First Day of School 2013-2014

School started on July 22nd! Who starts school that early? Apparently the kids' school district, not sure if anyone else is crazy enough to start THAT early. Any who, I am writing this a little late, especially since parent conferences start THIS Wednesday... in August! Again. Crazy.

Three kids are now heading out to school. Jonathan goes to a special sixth-grade-only building at his elementary school. Ella, also at the same school, is now a first grader and has moved up to the big kid playground which creates a newness to school. Leia started preschool but at a different school since the other kids' school does not offer it. Since we now have two schools to go to, that start at the same time, our schedule has changed a bit, except for the first day. Luckily Ryan was able to take the big kids to their school and I took Leia to her first day of school.

Leia's first day of school was madness in the parking lot. It seemed like every parent parked and went up to the school with their kid/ kids. I was a bit worried we would not find a place to park and be horribly late. Luckily we did find a spot, were not late, waited in a long, slow moving line in the hallway next to Leia's class before I could drop her off, finally hugged and kissed her goodbye where she was also greeted by her teacher and then walked into a new world called preschool.

Since we have been in school for about five weeks already, I can say some things have surprised  me about the kiddos and some remain the same. Ella is going through her normal meltdowns AFTER school. I guess she needs to release all the stress and emotions she holds in at school so she is able to follow what is expected of her. Then she gets home, in some cases in the car, and just has a projectile vomit of emotions. I typically ask her to go to her room, mostly to give her some space to calm down, and usually she is okay for the rest of the evening. Just to clarify, she is usually only like this the first month or two, until she gets adjusted to her new surroundings and routines. It happened in preschool and Kindergarten. Right now I am just waiting for the transition time to be over and then everything will be awesome.

 

Leia is kind of doing what I thought she would do... hesitant to go to school. It's still hard to tell if she likes it or not. She has many days where she does not want to go, last week the teacher had to pull her off my leg. Leia was crying hysterically while I was eyeing Audrey getting too close to the parking lot, wanting to get her but waiting to be freed from Leia's death grip. Then I leave, Leia is fine and has a great day at school. She doesn't want to be there, yet has fun, sings the songs she learned at school random times during the day but yet doesn't like it. I am left a little puzzled with this one. I'll just pretend she loves being at home with momma, that nothing compares to momma snuggles mixed with TV watching, and the thought of leaving the best. time. ever. at home makes her sad.

 

Jonathan has been the biggest surprise. Classic Jonathan is organization and getting work completed in a timely manner could be improved. This year he has always been ready in the morning, not the one keeping us waiting anymore. His homework is always done on time, most of the time early. I think he enjoys having six different teachers because it mixes things up but he still does not care for school. Even though he feels that way, he has truly stepped up to the plate and is making the best out of his situation, which makes me one proud momma. There are few adults able to do that.

In a nut shell the first day went pretty well. Jonathan enjoyed it, Ella had withdrawals of not being in Chamberlain's class and Leia probably thought, "What did I just get myself into?" Sounds like an interesting beginning of a new school year.