First Day of Kindergarten!

I have to say, I'm kind of stunned.

After all my worries, all the fears that such a big change would be hard to take, Ava practically ran away from her dad and I to get to her first day of Kindergarten.

The morning began well - she woke up by herself, and even got herself dressed, without prompting, and before breakfast and cartoons. This is unprecedented. There were no last minute attempts to change outfit to a dress, nor complaints about wearing shoes instead of sandals. Again, unprecedented. It felt strangely as if she'd been doing this for months.

We did get some photos, and the Celebutant posing was about the only throwback to the Ava of the summer.

When it was finally time to leave for the school, she literally bolted! We had to keep telling her to slow down, and wait for Mom and Dad!

She picked the backpack herself. The tee shirt also. Also hippie purse, although I kind of like that one. As much as it pains me, she should be allowed some artistic expression.

Once she met her new teacher, Mrs. Fairchild, she was happy as could be and glommed on to her like the teacher's pet /pest she was meant to be. ( I knew she got some of my genes! Casey said if she'd been like him, she would have either hidden in a corner, or hit the other kids.) Ava stuck by Mrs. Fairchild's side, and introduced herself to others when Mrs. Fairchild went to meet them! (yeah, ok, BIG teacher's pet.) Soon enough, it was time to line up, and say goodbye to Mom and Dad.

In a way, it was really anti-climactic! Or maybe I should say well organized and planned, and in perfect harmony with the personality traits of our little-miss-sociable.

We decided to let her have the full day - kindergarten, afternoon wondergarden, and a bit of the "kids club" afterschool program on the first day, so that she could meet everyone, and not be the odd-man-out on the second day. I was concerned that it might be too much...what if she'd had a melt-down mid day and now felt abandoned?

When we went to pick her up at 4:15, she saw us come in the door...and started pouting that she had to leave. That's our girl.