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Benjamin was so excited to start Kindergarten! We talked about it all the time, and I don't remember him expressing any anxiety or fear about it at all. (I was certainly more fearful and anxious than he was.)
During the first week of September he had an "assessment" and was then placed in Ms. Statham's Kindergarten class.
On Monday morning we took our "first day of school" pictures (of which Rhett and Lucy had to have a part, of course) then drove Benjamin to school! (He was disappointed that he didn't get to ride the bus for the first couple of days.)
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I did all of the "my baby is growing up and leaving me" crying the week before he started school, so I was able to leave him at his classroom dry-eyed (though I can't say my heart didn't still ache.) But Lucy cried. A lot. She was so sad when we left Benjamin's kindergarten classroom and didn't bring him with us! (She also cried a few days later the first time the school bus drove off with him.) I think Rhett missed him too, but I could also see that it was nice for Rhett to have time without his big brother around!
I've heard many people I know whose children have birthdays in September or later lament the fact that their child can't start Kindergarten till he or she is almost 6 year old. They want to send them early because they are so smart or so ready or whatever else. I personally have always been so grateful that Benjamin got to stay home with me for another year! I never did wish that he could start Kindergarten early. When the school year started in 2011, I was mindful of the fact that I had exactly one more year with Benjamin entirely in my care. One more year before he would be in school, with a teacher and other students who would no doubt have an influence on him, for better or worse. One more year for me to improve my mothering such that I could feel confident in sending him out from under my wing, knowing that no matter what he encountered in school he would always want to come home to me.
It's only Kindergarten. I know.
But I needed that year, and I'm glad we both got it.
4 comments:
Sophie starts Kindergarten this fall, and I have been having many of the same thoughts. I think especially since she is my oldest child, I know that her starting school opens the door for younger siblings, who will follow all too quickly.
That's beautiful Vicky. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on keeping him with you for another year. I'm sure that might be why he had less anxiety going into it because you had prepared him well.
I remember you starting kindergarten Vicky. You were one of the taller students and still so shy. But you also were way ahead of the others with your reading. It's nice to see that you still devour books!
It's always hard letting the first one slip away from you a little. I think since Benjamin has always been a little extrovert it was easier for him to adjust. You and Paul did a great job from the start!
All because she had a big sister who made her read Hop On Pop a million times :)
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