Finally, almost three hours after the fuzzy-headed little beast started her morning campaign to get to school, it was time to see her off at the school bus for her first day of kindergarten. The schools here apparently stock themselves on crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks and the like by having each kindergartner haul their weight in school supplies into class the first day.
I was pretty sure Christine was going to have streamers and party hats ready to break out as soon as she was gone, ready to celebrate the advent of a wonderful new era of only having two small monkeys climbing on her during the day instead of three. I was totally wrong. Christine had little tears in the corners of her eyes as she watched Laine's bus take off up the road to the school. I still don't understand this whole motherhood thing, I'm glad she's got it figured out.
Anyway, the day went by and I ducked out of work a little early to pick Laine up at the bus stop and take her out for a little ice cream.
It took her about an hour and a half, but she finally explained how she almost got sent to the principal's office the first day for throwing a fit about not having a packed lunch in her backpack. Apparently, explaining the lunch system to her three times before sending her to school just wasn't enough. We'll go through it another half dozen times in the morning and also pack her a lunch, just in case. We don't want her to get busted until at least day three. She went back and forth between being ecstatic about going back to school tomorrow and deciding that school was boring and she was never going back more times than I could count, so we may or may not have to toss her on the bus and run in the morning to get her to go. On the up side, I think she believed me when I told her if she didn't go to school the police would come and take her to jail, so hopefully she won't kick and scream too much if the bus arrives just when she decides again never to ever ever ever go to school again ever ever.
On a more spiritual note, we did a Father's Blessing for her last night, the night before school started. It was great. When it was finished, Laine turned to me and told me that right in the middle she got a feeling inside that made her so, so, so happy. Christine was crying a little for that one too. One of the better spiritual outpourings our little family has experienced lately, it's nice to have moments like that to remind us that the church isn't just something we go to on Sunday.
5 comments:
It's true! I've been waiting for this day ever since I got my first pair of pink lines on the pee stick, but when it finally came, I was an emotional wreck. I wasn't sad to see her go, but I was teary all day because I'm just so proud of how our little baby Laine has grown into such a big, smart, confident, out-going, lovable little girl.
I even got teary reading that. She looks so proud in that after-school picture. I also think its fun she gets to take the bus, it just isn't that common here.
Yay Laine! The first day of school is always so exciting. It is so emotional for mothers though, that scene at the bus. But I'm glad she made it and might even go back for more. Maybe don't tell her the part that she'll be in school for the rest of her life. That might be the deal-breaker :)
p.s. Sorry about Eve's hair! I love that she scotch-taped it back on though. Ingenious.
Laine:
You will love school. Just be patient with your teacher and everything that happens at school. Think of it as a great adventure every day when you get to go off on your own (on the bus!WOW!)
Love you sweetheart,
Grandma Bradley
PS. You sure do have great parents who love you very much.
I will be a wreck when Liv goes to school, but how awesome that she just hopped on the bus. What a brave little girl.
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