A day in the life...

Welcome back!

I've decided to dust off the ol' blog and get back to documenting the fun and crazy things that happen in our lives.

To catch you up, Hayden (or as I like to refer to him as "the boy") is now a Kindergartner! I'll take a brief moment of silence to let that sink in and also figure out where the last 5 years have gone...

*crickets*

Ok. Back to the boy. He's been in school a little over a month now and I can tell a HUGE difference in his maturity level. I'm really starting to believe that girls mature much faster than boys. The struggle with him starting school was figuring out where he would get on and off the bus (I'll explain the bus issue in a minute). Working 60 miles away isn't really conducive to taking him to school and then sitting in the school pick up line. As much as I would like for it to, it just doesn't happen at our house. Thankfully, I found a great place that is less than 200 yards from the school (I'm serious, I'll explain this so hold tight). I drop him off, he gets to play with friends before and after school which is nice because once he's picked up, the mad rush of soccer practice, bath, dinner, and homework (yes, somehow Kindergartners have homework) begins.


I am so pleased at how smart this kid is. He has smart parents and all (shout-out to myself and the husband) so it's really no surprise. The only challenge has been keeping his attention at night to concentrate on spelling his name, learning his bus number and lunch number. It appears that Kindergarten is the new First Grade. Now, these kids are expected to know how to tie their shoes (thank goodness that came easy for him) and are learning to read. READ. Yes people, I said read. Boy, times have seriously changed.


Back to the bus issue. I am one of those parents that isn't a fan of the bus at this point. I will openly admit it. I think it stems from being a controlling person (who me? Mrs. High D personality) and also working so far away from him/school. He, on the other hand, LOVES riding the bus. I'm glad he does and isn't afraid of new situations or people (another bonus characteristic from me). He actually mentioned to me on the way to school yesterday that he wished he were big enough to get on the bus at home - by himself. I actually think I whipped my head around and gave him the "don't push it" look. Seriously, isn't going to Kindergarten enough for me to adjust to at this point or is he really wanting me to lose my mind. I digress. The first day that he rode the bus from the before/after care to school, I actually sat in my car in the parking lot to see for myself how this whole bus thing was going to work for him. It was a huge relief to see the bus PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT of the center to let the kids get on the bus. Score #1! As everyone was seated like good little boys and girls, the bus pulled out of the parking lot and drove 200 yards to the school. That's right. His rear-end was barely on the seat before it was time to get off the bus. Score #2! Needless to say, this arrangement is working out nicely for everyone.


I have a lot to catch you up on so it's going to take a few posts to get you current (and I have to actually download pictures off my camera seeing as how they've not done that themselves yet). Being a mom of a Kindergartner is pretty cool. Although it is a bit challenging explaining why he has to do homework when he already knows how to do a particular task. The fun part is only starting for him as well as us - learning to read. I think between learning to read and tying his own shoes ranks as some of the best parenting things thus far and it's only getting better!