Day 1 {Back to School}

This year's Back to School was not nearly as traumatic (or dramatic on my part!) as last year's.  In fact, this year there was very little emotion.  The kids were excited to get to start attending school in their brand new building and I was excited to just get them there on time!

The night before school started, Emily excitedly used the "Jitter Glitter" her teacher gave her during the Open House. She was 100% on board with the glitter.  Despite Noah insisting it wasn't real and wouldn't work, she pressed onward...excited and certain it would help her sleep well.

After the glitter was safely tucked away in a towel under her pillow, Emily looked at me and said...

"Are you going to do the same thing you did on the first day of Kindergarten?"

Shocked that she even remembered that I had distracted myself from my Kindergarten sadness by decorating the breakfast table, I responded...

"What do you mean?"

Noah eagerly jumped in to the conversation and said...

"Remember... you decorated the table and did all that stuff!"

Score one for mom!  They actually remembered something I did fondly!

My response was honest...

"No.  That was just kind of special thing since it was the first day of Kindergarten.  I didn't plan to do that again."

My response was met with disappointed eyes and joint requests that I...

"pleeeeaaasse, do it again."

I'm a total sucker for their begging because I can't believe that my efforts from last year actually meant something to them.  It's one of those rare "job well done" parenting moments.

So after I tucked them in bed much too late, I jumped in the car for a late night run to Wal Mart to purchase supplies for our 2nd annual "Back to School Breakfast".

I was barely able to function on the morning of school so pancakes in the shape of their grade were no where to be found.  Neither were the eggs or the bacon.  They settled for toast and yogurt and fruit.  And a chocolate chip muffin!

Last year, I gave each of them a little "gift".  We don't purchase school supplies at our school, so it's kind of fun for them to get a new school "supply" on the first day.  Emily got new markers and Noah got a mechanical pencil; both topped with a good luck note (of which I'm not sure either child even read!).

And on a whim, I decided to introduce something new.  A "Talk to Me Journal" for each school-goer.  I got this idea from a friend who homeschools and thought it might be something fun for us to do at home upon occasion.  I grabbed a few composition notebooks and began by introducing the idea of the "Talk to Me Journal" on the first pages of each journal.

The kids seemed happy that I had indulged their requests to celebrate their first day of school in this way.  Early morning smiles are hard to come by in the Holtzman Household, so I'd call this a success!

After breakfast, we headed outside for the annual "first day front porch pictures".  And I gave in to the social media fad and asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up.  

Ummm... my tiredness is responsible for my inability to spell!  If Emily actually grows up to be a teacher, she'd flunk my spelling abilities!

And as much as I told myself... "do NOT make a teacher gift this year", I couldn't help myself.  I guess it's just part of my DNA.  It feels wrong to me not to send the kids with something in hand to give to their teacher on the first day.  So I indulged my own inner "crazy" and threw these together with printables and containers I had in the basement... apples for Ms. Feuerborn and strawberries for Mrs. Goenner.

The kids approached their brand new school... confident and excited. 

They allowed me to take the obligatory "with your teacher" picture before they took their seats and began their new school year with ease and familiarity.

And we celebrated the first day with ice cream amidst of sea of plaid-jumpered 1st grade girls!

And that was Day 1.  Day 1 of another school year.  I pray it's a good one!

*****

And then came 8-29-14 and it was her turn...

Ah!  This one.  She is my little ray of sunshine.  Even school makes her happy and is reason to twirl!  She was completely delighted when it was FINALLY  her turn for Day 1. 

She had to miss the first official 2 days because she was sick, so her Day 1 was on Friday, 8-29-14.  She woke early; excited to be feeling well and eager to get to school.  She dressed herself, brushed her own teeth, and came to my bedside with her backpack on and ready to go!

She happily carried her teacher gift in hand and excitedly walked into her familiar preschool, Little Lambs.  

She stopped for a quick picture with her new teacher, Miss Kacy, and off she went without a look back!

I remember feeling overly emotional on Emily's 1st day of Pre-K; maybe even crying as I fixed her hair.  I remember lamenting the fact that it would be my last year with her home all day.  I didn't have that same emotion as I curled Molly's hair on her Day 1 of Pre-K.  But as I sift through these images and recall how delightful and fun she was to drop off and pick up, my eyes are fighting back the moisture.  While she makes the most of her Pre-K fun-filled days at Little Lambs, I need to remember to savor my days at home with her and soak up every little bit of her delightfulness.  Every bit of her.

16 Things That Made It OK {first day of kindergarten}

emily kate
1st day of kindergarten
8.16.13

*****

I have been dreading the first day of Kindergarten since the 1st day of Pre-K last year!  I have had so many emotions over this milestone for Emily. I might write a post detailing more of my struggle, but for now, I want to note the 16 things that made the dreaded 1st day of Kindergarten... OK.  I didn't expect great or exciting or proud.  I just hoped for OK.  And it was, indeed, OK thanks to these 16 things:

1.  We met her teacher the night before school started.  She had so many fun things for them... a treasure hunt to find things in the classroom and a fun little "goody bag" to take home on the night before Kindergarten. When we got home, Emily said:  "My teacher is really HAPPY!"  That's exactly how I picture a Kindergarten teacher... happy!  And to know that Emily thinks that about her new teacher makes me happy too!

