So on Tuesday the 2nd February all my little ones started school.
Yes, my little Abby, a whole 4 years old had her first day of kindy. She was so excited, she was the first one up and dressed in her adorable little school dress. An hour before school she had her back pack on and was standing by the door asking if it was time to go yet.
Unfortuneately that has so far been the highlight of Abby's kindy experience.
When we went into the classroom it was a little cramped with all the kids (about 22) and parents in one room. Somehow between all the desks and chairs and cupboards we had to find a spot to do some puzzles. There is a 15 minute puzzle time for kids and parents to enjoy before the harrowing goodbuys. And boy were they harrowing.
The amount of screaming and crying made me want to run for the hills. Abby held my arm tightly and asked me if I really had to go. Her eyes were wide and face a little sad as she said to me that she would'nt cry. I told her it was OK to cry if she wanted to (hell, I wanted to cry, but I put on a brave face).
She never did cry, that is, while I was there. 3 hours later after school she had a big beaming smile on her face and gave me the biggest, tightest hug I had ever gotten from her. I was thinking that she must have had a great day, that was until her day-care buddy Kacey told me Abby cried twice that day. I asked Abby if she had a good day and she said 'no, not such a good day'. When I asked her why she said it was because she missed me. So that big smile and enormous hug was because she was happy to see me. I nearly cried.
Her second kindy day went a little better. She only cried once according to my carefully placed snitch.
Ben just loved all of it. He was slow to get moving in the morning after all those holiday late nights and sleep ins, but once he was there, there was no turning back. He is in year one and on full days right from day one. I expected to find him tired and grumpy after school but instead he had arranged a play date straight after school and was rip roaring and ready to go. Such a socialite.
Lizzie was very excited to be in year four and on the senior side of the school. She thought that was very cool until she found out the playground equipment for the seniors is crap and she is not allowed to play in the junior section. Bummer! Besides that she has settled in very well and loves her new teacher Miss Caney. She was Joshua's teacher last year and is very sweet and gentle. You can't help but like her.
Joshua, Joshua, Joshua. Now in grade five and turning 11 this year. He dragged his feet a little on the first day. He doesn't really like change and he was going to be in a new classroom, with a new teacher and a different teachers aide (who he has had before and adores, so I think that helped a lot.) He seems to of settled in reasonably well. Unfortuneately I think his 'stimming' increased over the holidays and is driving his teacher a little potty.
Just FYI-stimming is obsessive little habits that Joshua does because of his Autism, often without even thinking about it. For example, he will hum a tune over and over (he seems to like Bach, or the star wars theme music, at christmas time it was jingle bells), or he will rock back a forth in his chair and make a noise in sync with the rhythm of the rock, he often likes to watch things spin or he will suddenly throw objects like they are a missile. It can get really annoying.
Sometimes I wonder if sitting next to Josh might be a punishment for naughty children. (I know, I am his mother and shouldn't say such things.)
I have to say though that he has been with this same group of kids since pre-primary so most of them know him and are so good with him. I often see them looking out for him and accepting his strange little mannerisms as just being Josh. I dont know how long it will last, but we will enjoy it while we can.
So my only real concern is Abby. She is not happy about going to school tomorrow. One day at a time, that is all we can do.
