Kindergarten Nerves

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Dearest Peanut,

Today I called about kindergarten.

It turns out we missed the registration day they had set up.  I never thought that they’d do registration so early!  One of the few drawbacks about where we live is there really aren’t any families around with young kids for me to talk to, so I didn’t know.

After getting past that initial shock (guess we’ll be one of the families making a special appointment to register), I asked whether kindergarten was half or full day.

I was really hoping for half day…

But it is full day, starting at 8:50 and going until 3:15.

 

I’m not ready for that.

 

As I put your lunch on the table, I mentioned to you that kindergarten would be full day.  I explained that you would get up, eat breakfast, go to school and eat lunch there before you came home.  While I was still reeling from the information, you took it all in stride.  “Just like O. when she goes to school!” you said, smiling.

Your little brother overheard the all day part and mirrored my feelings when he asked, “Does she get to come home?”

Our world is going to be changing in 6 months.

 

When I mention kindergarten, you smile and tell me, “I’m not going until next year, Mommy.”  You are relaxed.  Excited to be with other kids, anxious to learn all you can.

Instead of me trying to reassure you, you are holding my hand, letting me know it will all be okay.  Instead of worrying about being at school all day, you are excited that you get to eat lunch there like your older cousin does at her school.

When your brother worried whether you’d get to come home, you reassured him with a smile and a hug and, “Yes, sweetie, I’m just going to school.”  So grown up.

 

And just like that I knew I didn’t have to worry about you.  You are going to shine!

 

It’s the rest of us that aren’t going to know what to do with ourselves when you start school.

nervous about cihld starting school
Full of energy, and ready to take on the world

Comments

  1. How could she be any other way? You have nurtured her and given her all she needs to have self confidence and go boldly out there. She will do great. She is such a sweetie. You will learn to look forward to snow days, school breaks and summer like never before. Such exciting times, You get to watch your little flower bloom and grow before your eyes.

  2. I really didn’t want full day Kindergarten, either, but when Lily started, she loved it! Now Emmy is in Kindergarten too, and I worried because she turned 5 in July and I wondered if she was too young. Nope! She loves full day Kindergarten too!

    I love Peanut’s reaction to Kindergarten. We can really learn a lot from our kids!

  5. I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way before my first went to school, too. I already feel this with my youngest, who has another year+ before he goes. It is such a big change. It helps to know they are ready, but it is so bittersweet.

    • What I keep thinking is that she will start kindergarten, and he will start the very next year….. And really, he probably needs the social interaction of going to preschool instead of the homeschool I’ve done with her….

    • No, it is definitely not easy. Not easy to let them out of your arms as they start to walk and want to do things on their own, not easy to watch them start school… Being a mom is tough.

  8. My K kid eats breakfast at home and then again at school. He also has lunch and an afternoon snack. He is in all day K and loved it until recently. Now, he says it takes too long.

  10. Our school district still has half day Kindergarten, but they really need all day. They learn so much in Kindergarten including how to read. Imagine trying to jam pack all that learning into a half day schedule. All day they’ll have more time for breaks so as exhausting as it sounds it won’t be all that bad. Good luck to you and your daughter. Stopping by from Sharefest ;).

    • Thank you for pointing that out — that she will probably have more breaks. I guess my fear is more on the selfish side… As much as we drive each other crazy during the day, I am going to miss her terribly.

      • Completely understandable, I miss and even worry about all of my kids everyday they are in school. Absence makes the heart grow fonder though, right ;). She’ll be fine, you’ll be fine. The first few does will be tough, but then you’ll notice you have so much great time with your younger one. How great to have that one on one time.

  11. My first boy did full day and my 2nd is doing half (we switched school districts in the middle there) so I’ve seen both sides. Full day kindergarten is tiring, but fun. The kids love it–kindergarten isn’t like the rest of the grades, its full of play and cool stuff.

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