A Day of Firsts

There is a first day for everything.  Today was the first day of L's elementary school experience.  It was the last first day of B's elementary school experience (does that still count as a first?).  It was M's first day on the "big kid" playground since the 3rd-5th graders have their own playground "With a twirly slide!," M exclaimed excitedly.  It's the little things, you know?

The Curly Girly Trio had fantastic first days.  I thought L was going to cry.  I didn't just think it, I knew it.  I had a feeling she was going to be a sobbing, teary, snotty mess from the minute we entered the school until whatever time her teacher sent her to the guidance counselor.  She is my shadow and follows me everywhere and she was very concerned this morning about my being all alone today and didn't believe me when I told her I would be fine.

It's not that she hasn't been to school before, because she has.  She was in preschool for 3 years, but it was nearly always half days and she went to school an hour after her sisters did.  The days that I walked her to her classroom, as opposed to doing car lane, she was very clingy and teary, so you see, I had evidence that tears were going to happen.  The one thing I didn't factor in was the fact that her best boy friend ("He's not my boyfriend, Mommy!") from preschool is in her class.  He's the only other child from her preschool class going to her elementary school and it's like she won that jackpot that they are in the same class.

We got to school early, parked a block away and walked the girls in.  We walked to L's classroom first, because it's the closest to the entrance we came through.  I told her to sit in the hall and wait for her teacher to open the door or for her friends to arrive.

"I hope BF comes soon," she said nervously.

"He'll be here when he's here," I replied.  "You have to sit nicely in the hall."

"I know," she sighed.

She then squealed, "BF!  Look BF is here!"  I turned and sure enough, BF was standing right next to her!  I need to have her pick my lottery numbers, I think, because she's spot on (with this anyway.  Maybe I shouldn't gamble several hundred million on a 5 year old).

While this was going on, The Doctor had walked B and M to their classrooms.  Both of their classes moved up together from last year, but because grades were changed, the teachers had to move to different spots in the school.  M's classroom is the very last classroom in the school.  She is as far away from the spot I'll be dropping off and picking up as she can be and she was a little concerned she'd get lost finding her room.  This is the first year B isn't walking her to her classroom, because B's room is closer (Another first!).

The Doctor soon came back and shortly after that, L's teacher opened the door and in we marched.  The desks were arranged differently from when we went on Friday to meet the teacher and see the classroom and L marched straight to the desk she was at on Friday.  It's not her desk anymore, though.  We helped her find her desk and *huzzah!* her desk is right next to BF's!  They both sat down and L started chatting BF's ear off about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (L's current obsession).  I turned to The Doctor and said, "Wow.  No tears!  I am shocked!"

We hugged and kissed her, said goodbye, talked to her teacher, called out goodbye again and walked out.  Nary a tear fell from this child's eye.  I am not upset about that at all, though I'm a little disappointed because I thought I knew my child better.  That makes 3 for 3 on tear free Kindergarten drop offs.

We walked down to B's classroom, where she was already busy at work solving a word search.  5th grade must mean she doesn't need long, lengthy goodbyes from her parents.  We then walked all the way out to M's classroom, where we were greeted by an excited M.  Her class isn't completely the same as last year, but she happens to know all but 2 students.

As we were walking back to our cars, I told The Doctor it felt strange to be child free.  For the last 10 weeks, I have had at least 1 child, mostly 2 and sometimes more, with me at all times.  It felt so strange to get into my car and be able to listen to the radio without hearing whines, yells, cries or bad jokes.  Oh, it was blissful!

I celebrated by going grocery shopping.  I have forgotten what it's like to go without hearing pleas for cookies, junk cereals and candy.  I was even able to have a phone conversation and wasn't interrupted once!  Euphoria, I tell you, pure euphoria.

My bubble burst when I got home and realized I had no one to help me bring in the groceries.  It was inflated again, though, when I realized that I could put the groceries away while watching (well, listening) to real TV and not Paw Patrol, Jake or Teen Titans Go!.  Ahh. . . I can get used to this.