Cullen Goes to Kindergarten

You might remember last fall that I was consumed a bit with choosing the right school for Cullen and after months of weighing our options, praying about it and visiting both our local public school and the Catholic school we ultimately decided that the Catholic one was the best option for our sweet boy. 

Mostly because of the uniform:

these were totally taken after school

Just kidding. 

There were many factors that weighed our decision, but seriously, how cute does look? 

 The weeks before school started he asked me if he could sleep in it so he was ready...and if he could wear it to my brother's wedding in September since it is 'so fancy'.

Cullen has been SO excited about school since we made the decision last Spring and enjoyed several  playdates this summer to help him get familiar with some of the kids. He has been counting down the days on my calendar and would beam with pride every time someone asked him if he was off to Kindergarten. 

Monday morning, the excitement continued, as he came into my room fully dressed (shoes and all) before I was even up out of bed. Admittedly, it was a litttttle crazy getting us all out of the house by 7:40 and Wells might have still been in his PJs and Bennett made it out in two different shoes, but we were in school on time. 

As we hurried in with all the other parents and children, I felt his little body inch just a little closer to mine and by the time we reached his classroom his arms were right around my leg. I got him settled in a seat and after one look around to none of the familiar faces he met this summer, Cullen burst into tears. He asked to go home with me (meanwhile, Bennett's hair was sticking up from the syrup at breakfast and Wells was helpfully rearranging the book case in the corner...yea, I was that Mom) and begged me not to leave. Luckily, his sweet teacher noticed the commotion and came over to pry him from my arms. I told him I would watch from the hallway for a minute, but really soon as he turned his head, I walked away too. Having known from my own Pre-K teaching days, seeing Mom really only makes it worse. 

Getting nervous

As I walked back down the hallway, holding back my own tears, wishing that Kev was here because he would have handled it so much better (and probably would have intervened on Bennett's shoe situation), I took a moment to take a deep breath and said a quick prayer for my big boy that he would find comfort and joy in his classroom that day (And for the record, called my mom and cried on the way home.)

Then I awkwardly walked past the nice ladies offering coffee and doughnuts in the Parish Hall...
because I didn't want to go into a room where I didn't know anyone.

 This Kindergarten stuff is tough, I tell you.

*****

Luckily, at pickup, Cullen was all smiles. He had the BEST day ever and loved his teachers.

 Highlights in his own words:

We went on the playground and there were some big kids there and they didn't even play too rough at all.

You know in Kindergarten, the teacher doesn't have to come in your bathroom, you just raise your hand and then you can go, but I didn't even have to go tinkle one time all day... But I really need to go now.

You only packed me one snack and some kids had two snacks. I want two snacks.

Guess what? I met my PE teacher and tomorrow I get to wear a Tshirt and play sports ALL DAY ({Had to inform him PE only lasted 30 minutes}

I didn't talk to any of the girls.

I'm number 14 in my class in my cubby and on my folder, which is good, because 14 is also my jersey number, since I make big plays like Nick Marshall {Auburn's quarterback}

At circle time, I picked a green square to sit on, but tomorrow I might pick orange. I am not all the way sure though yet. 

Did you know sometimes in circle you are just allowed to say answers without raising your hand? But I didn't say any, even though I know all the days of the week, I didn't want to shout in class.

Now that my first day of school is over, I can start focusing on the {Auburn} game this weekend.

Wait, what did you guys do today?

 We are so proud of you, Cullen James!