1st Day of 1st Grade!

Today was the start of 1st grade for my little boy! He started out the day just as my daughter did a few days ago, only a little worse. I was surprised by the way he was acting because last year he loved school, even on the first day. When he didn't want to get dressed and hid from me, I wasn't sure what to make of it. I thought he was just being lazy about having to get back on a schedule, but I was wrong. We took the same 1st day picture like we did last year; in the front yard, in front of the big tree. It was a little hard to get a smile, but eventually I did. I figured when he got to school and saw some of his friends, he would be happier. I was wrong again.

He was very quiet and had to fake a smile for the camera. After taking a few pictures, I realized that he was about ready to cry! I gave him a hug and asked him what was wrong and he told me that he was scared. I tried to comfort him, but it was hard because he was trying not to let anyone know that he was crying. It is tough trying to be a big kid!

At the school, the Kindergarten and first grade classrooms are across the street from the main campus. The whole school meets in the courtyard for morning assembly and prayers. When they are done they cross the street to go to their classrooms. Since our last name starts with an "A", my son is always the first one. He made his away across with his new teacher.

I had to laugh at these pictures when I was down loading them because I noticed my son had his hands behind his back. This is the way that the kids were taught in Kindergarten to walk. I noticed that he is the only one walking that way. He is my little rule follower! He is also still forcing a smile.

When I picked him up from school, he was again the first one in line to leave. He had a big smile on his face and gave his sister and me a big hug. He said that he liked his first day and his new teacher.

He told me that he got to be the first one to pick his desk, and he picked the one at the very front! He also explained that they don't raise their hands with crossed fingers to go to the bathroom. Instead only one boy and one girl can go at a time and you have to pull the card and put it on your desk, if you have to go! Also the rules at the top of the door our for his classroom and the ones underneath are for the whole school. These are very important things to know for a rule follower!

He told me tonight that he was so worried about school because someone told him that in first grade that you had to do 100 math problems in 5 minutes. He was scared because he thought he would not be able to accomplish this! I reminded him that I had told him that a long time ago, but he still worried about it. He had worried about this almost all summer, poor thing.

He also told me that I was wrong, they didn't have a box of Legos, because he looked for them! I guess 1st grade doesn't measure up because it has no Legos! You have to know what your priorities are, even in 1st grade!