First Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday I left my oldest in the hands of the state education system for six LONG hours!  Evelyn was super excited and had had her first day outfit picked out since it was bought.  I drove to across the street from the school, then I walked with her up to the school doors.  There were helpers/teachers there at the front organizing kids and as soon as she heard her teacher's name, she walked up to the line and didn't look back.

With her backpack full of new supplies to make use of as well as some extras from me, like a bookmark, cute erasers and a fun chapstick, I felt like she was pretty prepared.  For food, Evie had a snack in her backpack and ate hot lunch at school.  (I may get up the ambition to make her lunch soon, but I just got back from vacation.)  I followed the group of kids to Mrs. R's door and watched Evie hang up her pack and jacket and settle onto the welcome rug, near the back.  I nearly had a panic attack when another mom near me was trying to get her son in the door and he was having a HUGE fit, screaming about missing her.  I waited to see if Evie would have a similar delayed reaction.  I hovered.  And she was fine.  I was glad for her but a little sad for me.  I used a tissue on my damp eyes and nose and went upstairs.

I stuck around for a little PTO meeting where we met the organizations' officials.  Those women have so much energy and are so excited to be a part of all the kids' education.  I want to be involved and have volunteered for two groups (baking and book fair) and I was very impressed with all the dedication I saw there.  After the meeting, I snuck back down to Evie's classroom for one last checkup.  She was doing great, so I vacated the building, deserting her for several hours.

Due to that exhausting vacation, which I had NO IDEA wore me out so much, I slept nearly the entire time Evie was at school.  Thank goodness it was Aaron's day off and I had that luxury!

After several hours' nap, I got in a line of other minivans picking up elementary kids.  In retrospect, I'll leave home about 15 minutes earlier, since I had to wait about that long after school let out and I was one of the last moms in line.  She was happy to come home, and Lizzie, who had come with me to pick up Evie, was SO excited to have her sister back!  I went through her backpack to find a daily folder that gets sent home and read a note about her first day of school, which we talked about.  I was glad for the page informing me, because Evie wasn't super talkative - I'd say..."did you draw a picture?"  "Oh, yeah!  I drew a picture of me!"  "Did you dance?"  "We danced and then stopped, like this".  Anyway, I'm so glad she already likes school and went happily again today!