One Giant Step to First Grade

"Mom, if you come to get me after school and you can't find me, it's probably because I'm at Kids Club. First Graders can walk themselves to Kids Club by themselves and the Teachers can sign them in." OMG, no looking back and clinging to her Parents. Hey World, here I come and my name is Paigee ! Not at all what I was like at that age, of course my Parents were in the midst of the most bitter ( I wish it was due to the battle over splitting up all the millions, that I could have understood ) divorce known to mankind. All the things you do to make sure your Child's life is better than yours was !

Who would have thought a Tom Boy could change clothes so many times on the first day of School ! The anxiety level must be high. Paige is so brave though. Two weeks ago while waiting for the move Valiant to start we were sitting next to a Mexican Restaurant. Paigee was trying to catch birds. Three East Indian girls started laughing and pointing at her. Each one of them separately walked over to her in a stealthy crouch, getting in her face. Like clones each one laughed at her and ran away. For a couple of minutes they stood 50 or so feet away and kept pointing and laughing. In a heart beat I ran them off, much to their Parent's dismay. Afterwards I asked Paigee if this was how kids acted and she said no. I guess after 30 months you develop a thick skin. I'd never seen this behavior before, I wondered if it was a cultural thing. Paigee has long since abandoned wearing a hat and at school when playing on the playground. At school she has never encountered teasing like that.

Coming In.... I guess the first day warrants the purple Tinkerbell hat. First encounter is with the popular boys. They immediately start doing arm farts ( thanks Big brother cousin Daniel ), and yes my daughter is the one that got them all started. Five minutes into the reunion with friends I'm spotted with my camera on 15x. At first I get the proverbial tongue, then a few arm gestures to leave. I carefully reposition myself still in camera view. I'm up to half a gig and switch compact flash cards. You just can't take too many of the same shot. The bell rings and they all let out a hooray as they march into the class. This year it is Mrs. Huk. I think I saw; Dillon, Jonah,Andrew,Devin,Amy,Andrew's little brother. Class is from 8:15 AM till 2:50PM. We are hoping she won't have energy to go to Kid's Club. But from the earlier announcement we have to let her have the experience of walking directly to Kid's Club on her own; now that she is a big First Grader. Of course both Rosie and I will be nearby making sure she is ok but that we are not seen.