All Grown Up

Yesterday was the day, the day that Jackson joined the troops of elementary students...the days of being a preschooler are behind him - to quote him, "mom, I'm big - I'm like the smartest, biggest kid now - I'm all growed up, and I'm only 5! " It's apparent that at 5 you can still think highly of your intelect and not be deemed full of yourself...lucky for him, you know being the smartest kid and all.

In the days leading up to yesterday we played up how great school would be, which didn't require much convincing. School supplies, safety town, open house were all great fun. He was relieved to see a bag of dinosaurs hidden on the bottom shelf in his room and comforted by the small tables and fun posters. His teacher, Mr. Ickes, was approved by all and as a bonus he had 3 preschool friends in his class! Of course, like all 5 year old boys, he was most excited to hear that after the bus drops you off in the morning you get to play on the playground until the bell rings - extra recess - are you kidding me!?

So, as the last sticker went on the countdown chart that hung on the side of the refrigerator and I got the morning hug to celebrate the "FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!" I tried to push down that lump in my throat as I realized that the day was really here. No longer was it - "just wait until you have to put him on the bus for the first time" that I heard from those who had done this before me. Now the day was happening and I was okay. No, the earth did not stop spinning as I had expected, no, I didn't sob until I couldn't breath. I just tried to be in the moment with him. To share in his excitement and burn those moments into my mental photo album of memories.

We took pictures and walked to the bus stop to meet the other kids from the block and as the bus pulled up I blinked back that pesky burning sensation behind my eyelids - The tight hold that he had on my hand eased up and he looked up with a huge smile and said, "bye mom, see you after school! Love you!" And just that easy he fell into the crowd and climbed onto that big yellow safety nightmare - (sorry, not a huge fan of busses ;) ), found his assigned seat and waved to us all from the window.

So, hold on tight - here we go - ready or not Jackson's school days are here!

**This is Jackson beside the Dino Bones hidden behind the rock wall on the playground a few days before school began**

The Big K

The countdown is on - 19 days until the most exciting thing on the planet -KINDERGARTEN!! Jackson is begging me to make a chart so that he can start checking the days off until he can finally stop being bored and go to school. And finally today I can say, "let's do it!"

We found out this morning that Wooster Township Elementary is not taking open enrollment students this school year - which has it's good and bad for us - but at least our school bound student has a home! Jackson will be going to Kean Elementary School in the morning, which we are all very excited about! His teacher, Mr. Ickes, is a young teacher who took over the Kindergarten class at Kean for the first time last year. I hear that he is great, and I'm excited for Jackson to have a male teacher with so much enthusiasm! All the final sign-ups and formalities will happen next week and then we'll have a chance to meet Mr. Ickes and see the classroom with Jack before the 25th.

This week he is going through Safety Town - sponsored by the Wooster Kiwanis Club. So far he has learned about crossing safety, street rules, how to react to dog's you don't know, he was thrilled to sit in a "real police car and see a real police man - but she was a girl - and I'm not even kidding, mom!" I'm still wondering if he wasn't kidding about sitting in the car or about the policeman being a woman ;). I just smiled and hoped that would be the last time he'd be sitting in the back of that car - and excited about it!! Today he gets to meet the school crossing guards and learn bus rules as well as go on his first school bus ride. Thursday he'll be walking to the firehouse and the week will close with his graduation from Safety Town - too funny. He is so proud of what he is learning and enjoying seeing some of his preschool friends and meeting some new friends from Kean.

So, as we begin the journey that takes our first born to his first day of school I am, of course, sappy with sentiment. But just one conversation about what he might learn or meet or do is enough to set any sap on her butt and catch the bug of excitement that is shining in our son's eyes.