Scout very first day of Kindergarten was an hour orientation where we went with them and got a rundown of how everything works. Scout meshed really well, and when Miss Shih started calling out things to do in Mandarin, he looked around and followed suit. My biggest regret is that I didn’t have their bow ceremony (I call it that, but it’s not really named that) on videotape. Some of the kids come from Mandarin homes, so they were right on cue, but Scout was right there with them, and I was really impressed! So, we got the basic overview of everything. I also got a feeling for Miss Shih. She is intense. She has a reward system where you earn Chinese dollars. She told us the first day that just like in real life, if we lose money, we can’t go to the bank to get it replaced. So parent, “don’t call to tell me you accidentally washed the dollars because there will be no replacing them.” I LOVED it! I know it is intense, but it is definitely my style. She also told us that she is grateful to have four hours a day with our kids, so she will make the hours worth leaving them. Amen!
(Although, it is all well and good in theory — let’s see how it unfolds.)
SO the second day, was his official first day alone. I was nervous for him, but Scout has a knack for making friends. From the time he was little, he would always come to me at the park and tell me of the new friends he made. But I was still nervous.
Here is our big kindergartener with treats for the teacher on his first day!
Notice the orange backpack “to remember Jake while he is on his mission.”
Here is Miss Shih helping him remove his backpack before he lines up.
He seemed a tiny bit uncertain, but he played it pretty cool.
Navy was dying to leave him there.
(And I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of them together.)
Are you dying at his expression when the teacher started giving them instructions in Mandarin!
But just as my heart was being torn from me, he looked out at me and gave me back the “I Love You” sign.
Somehow, I didn’t cry.
Not because I wasn’t sad, or nervous, but probably because I was in utter shock.
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I counted down the second until I got to pick him up. I was SO anxious to hear his response to his day. So when he walked to the gate, I waved excitedly at him. When he came through, I said, “Scout!!! How was it? How was your day?” He said, “Mom, that was fun!”
EXHALE!
I was so glad.
Thank goodness.
Halle-stinking-lujiah!
But just in case that wasn’t his response, I had a plan.
An afternoon at RoRo’s beach.
With best friend Royal.
And Grey.
And of course this innocent monster.
I have never seen Scout braver at the beach.
Maybe kindergarten put a little bravado in his step.
I have never seen Navy nastier at the beach.
She handmade this “toilet” so she could go potty in the sand.
Yes…she really did.
The hit was the otter pops.
Aren’t they always the hit.
Meanwhile, Dash was inside Brit’s house making his latest funny face.
All I have to say is that no matter how his day went, Scout was in heaven at the beach with his best friends.
I am just SO glad that the beach (with baths at the end) was just an added perk — not a way to make him feel better.
Long live school!
(For now.)
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