Hayden’s a kindergartener!
Yesterday was Hayden’s first day!
Riding to school (It’s just a couple blocks from door to door.)
Saying bye
(The little boy behind him is the one mentioned below)
Walking in
His teacher is the woman leading the line. Ryan said the yellow-shirted man had a college ID, so he might have been a student teacher? I didn’t see him today.
Naturally, Hayden can’t give me a minute-by-minute account of the day, but I’ve gathered that he got to play with play dough, draw a picture of himself, sit criss-cross apple sauce(d) on the multi color carpet with our neighbor in his class, make a new friend (Who greeted him today by saying, “Hey! You! With glasses!” and holding out his arms as if to say “DUUUH, I’m right HERE!” [Ack, I can't believe my son is "the one in the glasses!"]). Also, there are stars decorating the classroom. Hayden did his screening interview in this room, and at the time he asked if he could write his name on one of the stars hanging from the ceiling. He tells me he doesn’t have a desk, but a table. Tonight is his back to school night, so we’ll get a better idea of what school is really like.
But he was glad to see me at noon:
And I’m not sure when he picked this trick up, but this was the first I’d seen it:
Rachel slept the whole time. Rebecca loved having me to herself: yesterday, we played games, including one number game (the fourth one here), the entire time. I spent less than half an hour straightening up/on the computer. Today, we laid on the floor and snuggled for 2 hours while we watched Curious George and Toy Story. Every time I even sat up, she’d roll over and say in a perfectly innocent voice, “I thought you were going to duggle me.”
I think she needs a picture:
And Rachel, too. The first time she climbed up in the stroller on her own (I think):
She was very adventurous at the park after school today. She was very upset to leave!
Oh, and what you’re really wondering: how did I take it? Ryan actually took off work and we all went down together, and I teared up, but didn’t cry. My friend/neighbor (mother of Hayden’s friend) pointed out that this is kind of the beginning of the end: from here on out, our sphere of influence will only shrink in their lives. Ouch. But I still managed to keep it together. (Another friend’s son told her that “It was the worst day of my life because you left me,” so I think we all handled it pretty well, eh?) On the plus side, it’s amazing what a difference a few hours makes. He’s done preschool for two years, and still, not having him around and having Rachel down for a nap makes the house so much quieter (and cleaner). But I’m glad he’s still here in the afternoons.
