Category Archives: FIRST GRADE

First Day.

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We had what the girls like to call “opposite day” around here yesterday. I think that is the fun(!) of parenting, right? Just when you think you have it kinda figured out – along comes something and knocks you down a peg or two and you are just left standing thinking, “Huh? So that is what we are doing now? Well…ok then.”

Anyone who knows the girls at all (or has been hanging around here long enough) understands that as alike as Em and Ad might be on some things, they can be the complete opposites on others. Attitude toward school, has always been one of those things. Emma has always enjoyed and looked forward to school and Addie protests the very thought of it.  (Cue the dramatic music…)

And then, there was our first day yesterday.

Emma has a little bit of a summer cold and wasn’t feeling all that hot on Tuesday, so she slept most of the day away and didn’t want to eat anything, she kept telling me her tummy hurt. Well, her best friend is not in her class this year. It was a mere blip on the radar Monday when the girls looked over the class lists. We figured it would be epic meltdown, but they actually seemed okay with all of it. We commended them on not being disappointed and told them “it must be because you are THIRD graders now.” BUT when Emma got up yesterday morning she was not at all her usual enthusiastic self.

“My tummy hurts because I’m nervous.” - Yes, sometimes it is a little scary to do something we are not comfortable with, but I think you might just be excited, too.

“I’m nervous because I don’t know half of the class.” - But you do know all of the third graders and the other five girls are all in your Girl Scout troop! (She is in a 3/4 split class.)

“But I don’t know the teacher.” - But you didn’t know Mrs. P. last year either!

“But she is a FIFTH grade teacher!” - Almost all teachers have to be able to teach all different grades. She was a fifth grade teacher, but now she teaches third and fourth!

“But…but…but…”

And so our first day photos…well, she looks very much like she was feeling…apprehensive at best.

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And then we have Addison (thegirlwhodoesn’teverwanttogotoschool) Rose. At 6:45am yesterday I opened my eyes because I could feel her standing there staring at me and she was fully dressed complete with an attempted hair brushing and she whispers, “Morning’ Mama! It is the first day of school. I’m a FIRST GRADER! I’m ready to go see Mrs. K. I want to pick her some flowers. Did you know we get desks? DESKS?!”

Yes. Good morning. Ok, then.

And every single photo I have of her on her first day of school has THIS smile on it.

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She was beyond excited. She ran to her classroom. She eagerly handed over her flowers and a hug to Mrs. K. and all was right with the world.

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In the end it was a perfect day for everyone.

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Emma likes her teacher but has told me at least 5 times that she is “very strict. Nice, but very strict.”  (Which is all fine and good with J. and I!)  This morning there were no second guessing going to school, she was ready and happy. And Addie’s enthusiasm hasn’t waned either, although she comes home from school EX-haaausted. Which is also fine and good.

I think they are in for a great year. But I still can’t believe they are third and first graders!

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This & That Thursday

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Welcome to the first September edition of T&T Thursday. Can you believe it is Thursday already? How about that it is September? Try this one. It is only four more months til 2010. Scary, huh?

Speaking of the days flying by, Emma has been a first grader for an entire week already. She. Loves. It.  No, I mean…SHE.LOVES.IT. Her recount of school includes rapid-fire blow-by-blow detail of the day and usually starts the minute we greet her at the gate. It continues across the street, down the block, up our path, across our courtyard, through the door, around the dining room, into the kitchen, while I make her a snack…and then, and only then, there is silence. If we weren’t working so hard on manners, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t stop talking while she scarfs down her snack, either. There is just so much excitement in her new class, she can barely contain herself. Her only complaint is that she gets three recesses, but has not seen the smoke-filled light of day for any one of them. Fifteen recesses (they jumped right into some tough math problems, too!) that they have missed out on. And first-graders get to play on the BIG playground, too, no more little kindergarten playground for them. It is pure torture, I tell you.

