Since the day Quincy was born, no even before that... in the womb Quincy had a strong personality. Most babies are cooperative and lay in a comfortable vertical, up and down, position allowing both baby and mother to coexist happily together. Not my Q. He was determined to make horizontal his position of choice.
"Oh he could very well turn around by the time you deliver," said my doctor. Quincy probably heard that and laughed and said to her right then and there, "Fat chance Doc!" And so he continued in his most determined little nature to make both of us miserable in that transverse breech position. I kept thinking if only you would just turn around things would be so much easier for both us us! Needless to say no matter how hard I tired, he had opinions of his own.
Then he came out (and I was overjoyed at having regained freedom from that stubborn little boy who was consuming most of the space in my body.) And his stubborn nature continued to manifest.
"Breast is best". Oh you've all heard it before. Those wonderful nurses and doctors feeding you this slogan from the time you conceive. Sure I had plans to nurse my baby, but he had his *own* way of learning things. Through days and weeks and months I continued to battle with my little Quincy. Hadn't he heard that phrase, Mother Knows Best, before? Together.... butting heads the whole way... we figured out the whole nursing thing. But he didn't make it easy on me. Like I said he had his own agenda.
With time, Quincy and I learned how to communicate. He was an early talker. Speaking actual clear words at 16 months and using full sentences by 18 months. By the time he was 2, we all knew when he had an opinion and when he didn't agree with what was going on, we heard about that too. Let me stop here to note that I love my little Quincy dearly, he has so many good qualities in him. He's a great brother, and he's helpful, he is bright, and loving.... but he's stubborn. That strong will of his and mine sure do collide a lot and there were many days and weeks... that I couldn't help, but dream of the day when he would go to school and perhaps listen to his teachers more than he listened to me.
As time passed and we neared that heavenly date (the First day of school) I found that I started feeling anxious. I wasn't necessarily worried that he'd fail kindergarten, let's face it he's reading at an advanced level and doing math quite well. I wasn't worried that he wouldn't make any friends, seeing as how any place we go to he's good at playing with new kids. I wasn't afraid he wouldn't fit in. I wasn't longing for him to stay home with me, but it dawned on me that this part of life... this phase in our family's life was about to change. I'd have a kid in school, granted he only goes half days here, but still. Suddenly it was like a light bulb clicked on in my head and I realized... I'm SO unprepared for this phase of life. I've spent so many years at home with my kids in a controlled environment and knowing what and who they're being exposed to and suddenly I felt way out of my element.
Before I continue, this 'oh crap I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing-moment' I want to say it didn't make me want to coddle him and keep him out of the world, it should have made me want to "press the pause button" as so many of my friends have been saying about their children growing up, but it didn't.
Pause button? I thought.
Rewind? I thought.
Heck no!
I'm excited for this stuff. Quincy is too. Sure it's new. Yeah there are some scary unknown factors, but it's change and learning and growth... that is life's purpose, right? Each phase brings new challenges and wonderful moments of joy. I am truly excited to see what Quincy will accomplish through these next Elementary School years. Sometimes I have to ask myself, if there something wrong with me? Shouldn't I want it to go back to those "easy days" of him being a baby. But then perhaps that's why he was such a stubborn child then, to help me be able to 'let go' easier now.
I'm ready for it.
Do I know exactly what 'it' is?
Nope.
Not a clue for what's in store, but that's the beauty of growing up,
I'm learning to embrace the change.
This was before we we went to his open house last Thursday.
Finding his table and name. His teacher had a scavenger hunt for the kids and their parent's to find his cubby, his school box, and some other things around the classroom.
His first Day of school.
I should preface by saying the night before he was so excited to start school he came out of his room 10 minutes after going to bed to remind me: 'Not to forget to wake him up because I don't have an alarm clock.' I thought it was cute.The next morning he ended up waking 10 minutes earlier than I planned to get him up because he was so excited. Tyler drove him and I to his school and dropped us off. The little boys stayed with our neighbor.
His backpack form Great Grandma Rena.
His teacher Mrs. Cohen. She's so short I feel tall!
I managed to keep my emotions in check while dropping him off. When he got his school supplies in the appropriate boxes and his back pack in his cubby he was ready for me to leave.
I said, "Goodbye. I love you"..... and he was already looking over at the other kids....
It didn't phase him one bit.
I gave myself I little pep talk on the way out, telling myself that's the way I wanted to be able to leave him: Ready and excited for new adventures.
Then I read this poem enclosed in the folder I was supposed to take home with paper work to fill out:
"The First Day of School"
I gave you and little wink and a smile
As you entered my room today
I know how hard it is to leave
And simply walk away.
You've been together for several years.
You've been a loving guide.
But now the time has finally come,
To leave your child by my side.
Just know that as you drive away
And tears may start to flow,
I'll love your child as I would my own
And help your little one to grow.
So place a favorite picture here,
And cherish it in your own way.
And know your child will be safe and loved
As we work and learn each day.
And dang it.
I was just fine until I read that poem and of course reading that caused a few tears to escape.
But again I reassured myself that all this "new" stuff is GOOD stuff.
I came back an hour earlier than school got out. The parents met and talked with his teacher. Then we got back together with our kids. He looked happy and showed me his book box (which is what he'll put his school library books in when he takes them home.)
He had a great first day. Of course there were only 6 kids there for his screening day. Monday he goes in for his gradual entry day with half of his class. Tuesday everyone goes in.
There are 27 kids in his class.... I hope he find his niche and fits in nicely, but I'm not too worried.
I officially have a kindergartner.
It's crazy.
But I couldn't be more happy with the one I've got.
He's a great kid and I know he'll succeed.
Happy First Day of School Quincy!
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