I drove to Garrett's school and waited in the car pool line with 50 million other people. All the Kindergarten car riders were sitting in rows outside. Strangely everyone was super quiet. Garrett had spotted my car well before I got up to the pick up spot. He was jumping up and down, pointing at my car, and noticeably telling one of the teachers that car was for him. It was the cutest thing ever.
He came running to the car and I noticed his shoes were untied. He jumped in the car and was all smiles. He proceeds to tell me he ate at the "cafe" and that he made no friends because he didn't want to talk to anybody. He got to color 2 pictures and visited the library. He received a bookmark and explained how it works. Then he said that he has to follow all the rules, listen to the teacher, and raise his hand.
The happiness in his face made me want to cry (but I didn't)! I can't wait for the rest of the year.
Today is Garrett's first day of Kindergarten. He got up at 6 o'clock bouncing and ready to go. I made a special breakfast for him, pancakes, and as he ate he watched me make his lunch. He sat patiently (well as patiently as any 5 year old can) while Jacob and I got ready. He wouldn't let that backpack out of his sight.
Finally, we were ready to leave the house. Backpack and lunch box in hand he bolted out of the door. I begged for a couple of pictures before he got in the car.
We got to "big boy school" and he was so excited. We walked hand and hand through all the other parents and found Ms. Zindler's Kindergarten classroom. He walked right in, sat down (by himself), and started coloring. He did awesome. Jacob was sweet and gave him a hug and said BYE. 
We went to Walmart last night and bought Garrett a backpack and lunch box for "big school". He was so excited to pick out his own backpack; his choice was Kung Fu Panda! Today he is dragging it around the house and won't let it out of his sight.
Of coarse, I started crying in the middle of the lunch box aisle. It's happy and sad that Garrett is growing up; very bittersweet. He is my baby and it's weird to think that is school career is beginning. Chase looked at me in the middle of my mini breakdown and rolled his eyes. I guess he just doesn't understand.
Jacob is alittle jealous because he wants a backpack and lunch box too. He keeps saying he wants to go to big school with Garrett. This is the first time that they will be seperated that Jacob can remember. Next year Bubba.....and I will cry then too!
Devin’s daycare is doing a “school play” on Thursday this week. Over dinner Chase and his parents talked excitedly about going while I sat silently in the corner. That was the first I had heard of any school function; obviously I wasn’t invited to go. I want to be there for Devin, support him in any way I can, be able to take all the pictures I want, and clap along with everyone else. I don’t want to hear second hand of how well he did.
Last night Devin was singing the songs that he was going to perform at the play. After he finished and I gave my round of applause he said “I want you to come and watch me. You have to bring your camera so you can take lots of pictures of me. That’s what all the other parents do.” What do I say to a 4 year old? “I can’t make it buddy. Maybe next time.” That would be a lie because I would be there in a heart beat. Do I tell him the truth? “Sorry, I wasn’t invited and your mom doesn’t want me there.” I decided against that. Instead I simply said “I’d like to go” and left it at that.
I wonder how long it will be before I’m invited to his school functions. I wonder how long it will take to get over the feeling of being an outsider looking in.