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Now, I know there are people that are worried about losing the homes and livelihoods, but trying to keep a nearly four-year old entertained INdoors? For a week straight? Especially when she is used to running, swinging, and visiting every park in a 5-mile radius – that there is my own little version of torture.

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Yesterday I couldn’t take it any more and we finally biked up to the library. We were only out for about 25 minutes, but it is still very smokey and isn’t looking good up there as the fight against the fire continues.

Not to mention the air quality has seriously cut into Mama’s running. Which makes Mama very crabby. So that isn’t helping things around here.

I did however, wear a pair of “Pre-Emma” jeans this week. I remember now why I kept them as my “skinny jeans” for ‘lo these many years. They are so very comfortable and look good, too. (If I do say so myself!) I’m happy to have finally lost all my extra baby pounds. Hahahaha! I mean, my “baby” is only TURNING FOUR next week. Takes nine months to put on…forty-eight to take off. Seems about right, eh?

THEN, the very day I was becoming re-acquainted with my jeans, stupid (Oh yes, I DID say the “s” word!), STUPID Starbucks decides that it is fall, which means it is pumpkin scone time again. If you recall my love/hate relationship with the pumpkin scone, it can’t be good news for me and my jeans. I may have to just say goodbye to the jeans again, at least until January. The end of pumpkin scone season.

That January that is a mere four months away.

Must go do something productive now for fear that I will wake up tomorrow and it will be Christmas already.

A primer for FIRST graders (according to Em)

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First graders are never scared.
My discussion with Em while tucking her in the night before school started…

E: I’m nervous about going to school tomorrow, Mama.
M: (Thinking this might be from discussions with a friend of hers earlier in the day) Why are you scared? What are you worried about?
E: Mmmm. I don’t know?
M: I thought you were so excited about being a first grader finally? Think of all the great things you are going to learn!
E: Hey, yeah. And first graders aren’t afraid of anything, are they?
M: I don’t think they are afraid of trying something new – and they definitely aren’t afraid of learning!
E: Ok. I’m not scared. And I think that first graders don’t need a nightlight either, Mama.

Alrighty then.

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First graders are up before their alarm clocks (and parents).
Well, at least on the first day they are. We’ll see if this continues.

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First graders get love notes on their way to school…

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…and in their lunchboxes.

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Speaking of which, first graders get to take their lunches to school!
It really was the highlight of our morning. Deciding what to take for our very first lunch, and packing it in our new lunchbox.  And no, I did not even *strongly suggest* this lunchbox. But imagine my excitement when she chose this one with the cute little tree and bird applique on it. And it says I *heart* trees.

Sigh. That’s my girl.

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First graders still have to wait patiently while Moms take a million photos on the first day.

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First graders line up to go into their classroom.
And seem oh, so very grown-up standing in line waiting for class. And they have classroom rules – three of them that she already knows by heart. And every time they do something good, they get a cougar paw and entered into a little lottery at the end of the week. Yeah, she already got her first cougar paw today. She was also office helper and line leader. Quite a first impression that kid makes, I’m sure.

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First graders wait with crossed fingers to find out if their best friend is in their class.
It was pure agony around here the past week. They didn’t post the class lists until yesterday. I’m sure the shrieks of pure joy could be heard for miles when we walked over with the girls yesterday to discover that they were in fact in the same class.

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First graders get awesome little crafty treat bags from their teachers...
Seriously – how cute are these?

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…And then immediately break them open to share with their little sisters when they get home.

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First graders are much better printers and spellers than kindergartners.
Although Em was a bit dismayed to learn that this week (Wed-Fri) they are doing a little kindergarten review. “It was a very easy day, Mama. I already know all that stuff.”

I can tell she was definitely trying very hard to print nicely. She doesn’t print that neatly at home for Mommy!

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First graders are very relieved that first grade isn’t that much different from kindergarten…

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…but are certain that it is going to be a whole lot more fun!
(For Mommy, too. So different than last year!)

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