Ready, Set, Educate!

Today was the big day. The first day of school for Malia. Matthew started yesterday and since it has only been three weeks since the end of the last school year, everything was pretty much status quo for him.  In spite of her food anxiety, Malia was pretty darn excited. First grade is a big step. She was up and ready to go in record time, decked out in her brand new first day of school outfit. (We did a bit of shopping last week to help her feel like there was something to do prepare so she has a first day of school outfit, a second day of school outfit and a new backpack. She opted to keep her old lunchbox which goes right along with my theory that lunch at school is freaking her out.) As is normal for her, when she is excited she gets kind of crazy.

Malia’s very first 1st grade homework was completing an “All About Me” poster that she got at her orientation yesterday. It included a place for her to draw a picture of her family and her picture made me laugh out loud. The blue line is so she would get all out heights right, which she did, but I think the funniest part is the fact that she drew Kevin’s stubble. He shaves when he feels like it and not every day so it is actually a pretty accurate look for him.

I drove her to school at her request, but honestly, once we got to her line up location she dropped her backpack, hollered a quick “Bye Mom!” and was on her way to the playground. I had to call her back just to take a picture (where she was looking into the sun, of course). Really, she was ready to go.

By the time she got home this afternoon, she was tired. Very, very tired. All day is a long time for these little ones. But she was also happy. She enjoyed herself and even lunch wasn’t too bad. Her friend Renee, who was in her class last year and who is also allergic to peanuts, is in her class again this year so she had someone to sit with at the nut free table. That was enormously helpful.

So we’re off to a good start. Hopefully it will stay that way.