On the Second Day of Kinder

Maia wore one of her favorite dresses to school on day two. At lunch time, a classmate turned to her and said: "Your dress is, like, beautiful."  So she gave him a hug, and laid down near him at siesta.

Or so she reported. By the weekend, some additional details came to light. His name is Leonardo.

Leonardo's mother is a 1st grade teacher at the school. She witnessed the original exchange, and reported to my sister that Maia also kissed Leonardo, she was so happy with his compliment.

Maia now reports that she chases Leonardo at recess, and sometimes she catches him.

Maia's teacher now reports that Leonardo, who is shy, seems to like the attention, and likes Maia too. He looks for her to lay next to him at siesta. She reports it seems to have helped his transition.

Last night (two weeks in) Maia told me about some other friends at school (Kendall, who has a locker next to her, and Olivia who shared her quarters on Cookie Wednesday because she didn't like the cookies), but still admits to chasing Leonardo. And sometimes catching him. She's pretty fast.

"Wow, Maia!" I say. "It sounds like you really like to be with Leonardo. Is he a good friend to you?"
Oh mommy, she says, I love him!
"Really?" I tease, "Do you want to marry him?"
Oh yes! she sighs.

Oy.

On the First Day of Kinder

The first day of kindergarten. Oh man, this is big stuff. New school. New language. New classmates. New teachers. No Parker with her.

We signed up for the lottery drawing to get into the local Spanish Immersion school in the spring, and enrolled her in the neighborhood school while we waited. There were 84 kids waiting for 23 slots. We crossed our fingers and waited.  The letter came: we were number 34 on the waiting list. 

We are fortunate that the neighborhood elementary is excellent, and we really couldn't lose with either of our choices; but Immersion education is such an amazing opportunity. I was disappointed, and so was Maia. 

InAugust, while visiting Nana and Grandpa, I got a call from the school secretary at the immersion school. Would we still be interested? I didn't hesitate a moment! Yes, yes, yes!!

The next few weeks were a rush of excitement and preparation, sharing with friends that she was going to Aunt Kathleen's school (she is the maestra de música, the music teacher). Backpacks and lunch bags were purchased. Crayons and markers and Friday Folders. We met her teacher at the ice cream social, and found that a friend from daycare would not only be at the school, but would be in her class. A familiar face on day one. She made other friends on the playground.

Then the day arrived. And as we drove in, her courage and excitement faltered. "Mommy, I'm scared!"  My heart sank for her, and my tears came as hers did (though I did not let her see them). Feeling the weight of the unknown for both of us. The knowing that life is changing forever, we can't go back to the security of the child care family who has supported us for the last five years. We are all growing up today.

We met Ray on the curb, and Maia tried to put on a brave face... But tears came again, with a little more urgency. We took deep breaths together, and I was determined to let her feel and process so she could move on with her day. This kid has an intensity that is not to be denied, so she may have been the only kid sobbing, but I thought she was entitled, given the fact that all the security she has known in her five years has been stripped away, layer by layer, in the last three months. Go ahead and cry for a minute, kid. You are entitled to those feelings. 

Eventually, she settled, and took a place by her teacher. She saw her friend Megan from daycare, and the new friend she'd met. And by the time she entered the doors of her school, she was settled. Calm. Brave. Curious. 

Parker, for his part, was only excited to move on to the preschool classroom with his friends, and Miss Nikki, who loves him (the feeling is mutual). I'm really excited to see how he comes into his own, and blossoms without his lovingly overbearing sister standing guard.  My moment of wistfulness was for the day that we leave this amazing daycare family. And that makes me teary, so I'm grateful I have two more years.

I can't believe it. First day of Kindergarten. First day of Preschool. Where did my babies go, and look at these amazing kids?

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A word about Immersion:

Kids brains are completely open to new language as that is a big part of its job in the developmental years. So the brain of a child can easily learn multiple languages side-by-side. Whereas adults learning a new language have to filter through their native language, translating into comprehension, the child's brain organizes the information differently. And being bilingual as a child will also allow the older learner to pick up additional languages more easily.

She should be fluent by the time she hits third grade. How cool is that?