2.  When we got home from the Open House, I read the "Meet Your Teacher" note she had sent home with us.  The last part...it was like a salve for my open heart.  "I will be a partner with you in helping form them to live their life as a disciple of Jesus..."  So thankful for a teacher who believes this and is willing to put it in print!

3. I occupied my mind the night before by doing something I like to do... decorate!  I continued the tradition of a special Back to School breakfast, but added some special "extras" because it was Emily's 1st day of Kindergarten, after all!

{folders for placemats and a special gift of new pencils for each "student"}

{even though molly doesn't start until next week, we included her too!}

{rulers & notebook paper for place cards & a sunflower for added cheer}

{happy girl}

{new pencils and a mama note for each one} 

{continued tradition: pancakes shaped in the grade level, eggs, bacon & fruit}

4.  I put a little of myself inside their lunch boxes... love notes, a knock-knock joke (for Noah) and an apple-themed lunch box.  There may or may not have also been a small bottle of hand sanitizer in their lunch too :)  Side note:  When the lunch box came home, there were a few bites out of the apple cookie and a few missing M&M's... that was ALL!  She had a 2nd go-round once she got home!

5.  She looked so cute in her uniform and I found that laying it out the night before was actually worse than putting it on in the morning!

6.  My mom came over so that she could stay with the littles and Vance and I could deliver her to her room unencumbered.  Thank you mom!

7. She wasn't sad for me to leave her there.  ALL smiles (with a bit of a nervous "finger in the mouth)!

8.  Even though I knew they wouldn't see a lot of each other during the day, knowing that her big brother was in the same building (and that he promised to SMILE at her when he saw her!) made me feel better.

9.  Noah's 1st grade teacher, who has also become a friend, sent me this text and picture mid morning.  She snapped it on her phone during recess.  Not to mention, she send a little encouragement to me that morning too!  I have already requested a "reserved spot" for her 1st grade class :)

10.  I have great friends who knew this day was hard for me.  They asked me to go on a walk in the morning and then arranged another lunch play date for the little ones who were left behind.

11.  These two surprised me.  While I was getting ready, they disappeared into my closet and emerged wearing my shoes; a little reminder to me that they, too, will form a special bond and dress up days will continue in my house.  It's just a changing sibling combination :)

12. She was all smiles when I went to pick her up at the end of the {very long} day!

13.  As soon as Molly woke from her nap, she ran to her room and this is what I saw.... another reminder to me that they will still have their special time together and will maintain their tight sister bond... which is the thing I worried most about missing with her being gone all day.

14.  Her teacher made this for them to bring home on the first day.  I cried when I read it, but am so grateful for a teacher who cares enough about "little things".. like making their handprint on the first day and sending it home for the overly sentimental mama's like me!

15.  Filling up buckets is a core theme in her class this year. The "filling a bucket" concept comes from a book that I've been reading to the kids for years.  "Filling a bucket" equates to giving someone a compliment or building them up with encouragement.  It's the kind of character building thing that means so much to me.  I think that all teachers do their very best to teach kids to treat others with kindness, but it makes me happy to know that this is a part of her core curriculum and a stated part of their everyday routine.  I still remember when Noah was hurt in 1st grade as I feel it changed his personality permanently.  To this day, he remains intimidated by those boys.  I know that kids will always be kids and that hurt feelings are a part of life, but I am beyond thrilled to see that in Kindergarten, "filling up buckets" is something that will be encouraged, talked about, and rewarded daily!

And most importantly...

16. Prayer. There is no doubt that this is what gave me a small amount of peace about this day.  Prayers from others...

And prayers of my own.  I fought having her go all day as hard as a parent could fight, but in the end, my only choice was to send her to this full day program.  I don't like it.  It's not what I wanted.  I felt I was treated disrespectfully by some school officials.  I was bitter.  But I had to come to terms with it and let.it.go.  

My only choice was to pray about it and ask God to either give me peace or show me a different route.  For weeks, that's what I've done.  Prayed for peace.  In the end, I think I received my answer.  I'm still not happy about it, but I'm willing to accept it and move forward. 

On the night before school, I knelt during Mass and asked God to just make it "ok" on the first day.  And I think that all of these little things were His response.  They made it OK.  They gave me some of the peace that I have been in search of for months.  And despite my disappointment, the only thing I saw when I walked my baby girl into school that first morning were SMILES... smiles from the teachers, smiles from the administrators, smiles on the faces of the other kids, and most importantly, BIG smiles from my BIG Kindergartener!

{barely able to hold the weight}

{special necklace for the 1st day}

{"i couldn't have picked a better teacher" gift of fresh berries}             

{walking into the classroom for the 1st time}