Wahoo! We have arrived. School.
Max and Kate started pre-k this week. Michigan's age cutoff for kindergarten isn't til October 1st, so we did meet the requirement but we felt it was best for our kids to have a bit more time and not throw them into full day school right off the bat. Their prior school experience was a lovely preschool; 2 days/week for 2.5 hours each day. Going from that to 9-4 school was certainly a big jump, and we weren't taking it this year.
We are really excited for this year and I know that they are going to do great. I put them in separate classes and am happy with this decision. Their classrooms are side by side for easier drop-off/pick-up.
The night before class we had the kids set out their clothes for the morning, get their backpacks ready and we went to bed early. I awoke before everyone to get a good breakfast started; baked oatmeal. By 7:15am the kids were all up, dressed and we were sitting together for a nice breakfast. Gone are our leisurely mornings of PBS kids and cold cereal. Class starts at 8:15 and my goal was to be out the door by 7:45, we made it by 7:50. Phil's schedule allowed him to come along with us and I am glad since it was busy and with two kids and two classrooms we needed to divide and conquer.
Kate was anxious that morning. She was the first up and ready but as we were eating breakfast she started crying that she didn't want to go to school. She also cried in her classroom but was brave and we left her nervous but not crying.
Max didn't have any tears but I could sense his apprehension, he was just a little clingy but with some reassurance and a big hug he was great.
The first day was just a half day; so half of a half day, haha! 90 minutes long in reality. By the time we did the drop-off and returned home we only had 40 minutes before it was time to go back and pick them up again. Max was all smiles and Kate was a little grumpy and sad. She just wanted to come home. When we got home and I told her that she would get to go to school again tomorrow and the next day and the next... She teared up again and cried out that she didn't want to go to school everyday! Haha, poor kid. We know she will do great.
Rhett was quite sad that his best friends were at school and he didn't get to stay. He thinks that we are going to make cookies together everyday. As much as he and I would like that, I am trying to convince him that maybe once a week is feasible. (He says that because when Max and Kate went to a Primary activity that he couldn't attend my consolation activity was making cookies together. Oops!)
We are so proud of these two big kids! As we were bustling about the night before and Tuesday morning Phil said that "we've finally arrived! We are legit parents now, we've got school kids.".
