School Days

As many of you know, Ira started Kindergarten this year.  Here are my reflections on the subject in general.

When I found out last year that Kindergarten would be all day for Ira, I cried for days.  Seriously.  But then over the course of the year, things changed.  I still wholeheartedly believe that it's ridiculous for kindergarten. to be an all day affair.  I think that 5 year olds would be much better off if they had a half day of school and a half day of play.  But over the course of the last year, I became comfortable with the fact that come August, Ira would be in school all day.  And at some point during the summer, I started to look forward to school starting.

Because you know what, Ira was R.E.A.D.Y.  He was "bored" (my words not his) at home.  It was like no matter how much I did (and I'll admit, I could have tried harder), I couldn't keep him content.  He would read in his room for an hour and a half each day (sometimes more), but then the rest of the day, he just wanted something to do - something to sink his teeth (and by teeth I mean brain) into.  So yes, I began to look forward to him being able to have that constant mental stimulation that school would provide.  And the structure too.

You see, Ira is the opposite of me.  I like it when my days are completely unplanned, unfettered.  We don't have a schedule.  A routine certainly, but our days are pretty "free-spirited."  Well, in reflecting about it, I came to realize that Ira is a schedule kind of dude.  He likes to have something to do all day and thrives in structure and schedule.  (Seriously is he my kid? - Don't get me wrong, it's not that I can't perform in a scheduled, structured environment, it's just that naturally that would not be my first choice.)  So, school is truly the perfect fit for him.

Now back to his first day of school... We double-checked all of his supplies the day before and then went bowling (his favorite thing to do) before going out to dinner at Olive Garden.  It was a nice good-bye to summer.  We also made up a schedule (gasp! me?!  I know...) for school mornings to make sure that we had plenty of time and didn't feel rushed in the mornings (I hate feeling rushed.)  So, I woke him at 6:50 and he was quite cheery and excited for the day.  Then the trips to the bathroom began.   

You see, the week before school started Ira got really really sick (sicker than I'd ever seen in 5+ years) (a trip to the ER, bloodwork, bloody stools, a CT scan, (concerned about appendicitis), and 4 days of 103 fever, we find out it was just a bug... a nasty nasty bug.)  Even a week later, Ira was still complaining of his waist hurting (his bowels I'm sure) and still had diarrhea.  He was in so much pain that morning that I wasn't positive I should send him to school.  But I took a chance guessing that once he got to school it would take his mind off of it - which thankfully I was right about.

So back to trying to eat breakfast that first morning.  Ira probably had to get up and go to the bathroom 7 times.  He didn't even finish his breakfast, and I only got halfway through "Oh the Places You'll Go."  We hardly had time to take pictures before heading out the door at 7:45.  Yeesh, and I said I hated rushing...

However, Ira's spirit wasn't dampened by the whole thing and he had a WONDERFUL first day of school.  I didn't even cry (surprised even myself there.)  He came out of school with the hugest smile on his face and couldn't wait to tell me all about his day.  It was wonderful to see him so happy and excited.  I am truly excited for him.  And it's amazing how much time I feel like I have during the day now.  I love having one on one time with Ruby.  It's so nice to have time during the day to myself too.  I've gotten a lot done around the house lately!  And it's fun to go pick him up each afternoon and hear how his day went.  My little boy is growing up and I couldn't be more proud!

And, lest you think I would subject you to an entire post without pictures.  Here are his pictures from the first day of school!

Seriously, could he look any more excited/proud?!

 With sissy...sort of...

 At his desk.

 Finding his name on the SmartBoard.