singing a song that I didn’t know, or would pick up a book and read a bunch I didn’t realize he could. This year it’s a little better. He’s better about telling me what they did. I don’t think it’s ever really what you expect. Glad he loves school!
My son is now in fourth grade, but I remember those kindegarten moments. Luckily he still comes home and tells me about how his day went
I love that your son still welcomes public hugs and kisses. I have a few years before my daughter starts kindergarten, but I know the time is going to go fast.
I think my 2.5 yr old would go tomorrow if he could! but I will have to fight the urge not to follow him!
What a great memory! I have a feeling I’m going to be the same way when my son goes to Kindergarten. I’m glad it went well!
As a former KG teacher, I understand the questions you might have with holding him back a year. I’m sure you made the right decision for your son. And the “no” answers are very common. He just needs to find something that interests him at school, maybe you can share some ideas with the teacher or ask her to enlist him as a helper since he might be a bit more ready than the rest of the class. Boys love helping.
How cute. I remember the 1st day of kindergarten, 55 years ago. I was very scared, esp because I didn’t know how to skip, and the other kids I was with could skip.