OT: Is your DD/DS starting kindergarten?

[Rylee]

We had just finished visiting my daughter's school. As we drove home, I turned to her and said, "Life as we've known it, is about to change forever." She began to cry. I said, "Don't cry, you don't have to go. You can stay home." She said, "I want to go, I'm so excited, but a part of me is sad, too." "I know," I said, "I know."

My oldest daughter was beginning her freshman year at college but it could have been her first day of kindergarten... the feelings, at least on my part, were the same. I was nervous, excited, scared, happy, sad, etc.

I have 5 children and I have sent each one off to their first day of kindergarten, and the oldest 2, off to their first year of college. There are many other "first" between those milestones, and through it all, I smiled through tears...

... Wanting them to remain little, forever, yet... wanting them to seek out and fulfill their dreams.

 

[shane&jakesmom]

First day of kindergarten for my son today. He cried when I left, broke my heart I not ready for him to go all day he's my baby.

 

[Ephany]

DD started a few weeks ago. Mostly she likes it, but she gets annoyed with the fact it's more structured than her pre-K was. She especially doesn't like the fact that she can't talk as much as she'd like.

I was fine with her starting K, but I almost lost it a week later when she lost her first tooth. My DH thinks it's terribly funny that kindergarten didn't phaze me, but everytime I see that hole in her teeth, I get weepy. I will admit, the lisp is rather cute though.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Last year I was okay with kindergarten. I still did drop-off and pick-up. Now this year for first grade I was a mess. She is gone so long!!! I wish elementary school was on the preschool schedule - Labor Day until Memorial Day. My little guy would also be happier. He misses his big brother and big sister and plans what they are doing when they get home.

 

[mlraabe]

My DD (my baby) starts K this year. I am not sad in the sense that I'll miss her; I'll actually see her more this year as she will be attending full time where I teach 1st grade. She will now be riding with DS and I to and from school and having breakfast with us instead of being with DH or Grandma during the day. But, I still can't believe that my baby girl is old enough for K. She is so grown-up. I am getting old.

Our youngest starts next week. Although I am in the same boat - I teach at the school. But I still can't believe he is starting Kind. Where did the time go? He could ride with me to school but he is so excited to get on the bus. His brothers and sister like to to ride the bus too . But they all will come home with me. I will be teary on the first day for sure. DD is starting Middle School so she will not be in the same building as me now. Just 2 left at the elem school with me!

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

My yougest of 3 is starting after labor day. She is still 4 too. She is so excited. With my first one I was very upset about it but with this one it's easier. I can't believe how quiet it's going to be here It will be so hard to get used to . But I guess I'll just have to try . Don't worry, as the school year go's by it will get easier.

 

[dogodisney]

I am raising my dgrandson (5) because his mom (my dd) died 2 years ago. I'm not upset about his going to kindergarten - I'm upset because his mom isn't here to do it.

I am so sorry for your loss.
I am raising my DGD (5) for a different reason. Her mom (mydd) is missing out because she lives in a diiferent state.

She started kindergarten today. She went to Pre-k full time last year so her being gone all day isn't new to us. I was actually looking forward to her going to school and she was happy to go. She broke her leg the day before summer break started so it has been an interesting summer.
She is the 4th child I have sent off to kindergarten so I am not new to it.
My youngest started High School today. It seems like just yesterday I was sending her off to kindergaten.
I need to finish taking care of things for our trip so the time to myself is going to be wonderful.

 

[El&Asmom]

My oldest is starting next Wednesday. I am still in a bit of denial about it. It will be the same number of hours as preschool, but 5 days a week. Dd2 will be going to a nearly 3s program two days a week as well. I'm looking forward to having an hour and a half to myself two days a week, but that won't last too long as dd3 is due in Dec.
I'll miss the laid back sleep in days of summer, but I know it will be good for the girls.
The thing I am not looking forward to is the drop off and pick up schedule. We don't get a bus and the girls schools have a half hour lag between the two for drop off and pick up. Dd2 and I will have to find something to do during that half hour. Plus add a newborn in winter and all of the bundling up is stressing me out already.

 

[NJMomma]

My DD is starting kindergarten after Labor Day as well. She's 5 1/2 and was in preschool for 2 years. I am not really so sad. She'll actually be home more than she was while going to preschool. She's my baby, but always the more independant one She's excited to go to the big kid's school with her brother, but he's not too happy about having to walk into the kindergarten door with her I think next year will be hard for me when she's gone all day. It does make me feel old though! I feel like she's 5 going on 15 She told DH yesterday that she hated him I thought I had years to go before I heard that! At least she didn't say we ruined her life

 

[RedAlfalfa]

Today was supposed to be my DDs 1st day of K- but TS Fay has given me an extra 2 days with her. I know she'll do fine and love it so I'm OK sending her, though I will miss having her here with me. The part I'm not looking forward to is waking up at 6:30. We are all night owls (the kids sleep till 9 most AMs and I am up till 2 most nights). It will take some getting used to.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

DD start sept 4th. She is my first I am sending to Kindergarten. She has gone to daycare (I am a teacher so she is home in summer) since she was 6 mo., but is very shy at first. I am pretty nervous for her. She was supposed to go to the before and after care at the school, so we had told her that, and I would be dropping her off and picking her up. Well, the people who run the before care called last week and said they could not run it due to lack of enrollment! SO, she has to go to a daycare, then take the bus from there! So this is alot of change for a kid that does not do well with change. The school will not bus from the daycare she had gone to all these years...any words of advice from mom's or dad's of shy kids?

