I just re-read the last post and I am almost embarrassed to have shared that with the world (which is probably more likely 26 people), but it kind of made me sound like I need to see a therapist. Sheesh. Well, now it's back to the regular scheduled programming: Reality. ;)
Emily went to kindergarten today (which by the time I post this will actually be 'yesterday' or 'a couple of days ago', but anyways...) and she had a great day! I knew she would. I didn't have a doubt. Okay, maybe a tiny doubt, but only because I'm convinced my girls need me always in some way. Imagine what the blog post is going be like when they go to college! Yep, I'm pretty sure I'm steam rolling to a therapists office one day... I digress. Of course Emily had a great day. The
reality is kindergarten is only and extra 3 hours a week and exactly one hallway over from when she was in pre-school. So it's not like I was sending her into the great unknown here. It just felt like it :)
We took our obligatory first day photos on the front porch.
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| Emily got out of bed right before Casey went to school, so we snapped a quick pic of Em's first day with her pj's on |
We decided to put Emily on a special needs bus to at least start out the school year. The bus has an aide on it and is able to help her with the bus steps. And I think it will be a great way for her to learn the rules of the bus without the distraction of dozens of other kids. Tom was really advocating her ride a typical bus, but she needs help with the steps and I'm not convinced she wouldn't get bored and chuck her backpack out the window. :) Her bussing assignment got screwed up so I had to take her to and from school on day 1. I loved walking her to her class and seeing her get settled in, but tearing up in front of the teacher was a bit odd basically because I wouldn't just leave. I did leave. Eventually. Without her, for the record. And then I sat in the car and cried the ugly cry.
I met some friends who had also sent their youngest ones to kindergarten for a boo-hoo breakfast. At pickup, her aide told me she did great!! She followed along in class, handed out papers for the teacher, used the potty by herself, and played on the playground with a friend. As far as first days of kindergartens go, I think she rocked it.
Day 2 was the first day of riding the bus. I found out she thought I was going to ride on it with her, so we had a chat before it was go time. When the bus arrived and the doors opened, the driver and aide were smiling at us. With male faces. One with a camo cap for good measure. I think I froze right there in our driveway. I just was not expecting them to be men. I immediately got on the bus with Emily and began to pretty much
converse with,
interview, interrogate them. How long have they been doing this job? Will there be any stops between our house and school? How many children will be on the bus? And then I threw in that I thought Emily should do well on the bus and I looked forward to hearing all she would tell be about it because she's able to articulate quite a bit to me. I'm so bad. That last one is a bit of an exaggeration and was meant to be a lightly veiled threat. Yes, I have trust issues but I watch the news... The 2 guys were really nice and introduced Emily to the other girl on the bus as I got off and began to shake. As the bus pulled away I basically had my private melt down, grabbed the keys and followed the bus to school.
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| I'm not sure Emily knew what to think about the whole bus thing |
Her teacher called me at about the time I was expecting the afternoon bus to pull up, to let me know that transportation didn't send Emily a bus home. When I got there to pick her up, both her classroom teacher and special ed teacher were there in the hall and began to tell me how well Emily is doing in class the first 2 days. Then we all watched in slow motion as Emily took a step, tripped on her backpack and literally did a face plant onto the stone hallway floor. No hands to out to catch herself, no knees first, not even her forehead to break her fall. Her mouth made contact first. Blood and screaming everywhere. The nurse's office was only a few steps away so we hightailed it there to find out, amazingly, all of her teeth were still in. The inside of her lip and her gums were cut and bleeding, but we managed to get that under control. She was still in obvious pain so I called the dentist to let them know we were on our way. She was a big girl as he checked her out and told us he did not think the teeth were loose and had not impacted up into her gums. I still have no idea how she has her front teeth and does not have stitches in her lip.
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| Before the second day of kindergarten |
It appears day 3 went much more smoothly than day 2. She rode the morning bus, but my gut tells me tomorrow will be the last time she will. I just don't think I can stomach it. They may be really nice men, but the thought of sending my daughter on a bus with a couple other cognitively delayed kids and 2 dudes just doesn't set well with me. Unless Tom can talk me off the cliff I'm on about this, I'll think I'll drive her to school every day. She did ride the bus home today and, so not to be discriminatory, I again boarded the bus and talked to the 2 ladies about their experience and the bus route. Emily did not seem as impressed with the bus as I thought she might, but I felt better about the afternoon bus. I do not pretend to have any rationale or evidence for my feelings about the 2 different bus experiences, but when I'm dealing with my daughter who cannot always speak for herself or tell me what's going on, I just have to go with my gut. (Actually, I listen to my gut when it comes to
both girls. :)
So little sister is in kindergarten. I've accepted that reality and moved on from my emotional tirade I was on before it started. I'll hopefully pick up a little work and also begin to purge the mess of a house that has accumulated since May. I'm sure I'll be finished with that just in time for the end of the school year. Back to reality indeed.
