Kindergarten!

Sophie started Kindergarten today and overall I think she liked it fairly well. When I asked her what she liked best, she said " recess." I also think that she rather enjoyed eating lunch at school, but she claims they didn't learn anything today. She also tells me that she never wants to go back...but I think that has more to do with the chaotic pick-up experience I describe below than with the rest of her day. She talks excitedly about the rest of her activities, so I'm hoping once she gets into the groove and knows what to expect at the end of each day that she will like it better.Emotionally, drop off went smoother than I expected.We didn't have the tears and clinging to my leg that I had prepared myself for. I did end up parking the car 1/2 way there at a gas station and walking the rest of the way(yep this is 1/2 of the 1 mile there), because it was taking a really, really, really long time. They just cut the busing this year to anyone under 2 miles from the school and so almost everyone in her elementary school is getting dropped off by a parent. I opted to walk over and pick her up this afternoon since it probably takes less time, gives me more exercise and saves gas. It went fairly well, despite trying to push a stroller over horrible sidewalks(gravel) on a busy 4 lane road... I think we will probably be doing this until it gets colder or if it's raining or something. Pick-up was definitely an experience. From the time I arrived on the property of the school until I collected Sophie it was about 35 minutes. Imagine 400 + parents all trying to pick up their children according to number tags assigned. After they called Sophie's name 3 times with no response, I spotted her teacher down the hallway and quickly opened a door and asked for him to find her for me. She came out with tears streaming down her face. All of the students were in the cafeteria and she heard her name twice, but didn't know what to do and thought she would never find me again. Bless her sweet little heart. Of course when I see her crying, I start crying too...so we stopped at the playground and I let the kids play before our dangerous walk home.

I'm really hoping that Thursday goes a bit smoother for her and that she really end up loving school! I tried really hard to get her to smile this morning for a cute picture and this is what I got....I guess this says exactly what Sophie is like at this age!