The Big K

Kindergarten! Because Rosemary's a January kid, and December 31 is the cut off around here for public school grades, she has a bunch of pals who are very close in age and a grade ahead. So somehow kindergarten feels both like a colossal change and like it's been a very long time coming. She hasn't been particularly excited about it, I'd say, but also didn't seem too wound up about it. I guess I fretted more than she did (mom's prerogative) since she has had three years at the same preschool, basically spending all her days there with the same kids, same teachers, in a very sweet, focused, low-key environment.  

Day One arrived, with perfect back to school weather. My mom was in town, so Jason and I were both able to make the trip to school, which started off with a confident, sunny lady.   

Somewhere about half way to school, when all of the sudden a lot of school-bound kids converged, Rosemary's step slowed and she grabbed our hands a little tighter. By the time we got to the actual school - very familiar to her from the outside because we are often there for the farmers market that's right outside or the playground across the street, it was frown city:

She mustered this smile once in class, but she was looking pretty nervous as we left. At the end of the day she said she had two friends and the next day it was "five, maybe six" - not so bad, right?

Change is hard for all our little critters, and I think Rosemary has steeled herself against her new environment and my constant questions, in part because of all of us grown ups constantly asking her with expectation in our eyes, is kindergarten FUN? Are you having fun? Now that I think of it, I guess I look back at kindergarten as being a sweet, cozy time, but that's the end of the year outlook, not the beginning.  

No matter how much she protests that kindergarten is "not as fun as you think...it's more learning than playing," we can still usually glean a silly story or two from of our tight-lipped lady. By Wednesday she was bringing in heart art, glue still wet, for her teacher, and on Friday, she ran into class without so much as a seeyasoon. She seems to be getting the hang of manic cafeteria life and recess on the hot, very urban blacktop playground (would it kill them to have a play structure? Some trees?), where she does get to see some of her old friends. Imagine, there are seven kindergarten classes and six kids from her old school, all in different classes. It's a big place.