 

[dougsmom98]

I know how everyone feels. When my oldest started kindergarten it was soooo hard. There is just something about kids taking the big yellow bus that makes them seem so grown up. That night I told my DH that we had to have another kid and months later we got my DD! My DD is now 3, and she is going to preschool on September 2nd for the first time. I am really sad because I know she is my last and I want her to stay little forever.

 

[jenb1023]

Thanks everyone for sharing! I am so glad I am not the only one having these feelings! For those of you that are ready, good for you!

Pigletto & Ephany - the lost tooth thing freaks me out too! My dd's friend who is 6 months older lost her first tooth a few weeks ago. I was shocked that she was old enough to lose a tooth - 5 1/2 does not seem old enough to get adult teeth.

Magchavez - love the Boo-Hoo breakfast idea for the moms - what a great way to bond with other moms in the class.

holly7347 - I am a little were worried about organization and stuff too. I already had to call the school once this summer about class assignments. Of course, I am a bit of a control freak and very organized so that does not help.

Rylee - thanks for being the voice of sympathy and experience. I can't even imagine when college comes!

Congratulations to those that have survived the first day and good luck to those of us with the first day yet to come!

 

[rylousmom]

Add me to the list of not ready for k. My oldest starts next week and I am a wreck about it. Her school is full days and they recently changed the time of school. She will be gone from 8:15 to almost 4:00. Not only does the length of school have me upset but her schedule for school is not great. She will have to eat lunch at 11:15 in the morning and then have one long afternoon. Even her teacher thinks the schedule is strange. I have a feeling I will have one tired cranky girl on my hand. So please send some good vibes my way for Wednesday 8/27.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

My DD is starting pre-school this Sept. I'm dreding and looking forward to it. I can't wait to have time alone every day with DD22m but I'm just scared for how DD3 will handle being without Mommy for 2.5 hours a day. She does ballet, but with that I'm just on the other side of the wall, and she knows that - and she still came out crying once or twice - what is she going to do with I'm 1/2 a mile away?? I know she will get used to it just like we all did... its just scary!

 

[pyrxtc]

My youngest starts on the 26th. He is 4 but will be 5 in September. Only half day but I don't know what to do with myself while he is gone. Next year he'll be gone all day, what will I do then!

 

[mom2aredhead]

Pigletto & Ephany - the lost tooth thing freaks me out too! My dd's friend who is 6 months older lost her first tooth a few weeks ago. I was shocked that she was old enough to lose a tooth - 5 1/2 does not seem old enough to get adult teeth.

Congratulations to those that have survived the first day and good luck to those of us with the first day yet to come!

My son fell and knocked his tooth out when he was almost 3, so I;ve been staring at the gaping hole for a while now. I tell myself it gives him character.

And he is starting kindergarten just after labor day. He's on the young side too - we have a 12/31 cutoff and he's a fall baby so I'm a little nervous for him. But he's done great in pre-k and he's very excited about going to "big school" - it's me that's not quite ready!
I wish there was a boo-hoo breakfast at our school. What a great idea!

 

[SalandJeff]

DD starts Kindergarten full days on 9/2 and I am so nervous. She is only 4 (her birthday is end of October). She has been in daycare full time since she was 2 and was in public preschool last year. And until I got laid off in June, I was not home with her at all. So it is not an issue of me missing her (although I do).

But I am so nervous that she will be upset and crying. It will be a new bus driver, new teacher, new school, and new after-school care. She absolutely loves her daycare teacher and will miss her terribly. I don't think she really understands it all yet.

 

[SmallWorld71]

DD start sept 4th. She is my first I am sending to Kindergarten. She has gone to daycare (I am a teacher so she is home in summer) since she was 6 mo., but is very shy at first. I am pretty nervous for her. She was supposed to go to the before and after care at the school, so we had told her that, and I would be dropping her off and picking her up. Well, the people who run the before care called last week and said they could not run it due to lack of enrollment! SO, she has to go to a daycare, then take the bus from there! So this is alot of change for a kid that does not do well with change. The school will not bus from the daycare she had gone to all these years...any words of advice from mom's or dad's of shy kids?

DS9 was an EXTREMELY SHY kid. The biggest problem I had with him is that he would hold it all inside and not tell the teacher (or any other adult) if someone was bothering him. There were tell tale signs that something was wrong though. He would open his eyes wide and start blinking them rapidly to keep from crying. I communicated this to the teacher and she would let me know if she observed any of this and together we would have to figure out what was bothering him. It could be something simple like he didn't like the lunch choice to something more serious. I actually had to do this in K, 1 and 2and then finally in 3rd grade he actually started speaking up, so much so that the teacher would have to remind him to stop talking. Anyway, I would be sure to keep the communication lines with the teacher open. Also, I think I was a lot more bothered by DS's shyness than he was and had to keep reminding myself that it was O.K.


To those who's kids have lost teeth. DD5 just lost her front tooth too! She looks so much older now.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

DS will start school next year; however, all he talks about is starting school. He is so excited even though he has another year to wait. Today, he was telling me how he is going to ride the bus with Sissy. He has been to her school many times and loves to go. When we were talking, DS told me that is just going to ride the bus all morning. Then, he will take his Spiderman lunch box to the cafeteria and eat his lunch. Next, he will go play on the playground. Finally, he will get back on the bus and ride around for the afternoon before coming home. I think he is in for a surprise next year when he starts school.

So for now, DS is excited to start school next year!!