Today was Hannah's first day of Kindergarten. She has been looking forward to this for a very long time, although I think I have been looking forward to it more! Being a teacher, I couldn't wait for my little girl to be a part of a classroom and have a great teacher and make new friends. She has always been the type of kid who loves to learn, so I have had confidence that she will thoroughly enjoy school.
Last Friday, we went to a Meet and Greet at the school. She had already met her teacher several times, but we wanted her to see her classroom all set up for the new year and possibly meet some of the other kids. Her teacher is Mrs. Poole. Most of you wouldn't understand what that means, but let's put it this way. I would never want my daughter to have any other teacher for Kindergarten. I first met Mrs. Poole when her son was in third grade with me in Mr. Poole's class. At that time she wasn't Mrs. Poole just yet. Mr. Poole was my absolute all time favorite teacher. He was hilarious and inspiring and I loved him. Truth be told, he is part of the reason I decided to become a teacher myself. Years and years after third grade, I had the opportunity to teach with him when he came to my school for a change before becoming a Dean at a middle school. During that time, I got to know him more as an adult, and he and his now wife Jill came to several school functions. Last school year, my niece Milla was in Mrs. Poole's class. She was so wonderful with the kids and clearly enjoys her job so much that she inspired my sister to go to college to one day become a Kindergarten teacher herself. The Poole's are amazing people without whom my life would not be the same. I am more than ecstatic that Hannah is in her class.
A few weeks ago we went on the hunt for a first day of school outfit, and Hannah fell in love with this pink top with silver sparkly stripes. When Grandma Monty took her shopping for a ton of school clothes, she returned with some silver sparkly shoes that just matched perfectly. She is quite the fashion diva and loved her first day outfit. I was disappointed at how the pictures I took at home turned out until I realized that she was nervous! I took a ton but she has this strange expression in all of them. She was silent the whole car ride there, and it wasn't until she saw her cousin, who we picked up at Grandma's to take to school, that she relaxed a bit.
We dropped Milla off in line and then it was Hannah's turn to line up. Her teacher handed out nametags for all the kids, and before I knew it the line began to go inside. I hollered, "I love you!" one last time and put my hand to my cheek. Hannah did the same (If you haven't read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, you are missing out). Then, she went around the corner and into the building.
At the end of the day, 2 hours and 50 whole minutes later, I picked her up and got the biggest hug ever. She was bubbly and excited and couldn't wait to tell me about her day. We went out to lunch, just the two of us, then went and got frozen yogurt. The whole time she kept remembering more and more about her day. There was a boy who wouldn't listen to the teacher. There was another boy who doesn't have a hand (?). She made 2 new friends, but doesn't remember their names. They made Gingerbread Men (I happen to know that later this week the cookies will "disappear" from the classroom. The class will have to search the whole building for them, checking the nurses office, the front office, and other important areas, until they are finally discovered in the Principal's office. It is a sneaky way lots of Kindergarten teachers take the kids on a tour of the school.). She got to pick up some sort of papers and give them to the teacher. She didn't have to use the bathroom or get a drink--not even once! All of these wonderful little nuggets of her day kept coming all afternoon.
I have never been so happy to have taken a sub day. Last night I was so nervous I had trouble sleeping and was quite emotional today. When I came into her room this morning she was sitting in bed, hair all crazy and sleepy-eyed, but the sight of it brought tears to my eyes. I held it together until she got in line, and then I was really glad I had sunglasses on. After I dropped her off I headed inside for "Tissues and Tea" which was a gathering for the parents to cry on each other's shoulders as well as learn about the PTCO and volunteering. The minute I walked in the door, I saw my former gym teacher (did I mention Hannah is attending my old elementary school and he is still there?!?!) and a girl who I went to third grade with (yep, in Mr. Poole's class). I've seen them around the district and at orientation and everything, so it wasn't a surprise. However, the nostalgia of seeing them and the emotions that were already running high enough caused another small meltdown of tears. I got a big hug from my elementary school gym teacher, the same guy who used to make me run the mile, try to ski (still hate it!), and made all the coolest games you ever imagine. It made me feel better, and I held it together all day after that.
This little comic was in Hannah's first day packet. It explains exactly how I was feeling today. How could my little girl, the one who cries when she sees a spider, still takes naps, can't tie her own shoes, and is still such my baby go to school? It seems just yesterday she was colicky and making me question my entire parenting skills, and now here she is, a beautiful little girl heading out into the world...at least for almost 3 hours a day.
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