By Herself??

We attended the Meet the Teacher night at Bethany’s new school.

Before going, I thought, “No big deal. She’s been in daycare now for two years (long days, 7:30 to 5:00) and is used to a pre-K curriculum. How different can kindergarten be?”

As we arrived, it started right away to seem more of a big deal. The parking lot was packed with cars, with spill over up and down every side street. We parked a block away and walked in the near 110 degree heat to the wall of the admin building. There the class assignments were posted.

They had expanded kindergarten to six classrooms this year, spread across two buildings. Twenty five students per class. That’s a lot of kindergarteners!

We eventually found her room and met the teacher, whom we liked. The classroom is modern, well equipped and engaging. All was good again…as expected.

Then I saw it – the teacher’s desk!

The daycares did not have a teacher’s desk! Suddenly my perspective changed for good. This is serious! We have always referred to the daycare as “school”, but this is SCHOOL.

We were early, so we left the classroom and walked through the courtyard of the campus (at least six buildings) to the cafeteria/gym/auditorium. Cafeteria! Gym!! Auditorium!!! Clearly I had forgotten my early childhood, and so was not expecting all of this. Now, in rushed those visions of my first days of school. Goodbye to the simpler ways of daycare.

I had just realized a couple of days ago that she would be packing a lunch, but still assumed she would eat in her classroom.

Kindergarten for my childhood was only half day (no lunch break needed). And, from first grade through high school, I had gone home for lunch; no cafeterias. This was out of my comfort zone.

Back in the classroom, the teacher gave a PowerPoint presentation to orient us.

Bethany will have the option to buy her lunch from the cafeteria. Buy lunch herself!

OK, calm down; we won’t likely do that, maybe just buy milk. But still, I’m trying to imagine Bethany carrying a lunch box into that cavernous room filled with kids, open it by herself, eat what she wants, pack it back up when done, all by herself, and then carry it back to the classroom. You mean like a real person!

Bethany-itude

Bethany has an ease in approaching others, both friends and strangers. Fortunately, she is not outright fearless; that could be bad. She does have a guarded approach, but much in contrast to those of us who have such a fear of offending or being embarrassed that we don’t even try to approach someone.

She definitely enjoys observing others and then wants to join in; seems to genuinely like to help.

If a child is crying or struggling with something, she’ll approach, observe quietly and then do or say what she can to ease the situation.

If someone drops something, she rushes up to pick it up for them.

In most cases the adults seem pleasantly surprised when she walks up to them and starts asking questions and expressing an interest in them.

With the kids the reaction varies, sometimes it’s “Hey! A friendly face.” At other times it is more “Mind your own business!”. The latter attitude, Bethany doesn't always detect. That’s a little sad to see her keep trying. Or, maybe it should be inspiring to see her keep trying.

In a group of peers, she will often try to lead–but then is flexible enough to follow when another takes control.

Around the house, she is often asking to help. She likes to join in on the cleaning, cooking and to assist in repairs. Unfortunately, we usually have let efficiency and expediency get in the way, and refuse her help. Gotta watch that! We want her to retain that eagerness, when she is a teenager and we badly need the help. Please!!