I splurged on a vacation day today. Actually, I was going to splurge on a vacation day yesterday, too, but my boss was so excited to take us out to a birthday lunch, and I had the girls last night so I couldn’t stray too far from home, and the IO had a trip, so really it just made more sense to tuck that vacation day away for another time. BUT! Today I have off and I plan to make very good use of it shopping the day away before I meet up with the IO for a belated birthday celebration.
I am going to need the shopping therapy because it turns out, registering your daughter for kindergarten is a lot more traumatic than one might think. But I did it. I drove up to Gracie’s “5-year-old’s school,” found the visitor parking, marched myself through the front door (on wobbly knees) and…waited. Well, actually, it turns out there was an entire packet of forms I had to fill out that the assistant had neglected to tell me about when I called on Monday. No matter, I filled out the forms as I waited in line. I filled out her lunch preferences (school lunch), her mode of transportation (school bus to and from daycare), her emergency contacts, permission forms for field trips and to be photographed or recorded (wth?!), and two forms about the language Gracie speaks the majority of the time at home. I didn’t think they would accept either Whine or Gobbldegook for that one, though I was sorely tempted.
Twenty minutes later I was walking through the door. My knees were still shaking. In fact, so were my hands. And my stomach didn’t feel too sure of itself. Tell me again – who exactly decided that five-years-old is big enough to handle all of this? I felt like it was my first day of school all over again as I drove out of the parking lot. It’s my nerves that are jangling; I am the one who is anxious about how big the school seems (especially compared to the 10-room elementary school I attended). I’m sure Gracie will be just as nervous next week when it all seems real, and then I will have to get a grip. Until then, I am relishing in my full freak-out. I mean, where will we park for the First Day of School Madness? I’m sure 300 other cars will be vying for the same 40 spots. How will we know where her classroom is? How will SHE know? Who will help her remember how to get there on the 2nd day? And the 3rd day? How will she know where to get her lunch? And how will I know that she is choosing the right food…and not too much food? How will she know where her bus is at the end of the day?
STOP.
It will be fine. This will all seem like old hat by Halloween. If we can just get through this, we won’t have to worry about new school jitters until middle school…and even then they will be better. (At least for me. I mean, I won’t have to worry about whether she’ll be standing there crying because she doesn’t know what to do.) Perhaps I’ll sharpie my cell phone number across her forehead. (Not a bad idea.) It’s one week until Meet the Teacher Night when all my fears will be magically soothed and all my questions answered. Until then, I’m going shopping for a new pair of shoes and a birthday outfit. And maybe, if I’m really good, a sedative.
Tags: children, growing up, parenting, school
August 14, 2009 at 10:10 am |
Oh Mom, it will be ok. I know exactly what you are going through as do millions of other moms. That, of course, doesn’t make it any easier for you, but rest assured, Gracie will be fine. Probably, even more than you. You are raising a strong, intelligent girl who will be a lot braver than you think and who will ask for help when she needs it.
August 14, 2009 at 12:39 pm |
I guess I must have been a rotten Mom. I was thrilled when my oldest started kindergarten – full time even! Such joy I felt to send him off to learn for 6 hours in the day. Granted I had 3 other little ones at home at the time so finally sending one off was a godsend!
I didn’t worry about it before sending him off but the first day of school was a surprise to me. Here I was sending my child off to a classroom with a teacher that I didn’t know that well (Miss Masley) and she was going to take care of him and nuture him for those 6 hours?? What a weird concept. I was alittle apprehensive – it lasted one day! LOL That 10 room school that you attended took good care of my oldest, my second and my third and most of my fourth’s time in elementary- just as it did your brother and sisters. I wish that my youngest could have benefited from its little school ways!
Don’t worry Katie – Gracie will do just fine!
August 14, 2009 at 1:44 pm |
I know that feeling well. It’s not easy for us moms! Try to remember that everyone at the school knows what they’re doing and for years they have made sure that kids get where they need to be. For the little ones they probably have helpers in the cafeteria and helpers directing kids in the hallways, and helpers getting them on the correct buses. She will be fine, don’t forget to breathe, and the shopping therapy is an excellent idea!
August 14, 2009 at 2:55 pm |
[...] Katie’s (of Can’t Get There From Here) oldest girly, Gracie is starting kindergarten! She could use some words of support here – Fine! Grow up! See if I care. [...]
August 14, 2009 at 5:47 pm |
god i was spoiled going to kindergarten! 10 classrooms, knew the name of every teacher and most of the kids in the school, and my best friend was in the same class as me. no wonder our moms had nothing to worry about!
they should have orientation so the kids can see where they’re going, meet their teacher, and secretly calm the parents down. maybe if their pta is cool you can join and suggest it. in the meantime don’t worry about gracie. she’s smart and social. she’ll remember what she’s supposed to and make friends.
try to remember all fo the things she wont have to worry about because of the experience she has from daycare. that camp program was such a good prep for her with the field trips she knows how to NOT get lost and to adjust and make new friends.
August 15, 2009 at 10:11 am |
As a teacher, the best advice I can give you– stay involved in her education. Get to know her teacher and classmates, volunteer to help with class parties (not just send stuff in–go and help set up the games or distribute the snacks or staple papers for the teacher if that is what she needs!), and stop in at the end or beginning of the day sometimes just to look at the latest art projects and room decorations and to make sure the teacher still has all of her hair. The best gift you can give your daughter is to know what is going on in her life!