And whoosh...he was a kindergartener

The first day of school for Jack. Last night there was no sleep. Lots of anxiety. Wondering if he was ready. But enough about my problems. Let's talk about Jack...who slept like a baby and had no nervousness whatsoever. Woke up happy as a clam and ready to go out to the bus stop. The bus pulled up right on time and whoosh, the doors closed and he was off. Didn't even look back for the waving goodbye photo.

Which was fine, because I had promised to meet him at school so we could walk into his class together for the first day. The bus pulled up and off he came with the biggest smile. Gave me a big hug and told me it was really fun taking the bus. We walked to his class together and I helped him hang his backpack. He gave me a hug and then was gone, off to discover everything waiting for him in Kindergarten.

And it's just how I wanted him to feel on his first day of kindergarten. Not wanting to look back at all.

Bus Practice

Jack starts kindergarten in 1 week. Hard for me to fathom but his enthusiasm helps tame some of my anxiety. I have friends who tear up when they talk about their kids starting school and I am sure I will be right there with tears rolling down my face on the first day. So we're using the last month that Jack has been at home with me to practice some skills he'll need for school as well as just build excitement for him for the first day.

One of those things is taking the bus. Jack has always said he wants to take the bus to school- and since that gives me an extra hour before I have to leave the house with Alex, I'm all for it. The bus stop is right at the end of our street, but we'll have to really change our morning schedule as the bus pick-up is at the time that we are currently just getting out of bed.

So this past weekend we bought a bench and placed it on the corner. Jack and I walk out there every day to practice waiting for the bus. He loves sitting there and waving to neighbors driving by. Hopefully it will help him to feel a little familiarity on day 1. But I know it does not guarantee that there won't be some shaky knees on the first day when the big yellow bus drives up...and certainly does not guarantee Mom won't have tears rolling down her face as she waves goodbye.

Say Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Jack and Alex both went for dental checkups the other day. It was Alex's first visit and Jack did a great job of telling her all about it and training her to say "aaaaaah" when the dentist asked. And when he told her about the prize drawer at the end of the checkup, she was totally on board.

She approached the experience with caution but warmed up after the hygienist offered her the choice of four toothbrushes with princess pictures on them. Alex totally went Mermaid.

Then up in the chair for a chat with the hygienist and the cleaning. It was over in about 3 minutes.

Finally the dentist checked it out and pronounced all teeth beautiful and healthy.

Now I have to point out that if adults went to the dentist and they offered a cool toothbrush, no laying down and being scraped with noisy instrument, a 3 minute cleaning and a prize at the end, I think they would have a lot more enthusiasm from their patients about showing up twice a year!