Son anxious for school

August 19, 2008 · Posted in Tribune articles

Here we are again, that last month before school starts. Most kids are getting long-faced at the demise of their summer freedom. Some are already “practicing” getting to bed at the right time to allow them to make the bus, or the van, whichever the case may be. MY son, however, didn’t, apparently realize that there were these 31 days of August between him and kindergarten, because all summer long, he’s been saying, “How many days till July 31, Mom?”. I was wondering why in the world he was worried about “July 31”, but have concluded that sometimes it’s best to just not ask, where that child is concerned.

July 31 rolls around, and he was literally bouncing all day. “Goody, goody! Today is July thirty firtz!” and clapping his hands like some creepy little junior cheerleader. (not that cheerleaders are all creepy, but there are those few who are SO cheery, you just want to pinch them to make ‘em stop for just a minute or two) So I finally said to him, “WHY is it such a big deal that today is July 31, Buddy?” And he says, “Because TOMORROW, I get to go to KINDERGARTEN!” And I said, “No, tomorrow is August 1, and then there are 31 days in August, and then you will start school on Sept. 2, I believe.”

I could not have wounded him more, if I had told him that all the chocolate factories in the world had closed down, and he’d never have chocolate ice cream again. OH the look of anguish in his little face! I don’t know if you’ve experienced looking at sad eyes through a prescription for a kid who is very far sighted, but the eyes are magnified. And when big, brown eyes get magnified, and then tears come rolling out of them in big old drops, it will just about tear your heart out! The poor little guy was just devastated! “THIRTY ONE DAYS!” he said, with all the same emotion that you could imagine he’d use to express dismay over that whole chocolate thing, “I can’t MAKE it that long!”

I don’t know yet, who his teacher is going to be in Kindergarten, but I DO sincerely hope he or she lives up to his expectations! He has a whole list of things he plans to learn while there, and I won’t hesitate to assume he will just raise his hand and ASK to learn about the things they don’t cover the first day! He already know all the addition facts from 1 to 10, and is working on up to 20. He’s figured out that if 5 plus 5 equals 10, then 50 plus 50 equals 100. Teacher better watch out for this one. He’s going places, with or without the rest of the class! We’re almost there, Buddy, we’re almost there!