There has been a lot of anticipation this summer about Isabela’s first day of school.
Someone asked her last week, Isabela, are you excited about going to school?
She said, I’m not really sure, but when I met my teacher a few months ago, she gave me cookies. Maybe I’ll have more cookies at school. So maybe I’ll like it.
So when the big first day arrived, Isabela decided that she wanted to wear her new dress that she got for her birthday (from her Tia Emily), just like Amanda Pig did on her first day of school (one of Isabela’s favorite books). Along with all the accessories, of course.
I showed her the photos of me on my first day of school and I think that got her into the rare mood for actually standing still and letting me take a photo of her without a silly, smirky face.
So sweet. And a very rare moment with an actual savable, frame-able photo of the two. Didn’t last for long before the monsters came out though.
So here is Isabela’s school, with her kindergarten classroom window on the left. It is a public montessori school (which means it’s free!), that we were very lucky to be chosen in the lottery to get into. She got one of 6 available spots, out of a lottery of about 200 kids. It’s about a 2 minute drive from our house, or a 25 minute walk.
When we arrived on the first day, it turned out that we actually knew one of the girls in her class – they had taken a short pre-school class together at the neighborhood Family Centre last fall. Having someone there that she already knew helped her to easy the transition into the classroom.
And here she is getting her name tag from her teacher, Miss Becky, who apparently has taught kindergarten at this school for 17 years. The little girl standing behind Isabela is named Isabelle. Ironic.
So everything went really smoothly right up until the end of the class when they were running late and Diego was getting antsy so I took him to the playground for a few minutes, but came back in just a minute late from when they let everyone out. Isabela went running around the school looking for me when I wasn’t standing outside the door and was crying and crying. Minor trauma.
And then today, on her first full morning of kindergarten, a similar thing happened. The teacher decided to let them all out 5 minutes early, so I wasn’t there and Isabela was the only one left there standing at the door with her teacher while all the other kids had already left. Crying and crying. More school trauma. I suppose that’s what a lot of the learning at school is about – suffering a trauma in order to learn from it and become stronger. But oh, my poor heart was melting as she sat in my lap outside her classroom and cried and cried, worried that I wasn’t going to be there to pick her up. I still remember those moments from my childhood with vivid clarity as well.
I sense, from talking with some of the other parents, and seeing the other children there, that Isabela might be the only child who did not attend preschool (except for a half an hour program once a week last fall where I sat outside the room the whole time) and I can really see how it’s going to be an interesting transition for her. But this time, despite the minor traumas, I can see that she is ready. If she would have started even a year earlier, she would not have been ready. But now she is ready.
Aw, I miss you guys… Isa looks adorable!
Congratulations! You both made it through the first day! Thanks for sharing the photos and first day ups and downs. I can picture it all quite clearly – having been through it all with you before! Even the being late part. I’m excited for Isa, and will enjoy hearing all about her new adventures. Mom
Yay for Isabela starting school! She looks so joyful in the pictures
I also remember times when my parents were late picking me up. I think it really helps when we remember the same things and can empathize with our children.
Definitely you and Isa are two peas out of the same pod. Thanks for sharing those beautiful moments.
Fler! Thank you so much for writing and sharing this moment with us! Both JP and I read about Isa’s first day at school with a lot of excitement! It made me feel like I was right there sharing that big moment with Isa! Thank you!!
) Lots of love
Boy do I remember Parissa’s first day of Kindergarten! She had never gone to preschool either – but off she went into her classroom without a backward glance! I cried all the way home. Granted she had some bumpy transition times too – but once she realized (and trusted) that myself or daddy would always come to get her at school (even if we happened to be late) she relaxed (and now has absolutely no memory of this time). She is now starting her second year of high school (Grade 10) and off she goes without a backward glance! (but this time I’m not crying – unless she starts talking about graduating!:)