We (barely) Survived the First Week.

Mason running to class the first day. Notice that it looks pretty empty there? Yep that's what happens when your mom underestimates the traffic that early in the morning and you're 10 min. late on the first day of school. 

I wish I could say that I was super strong and with this being my second year of this school business I was a trouper and didn't even cry. Yeah well it didn't exactly go that way.

 Regardless of being late he still makes a pretty cute first grader. He looks so grown up.

 His class was already sitting and getting ready to start the day so we helped him get his stuff and find a desk. I felt awful. He was so excited and would of done just fine if we didn't have to deal with the confusion of being late and not knowing what was going on. But he relaxed and I didn't feel as bad, he wasn't crying when I left. And despite a couple other first week hangups he has had a very good week and loves 1st grade and he loves his teacher. He came home the first day and reported that LUNCH was his favorite part of 1st grade. He loves feeling so big and eating lunch at school with his friends. I am excited to see him grow and learn this year.

Mattix walking to his first day of Kindergarten. This is the face of a kid that is not happy to be here.

 If it weren't for the other issues involved I would probably of made it through the whole having a kid in 1st. grade new territory without crying or getting to emotional about it. But this year Mattix is moving up. He is officially a kindergartener. I've said this before and it is 100% true he is my Mama's boy through and through. He has the most tender heart and my biggest helper. So this should come as no surprise when I say, that this week has been torture for the two of us. Yes this sounds ultra dramatic.

 I tried to get pictures of him. But as you can see. He was not to thrilled about it all.

 He did not want to go in.

 I warned him I couldn't stay. I had the other two little ones with me and I've been told by many that if I just leave and let his teacher take him, it builds that trust between the two of them. He was doing good. We found his desk and everything. He started to color. I thought it looked safe to go. So I turned and it began.... He had his melt down. Manning couldn't understand why I was leaving Mattix crying. He started to cry. "Mommy, Mattix is crying." He kept saying. His sweet teacher came over and took him. I couldn't get to the door fast enough. Than  before I got to the door, some dad stops me to say to me, "I'm so glad my kids are not that attached." I made it out of the school fast with only one or two tears. Manning was totally bawling. I got to the car and lost it. I started bawling too. I am sure that the mom's walking by and getting in their cars were thinking "wow first time moms. Gosh just go party. Live it up. One less kid to worry about for a few hours." These thoughts just made it worse. I sat in the parking lot for 30 min, crying. Pathetic I know. But it ripped at my heart to know that MY kid was scared and I couldn't comfort him. I wanted to sneak back in and check on him but Matt said no it would make things worse. It was a sad day for me.

Manning giving Mattix a ride to school the next day. 

 But I am happy to report that he did come home from school and was very happy. He said he only cried for a little bit and had so much fun. He loved kindergarten. He even made a couple of friends he said.

I love this smiling face. He is a very handsome kindergartener.

So I asked him on day 2 if we could take the camera and have a do over with happy pictures. He liked the idea.

We got there a little early and I watched him play with his new friends and when it was time to line up he started to get all weird and clingy again. These two boys called him over and said "Mattix come stand with us." It took a little coaxing. It melted my heart to see him with friends. I guess I just pictured him being the "baby" of the class that no one wanted to play with because he cried. But no he has friends. I helped walk him and his class into the school. I wanted it to go smoother than yesterday. It started to. But we couldn't escape without another melt down. But I after seeing him play and hearing his happy day report of the the first day, it was so much easier to leave him crying. Because I knew he was going to be OK. 

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me and the boys. Between getting used to a new very early routine and not being a house of morning people. Than all the drama of getting used to all the "school stuff" that I never thought of and just the emotions of the boys being gone when I am used to them being home. At least I can say that I SURVIVED! 

 I walked up without Mattix knowing when I went to pick him up and it made me smile to see him talking and laughing with his friend. We will get used to this new chapter in our life. One day at a time.