Beginning the Transition

Monkey1 had her classroom visit today.

We arranged to meet the teacher and see the classroom during a spell when the students would be out of the room (off at Art, in fact). A little quiet look-around and time for questions. This was very near the end of the school day, so we all agreed Monkey1 could stay for the end of the day dismissal routine.

Then the Kindergartners all came back in the classroom. The third one in the door was one of her preschool classmates, who came right over and gave Monkey1 a BIG hug. All the others crowded around us, greeting Monkey1 and introducing themselves and their classmates. We probably know half the class, between church, preschool, and the mothers' prayer group. It was a bit overwhelming, and the teacher was quickly calling the class to sit down and let Monkey1 breathe. Her seat is right next to one of her buddies, which may change if there is too much whispering but is great for jumping in at the end of the first quarter.

I left Monkey1 in the classroom, taking Monkey2 out to the playground on which my husband had spent four days working in a community barn-raising style effort that put up the playground in time for the new school year.

When the dismissal bell rang, I followed the other parents into the gym, collected Monkey1 from the group of Kindergartners, and exited by the designated doors. Monkey1 wanted to play on the playground, but I reminded her that we had to get her sneakers (plain white for the uniform) but we would stay and play on other nice days. She quietly got in the car, and then she burst into tears. "It was crowded! It was too noisy!"

After supper and laying out her uniform for tomorrow, Monkey1 told me that she was excited about going to school.

And so the transition has begun.