2nd & 3rd Days of School

Thursday (2nd day of school) didn't go so well at drop off. I walked Anna to her classroom and helped put her backpack in her cubby. When she hugged me, it was a long hug and I looked down to find her crying. I finally had to push her toward her teacher and turn and leave the classroom. I felt horrible for doing that but I knew that lingering would only make things worse. That was a long, bummer of a day for me. All I could see in my mind was Anna crying when I left her. When I pulled up to the school to pick her up that afternoon, it was such a wonderful sight to see her smiling face! I asked her if she had cried for long that morning and she said "no". I asked what happened and she said "I leaned on [her teacher]". She told me about the day's events and was so excited that she got a sticker for sleeping at naptime. (I was amazed that she slept. But we did get in late from church the night before, and I think the new morning schedule was tiring her.) She was also excited that she got a pink tray at lunch. Later on I was talking to her about not crying Friday morning and naming reasons why she wouldn't need to cry (i.e. "You have fun", "I'll be here to get you when schools out.", etc.) So I asked "You're not going to cry tomorrow morning, right?" Anna replied "I'll try" (without much assurance in her voice.)

Friday (3rd day of school) went so much better than Thursday morning. While waiting in the longggggggg car line at school that morning, I told Anna that I would walk her to her classroom door but that I would not go in like the day before. I thought it might be easier on her plus come Monday parents cannot walk the kids into the building. At first she didn't like my idea but I explained the reasons why, including Monday she would HAVE to walk in by herself. Then she surprised me and said "Lets do it today." Meaning drop her off at the front door of the school. I asked her a hundred times to be certain that was what she wanted to do. She insisted it was and that's what we did. I pulled up in front of the school, we hugged and kissed as we waited our turn, she grabbed her backpack and out the door she went. I was so proud of her! Then I worried about what happened when she got inside but knew someone would help her if she got lost. She was wearing black and red for Spirit Day and looked so grown up. That afternoon she was full of more exciting news. I was asking lots of questions and it must have been overwhelming her. I asked what they had for lunch and she paused for a few seconds and asked "Can I have time to think?" She told me about getting to sit on a "hot bus" to learn bus rules "just in case I ever ride the bus". She was most excited about going to the gym and seeing the football players and cheerleaders. I never could understand exactly what they were doing (pep rally or what). Anna said one cheerleader told her that she had a "pretty bow" in her hair. That really made an impact on Anna. My little girl that not long ago wanted to be a basketball player now wants to be a cheerleader. She was also excited about getting "five bear bucks". Apparently they get bear bucks for good behavior and can use them to buy things. She even said "I hope I get more bear bucks tomorrow!" I told her that tomorrow was Saturday and no school. That didn't seem to upset her.

It's good to have the first week (half-week actually) of school behind us. It went much better than for some of my friends and their children. So I'm happy it went as good as it did! I pray that the weekend doesn't give us a setback come Monday morning.