The Longest Week Ever!
I thought of many ways to title this post but I felt the above summed it up well. Kindergarten has been a huge change for all 4 of us! Camden having to go and deal with everything, Mom and Dad hurting for their little boy who is not happy about going and Carsten missing his big brother. I am so thankful Saturday is here and I dread Monday!
Monday and Tuesday were good days for Camden. He would get really sad when it was time to line up to go inside in the morning, but do well once inside. As a parent it is so hard to watch your child so sad.
Wednesday was a very difficult day. He was supposed to line up for his music special (the first one they went to this week) and he didn’t want to go. After finally making it (all the way on the other side of a very big school) he wouldn’t sit with the class and he got a time out. Then when returning to the classroom he refused to listen and follow his teacher’s directions and he had a temper tantrum on the floor. That night when he came home he told us little pieces about his day. He was upset and the rest of the night was pretty rough. His teacher is really sweet and chalks it all up to learning the new routine of school.
That night during prayers we talked about how God is always with him even when mommy is not. And if he is feeling scared all he has to do is remember that God is right there with him and protecting him always.
Thursday and Friday were both good days at school from what I can tell. He chose to buy hot lunch on Thurs and he loved the pizza! His favorite part of the week (Friday) was Discovery Science where Mr. Wyatt showed the class how to stick a needle in the balloon without popping it. There was also something with pipes and colored water but that was all I could decode.
Mark and I were sad on Tuesday morning without Camden. It felt like our family day wasn’t complete. I am so sad and I just want him to be happy and enjoy school. Carsten misses him, but also is enjoying the time alone with mom and dad. Mom and Dad are enjoying Carsten too! I take him to a RollyPollies class on Fridays.
When I asked Camden last night he said that he does like school. We all just need time for adjusting. To celebrate we are having a “We Survived the First Few Weeks of Kindergarten” Party! This will be after 3 weeks of school. I have heard several times that if you do something 21 times it becomes habit! So we are going to give it a shot!
GG said,
August 9, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
It is hard to know what is in a five year old child’s mind. He may have pictured school all differently. When Dick was about that old, I had been warning him about the creek that ran by the side of the house. I said, “Be careful that you don’t fall in the creek. You might drown”. One day he came in sobbing, “Mommy, I fell in the creek, but I didn’t drown, did I?” I have no idea to this day what he had thought “drown” meant. Camden had Sunday School as his example, but something was not what he was expecting. I feel so sorry for him, because he is not quite able to understand or express just what is bothering. It will all work out, and someday he will smile about his first school days.
Dad said,
August 9, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
I don’t have any memory whether I liked kindergarten or not. Grandma would have to say about that although I’m pretty sure it was my Grandma or Grandpa that took me to my first few days. I remember my kindergarten teacher’s name was Mrs Reed. I know she was a white haired lady but that’s about all I can remember. I think I liked her. Remembering her name after almost 50 years must mean she made an impression.
I’m sure Camden will get used to this pretty quickly but it is traumatic at first.
Aunt Donna said,
August 9, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
I bet a month or two from you, you’ll all look back on this and be amazed. He’ll settle in and be just fine. Just take it a day at a time, and don’t sweat it too much. Glad to hear he has such a sweet teacher.
Tell him Aunt Nonna wants to know how to put a pin in a balloon without popping it. That sounds so cool!
Jocelyn said,
August 9, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
When I worked in the after school program we had a couple kindergarten kids that were adjusting to time away from mom. They adjusted by the first month. Most of them were extremely happy about school by the first day of first grade. Wanted to introduce us to their teachers.
Daryl said,
August 10, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
So how do you stick a needle in a balloon without popping it?
GG said,
August 10, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
Don, you trotted right along with Danny. The two of you were together most of the time, each of you had a leaning post, in the other one. Besides, you had four older siblings, and this gave you a different perspective.
I cried when each of you left home; sometimes,
it’s as hard on a parent as it is the child. All too soon, it’s just the normal day.
Gma Tucson said,
August 11, 2008 @ 9:29 am
What a big little man – and how it does hurt as a parent when your child is not happy!
Add to that the events of the weekend, I’m sure that you want to put the past week in the book and close it! Things will get better. I love you all and miss you so.
GG said,
August 11, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
It’s a new week; how did school go today?
Gma Tucson said,
August 12, 2008 @ 7:04 am
Hope Mr. Camden is on the mend and more like himself today. I also hope everyone is feeling OK so I can see you guys on Weds. Love to all.