Poor Li'l Al

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Poor Li'l Al
12
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 1:30pm
Allison had a friend over yesterday, and I took them to the n'hood pool for two hours. Normally, she conks out early in the evenings after swimming during the day, but not last night. I think that contributed to the following scene.

I was in our bonus room, upstairs, getting ready to do my workout. I'd directed Allison to clean up a little in her room - it was difficult to walk in, but not so messy as to take her more than 10 minutes to clean. I heard her climbing up the stairs to the bonus room, and she appeared, kind of weepy. I thought she'd broken a Polly Pocket (we've had arms and heads break off from the continuous tugging), or something like that.

But instead she asked me "Mommy, will you walk with me to Kindergarten for 4 days?"

"Of course I will, sweetie, as many days as you need. But I'll bet you'll make new friends quickly and won't need me after a while," I answer.

"Mommy, is Kindergarten all day?" she asks.

"It'll be the same schedule as L (girl next door) is on - you'll be home by mid-afternoon, and I'll be here," I say.

Long pause, then her weepiness turns to outright crying as she crawls into my lap: "Mommy, I'm going to miss you!"

Awww... whaddya say? I gave her TLC, carried her downstairs so she could get TLC from Daddy too. We told her about some of the fun things we did in K, I reminded her of some of the classrooms she and I visited with all the stuff there was to do, and we finally got her to smile. It was probably good for her to cry about it. Generally, she's upbeat about going to K, telling everyone what school she'll be going to and what day she'll start. But apparently she is thinking about how it'll change things, and it will.

The Cus has said *he'll* be the one crying on that first day!












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My greatest fear is
that there is no PMS and this is my personality!

C

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Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 1:43pm
The familiar face of the girl next door will help her settle comfortably. Bet you dollars to donuts that on the second day, she'll be waving at you over her shoulder not looking back as she runs into the school.

That's a story for your journal...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-18-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 1:45pm
Isn't it nice to have someone love you so much?!

Live With Passion!


Phyllis


 








 
Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 3:01pm
I think whether its the first walk into school or bus ride its just as tramatic in us parents as it is the kids. Her concerns are completely normal and I went through them with each of the kids. By day 2 or 3 she won't even think twice about it. The fact you have provided her with such a warm and loving home makes it good to know she will miss you. And you her. Just keep reinforcing the fact you will miss her just as much and you will be there for her when she returns. Thanks for sharing your story.

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 5:53pm
I remember those days with DS.Loved that kindergarten was only half day,now it's all day here.When is her first day?

Miss P




 

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 7:21pm
Funny how you should say that because it is a long day for those little ones. When all three of my kids went to Kindergarten they were half days but also back then not so many kids went to preschool. Now by the time they get through 2 or 3 half days at 3 years old, and 4 or 5 days at 4 years old the full time is a natural. Still think its a bit much but hey who am I to question, right!

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2001
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 9:30pm
Oh those first days of school...a bit traumatic for everyone. My middle one was the only one who from the first day of school couldn't wait to get there and didn't shed a tear-although her Mom did! The other two shed lots of tears but were soon replaced but lots of conversations about their new friends, their new teacher and everything that you want to know about kindergarten! My kids all went to all day kindergarten and it did take a little bit of getting used to it but somehow we all survived. Lil Al will love it I'm sure and will be letting you know everything you need to know about kindergarten!

Susan

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 7:45am
Poor baby...give her a hug for me.

Lori

"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya.  We're all in this together." --Red Green

cl for Ask the

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 7:49am
Those 'first' are very hard for both kids and mom and dad.
Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 8:42am
Thanks everyone. She's a sweet kid, well-adjusted, and I too think on the second day she'll be skipping to class. I got a taste of that "first day" on Tuesday when she had a field trip with kids her age at our church. I packed a lunch for her, she got ready all by herself and looked so grown up! She's got a late-calendar birthday and so missed the K cut-off last year. If K had started around February, she would've been ready. As it is, she'll be one of the first to turn 6 in her class. I'm not sure how I'll react - I'm not dreading "turning her loose", but not pumped about it either. "Non-committal" is the best word to describe it.

She starts August 9th - early IMO, but then again this past year they let out May 21st, which is too early IMO. Yeah, it's a full day. Around here they're doing that under the guise of "better preparing the kids" (though few in our district need the extra hours), but I believe it helps out the working parents more than anything. What they get is more play time. One of my friends didn't send her girls to preschool either, and when her oldest started K two years ago, the only fallout was that she wanted to go to bed at 6:30. Is that a downside, LOL?!?












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href="http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppplaynov98n">November 1998 Playgroup and href="http://pages.ivillage.com/nov98_whoswho/">Website
src="http://pages.ivillage.com/cussette/portrait.jpg" width=100 border=0>
size=+0>Li'l Al's Place!

My greatest fear is
that there is no PMS and this is my personality!

C

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 1:32pm
LOL about the 6:30 bedtime. You start school early and get out early compared to us. Our kids return to school on the Wednesday after Labor Day weekend and we go until the 26th or 27th of the month of June. School is warm the first 2 weeks and the same for the end of the year. June can tend to be warm, especially those who have classes upstairs. None of our schools have AC because they were built years ago.

Deb

Debbie

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