First Day of School

Well, today was the day that we put Sydney on the school bus and watched her drive away from us. She woke up this morning crying saying that she was scared. I told her that all the kids in her class today were feeling exactly the same way that she was & that it was normal to be scared. Brad asked her to say "hi" to 2 kids today & we explained that if they didn't say "hi" back, that it didn't mean anything about Sydney. They just maybe weren't feeling as brave as she was.


We got through that moment & she got excited to go. I was feeling like a horrible parent that we hadn't taken all the extra stuff she needed (i.e. inside shoes, "just in case" clothes, markers, glue stick, etc) to school when we met the teacher. Instead all that in addition to her lunch pail & teddy bear were in her backpack this morning. The bear was at the request of the teacher since Sydney would need it for the bear hunt they would be doing. Her pack was so full, she could hardly lift it! And at the bus stop it nearly tipped her backwards!

I worked from home today so that I could see her get on the bus in the morning & greet her off the bus at the babysitters this afternoon. We went to the stop & things went well. She got excited waiting & marched right across the road when the bus came & stepped onto the bus no problem. When she got up onto the bus I saw her look back & she looked a little overwhelmed, but there still were not any tears. The good thing about where we live is that she is essentially one of the last kids on the bus so she does not have a long bus ride. The bad thing is that it must be pretty overwhelming for a newly four-year-old to look back at a bus packed with kids.


We tried to wave goodbye but we couldn't see her anymore & the bus was hardly away from the curb when my tears started. I was proud of her, but I was pretty certain that there were going to be some tears shed by her today & it really hit me that I wasn't going to find anything out until she got home this afternoon. At least with daycare you could call & see how she was doing. With school, they are completely in someone else's hands for the day & you mainly only know what your child tells you. But, I did what I hoped she would do- I sucked it up, came home & started working right away. I was thinking that I would post this blog first thing this morning- but I knew that wasn't going to help me at the time.


So, at 3:30 I saw her again & learned that yes she did cry. Three times she told me. It was so sweet the way she was telling me, because I could see she wanted to cry- but was trying so hard to be brave about it all. She said that she cried on the bus this morning & this afternoon & once at recess. The JKs play in a gated area & Sydney wanted to play in the yard with the bigger kids. She says that is why she cried.

I know that she went on her bear hunt & they went all over the school, the teacher read a story, they watched a show on t.v. (???), played with the balls in the gym, & made a necklace. She said "hi" to 3 kids, one little girl was bad & another little girl cried 3 or 4 times. She ate all her healthy items in her lunch & did not have time to eat the chocolate that I packed for her. All in all I think she had fun, but did find it a little overwhelming at times. I think Sunday night may present a challenge because Jason is sleeping over at Grandma & Papa's & Sydney isn't because she has school- so that I am sure will cause tears. I am glad that Brad will be putting her on the bus on Monday, because if she is teary- I don't think I am the best one to be there for her!

Made it home safe & sound
Her skirt apparently came of in gym. Thank goodness
I had her wear shorts under!