My favorite thing about kindergarten

So week one is complete.  Both kids did great this week.  Only one meltdown from Bean on Wednesday, otherwise pretty good after-school experiences.  Schmoo had a rough day on Thursday.  She took a big fall on the concrete playground at recess, skinning her shoulder, elbow and knee.  Her next activity was gym class where she proceeded to run straight into the wall while playing tag, giving herself a big goose egg!  I returned to work from lunch to my first message to "call the school NOT urgent".  The school was just calling to give me the scoop on her morning and let me know that she was okay.

Bean's week was great.  Wednesday was Luis Suarez's (his helper hand) first day.  We've made it clear that Suarez has to work at school every day and we hit the ground running on Wednesday.  His first day he wore it all morning.  His second day he wore it again for most of the morning.  He even went and got it himself before his teacher had to prompt him.  He also wore it outside for recess, which instigated a few interested looks from some of the other kids.  Today was a big day.  I had made arrangements with the principal for Bean and I to make the rounds to each of the 5 other classrooms to show off Suarez and give the kids a chance to ask questions.  Bean did an amazing job.  He was pretty silly but totally understandable for a five year old kid that was thrust into the centre of attention.  He showed Suarez off to each class, walking around so everyone could touch it and could see what it felt like for him to squeeze their finger in the hook.  All of the classes were amazing.  There were lots of really great questions and the kids were really kind and welcoming.  Each class called good-bye to him as we were leaving and some of the older kids were giving him high fives in the hallway.  I felt great about the whole experience.  Bean obviously enjoyed it too because when I took him back to kindergarten, he asked whether we could do it again another day!

As for my favorite part of kindergarten?!  It's walking to school!!  For the past two years, we've had to drive to school since Bean's preschool was on the other side of town.  All summer I've been talking to the kids about us walking to and from school now that they are both at the same school.  It's about a 15 minute walk and the hill parts are pretty easy.  They've both been super keen.  The first day of school we didn't walk, so on Wednesday morning they were both insistent that we walk, despite the pouring rain.  So the three of us shuffled to school under one umbrella!  I picked up a couple more umbrellas while I was at work that day, so we all have our own now!  It's been a wonderful way to start our mornings, ambling along together, chatting about this and that.  One morning we counted snails and slugs as we walked.  This morning, Papa and Airlie came along for the walk too.  Even the afterschool walk has been good.  I've had something to eat for them to munch on as we wander home and no one has complained about being too tired yet!