This morning was Andrew's first day of school. Except not really. Because I got to go with him. It was more of an "open house", where the children get to meet their teachers, play with the toys, but there is no structure or instruction, etc.
So we got there about 10 minutes after they opened the doors (you could come and go any time they were open...again, not a structured day at all). Andrew walked in all excited...we had practiced saying his teachers' names on the way there. He asked me about 1000 times if I was coming with him, stressing that he did NOT want to go to school all by himself.
As soon as I arrive at the school I realize I am a slacker of a parent. Dads are there all dressed for work, children are dressed to the nines (Andrew was wearing his typical t-shirt and shorts). Not that it matters what Andrew was wearing, because I didn't bring a camera to document his first day. Other kids were blinking from all the flashbulbs as they posed in front of the school door. If I'm this bad for Andrew's first day of school, Crunchy will be lucky if I even show up!
We get to his classroom, and find his name on the door. Miss Colleen comes to greet us...and Andrew hides. Literally puts his face into my legs so noone can see him. I waddle into the classroom (not because I'm pregnant, but because my toddler was clinging to my knees) and try to pry Andrew off long enough to show him all the cool toys. He wanders off to play with cars, but as soon as a teacher approached him, he would run back and hide his face. They leave him alone and he played quite well. For about a half hour. Then he just started to cry hysterically. I'm not sure why. He was returning a book to the shelf, so I didn't see if someone talked to him, or a child took the book from his hand, or what. He couldn't tell me. After that it was pretty much play a few minutes, cry a few minutes. Oh boy. I'm sure they've checked off Andrew's name in their book...Crying when Mom is still in the room. And all the other kids were looking at him with such confusion. That's my boy! I've already started trying to prepare him for Thursday. That day, I don't even get to walk him in...they just come to your car and pull your child out. I would imagine Andrew will have a FIT. Those poor teachers. Today just proved to me how much Andrew needs this.
Oh, and God bless pre-school teachers. Not only do they have to deal with the crying children...they must have the most psycho parents of any age student. Dear Lord, as I was sitting there watching Andrew play and making small-talk with other parents, I overheard a few conversations parents were having with the teachers. How they refrain from rolling their eyes is beyond me. Here are some examples of ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS I heard...I don't even need to exaggerate these, I promise:
Parent- "Oh just wait until you get her going. She is just the smartest thing ever. She can count to 10 and knows almost all her letters."
Parent- "Everyone is really amazed by our child's fine motor skills. When she was a year old, her favorite thing to do was write with a pencil. She holds it like an adult and everything!"
Parent- "He can draw a circle and sort by color. None of my nieces or nephews were able to that until much older. Don't you find that amazing?"
And here is what I said as I left the room..."Good luck Thursday"
At least the parents won't be there :)
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2 comments:
Ahhhh...a look into my future!! I take Alec for his orientation and meeting of his class this Friday and then he starts next Thursday. I have a feeling he is going to be just about as willing to go as Andrew was!!
I can't wait to hear how he does on Friday! :)
Colin's teachers are amazed with how advanced he is... his special talent is teething. He gets all his teeth before the other kids. Maybe he'll get wisdom teeth next year. Head of the class.
I think it's interesting what parents stress as being the most important things.
This year I had to tell the teachers what I hoped Colin would learn.
Smart is good and all-- but I figure all kids will learn those colors and shapes at some point.
What's really important is what's going to happen at school anyway (we hope)-- they learn to share. They learn to empathize. They learn how to be good citizens and that other adults and children love them.
Don't quite know why I got on a soapbox about that. It just irks me sometimes about how smartness is sometimes the only measuring stick parents use for a child's worth. What if a child turns out to be --gasp-- average?
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. I saw the part-day moms dropping off their kids last week. Kids screaming. Mommies crying. I patted a mom on the back and told her it was going to be okay. To look at the bright side. Her child wants to be with her... I don't think I helped. Good thing about the snatching from car. I think it will have better results than the screams that tear your heart out.
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