It Has Been Anything But Black and White

By the title I mean...what appears simple (black and white) is really quite complex.  These 2 peas in a pod (pic taken a few days prior to the start of school) cause little disturbances, quite expected outcomes and generally...statistically predictable. 

Until ... Kindergarten.

It has been a long week for both families (especially moms) with texts back and forth, unanticipated playdates and google searching.   

Let me explain.  

(playdate before Kindergarten)

Amelia and Kayla met at Tiny Tots, a dance/gymnastics class.  They immediately gravitated toward one another and have been buddies ever since, even attending pre-school together, where it was as if they met their long lost friend ... for the first time...every morning. There was NEVER an ounce of sadness when they headed to the gates of their beloved Pre-school.  

Off to Kindergarten.  Amelia to one school and Kayla to another.  At this very moment I truly do not feel that it is the loss of "their buddy" that has made this first week of Kindergarten memorable, I believe it's that they are of equal personalities and thus react the same.   A reaction that we never anticipated.

Crying every day when walking into school.  They are both fine when they get in, fine when they get out.  We tried compassion, firmness and incentives.  

We met at Kayla's school playground after school.

We met at Amelia's.

..yet still the complaints "too long" "miss you mom" "don't know anyone" and "it's not preschool". 

So, I tried to make it a bit more like preschool.  Not heading in until the teacher brings her lined up class into the building and we "sneak" in.  She puts a small stuffed animal in her backpack that only her teacher, Amelia and I know about as she used to bring a different one each day to Pre-school to show her teachers.   It helped.  

We have extra long playtime in the mornings with her stuffed animals too...distraction tactic.

(Find Amelia)

And we talk...a lot. 

Finally, yesterday.  She asked if I would come into lunch.  We had received a note from her teacher that if we the parents could hold off from volunteering in the classroom so she could get the kids used to school.  I assumed this was lunch too, but Amelia said other parents had lunch with their kids.  So, I eagerly accepted...wondering if it would backfire and I would have two moments of separation anxiety.  

It went splendid.  I saw the Amelia that I know ... chatting, teaching (she loves to explain things) and the general silliness  that is expected of her.  I waved and said "bye" and she replied "see you in a bit!" and scampered off to the playground with her new found buddies.  She is a con artist.  

I immediately texted Kayla's mom:  Go have lunch :) 

I think we have turned the corner...she says she loves school.

  I will meet her for lunch a couple times a week...especially the first day of the week.  We will still walk in for a bit and still have extra play in the mornings/evenings and weekends...sigh like the kid doesn't get enough of me :)

Headed to the Great Alaskan State Fair on Sunday...stay tuned.