Jodifur: A New Year

I spent all day yesterday pretending it was just any other Monday. I went to the gym. I took Doug's car to get inspected, you can't get any more Monday than anything run by the MVA. I ran errands. I did some writing. I bought Michael a pillow pet, on a lark, because he he had been asking for one and I wanted him to have something when he got home from a successful first day of Kindergarten.

I sat. I waited. I hoped and prayed that things were going ok, but I guess you never really know.

I was strangely calm all day. I expected to be a nervous wreck, but I wasn't. I'm in a very, "it is what it is" place. If he needs help, we will get it for him. If he doesn't, we won't. If there is a problem we will solve it. At this point, today, there is nothing I can do but wait.

At 2:45 I walked the 2 blocks to school, with Doug. Michael came out and immediately whined that he did not want to carry his backpack home. And then, he told me how much he loved his teacher. And Kindergarten. And he went to music class and got "four notes and when you get 10 notes" something magical happens and I still don't understand what. He demonstrated, on the sidewalk, how nicely he sat. He talked about playing Star Wars at recess and lunch and his binder. He was happy, excited, even. I've picked him up 2 years in a row at 3 different preschools and never saw this bubbly happy side of him.

I'm not sure if he was blowing smoke up my ass, or how good of a reporter a 5 year old boy is, but I can tell you this much, he is in love with his pillow pet. He has decided he needs another pillow pet to keep his first pillow pet company. And he named it, Sparkles. (Here is the back story on that.) Or, Royal Pillow Pet, depending on the day.

Today he has his first day of aftercare. He is going to go two times a week. I managed to switch my schedule around so I'll be able to pick him up most days, but need the flexibility of aftercare a few days a week. I'm hoping that goes just as well as yesterday. I am so lucky to have a job with that kind of flexibility.

On Saturday we have our last OT appointment. She just wanted to see him through to Kindergarten, but really, he could have been done at the beginning of the summer. That is the last thing we have from the madness of last year. It is over and done, I hope.

It is a New Year. I think it is time to let all the crap from last year go. And I think that includes the anger I feel towards the other school. Somewhere, somehow, I have to believe they thought they were doing the right thing. And somehow, they helped us. They brought up concerns that I didn't know existed. Michael would have never gone to OT if it wasn't for them. So for that, small thing, I am grateful. And not angry, anymore.

Onward, and upward, and we move on.

Comments

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I can't tell you how happy I am to read this. It is so cool that it didn't just go well, but that Michael was Happy. Fantastic. Good for him. Here's to a clean slate for both of you and for many, many more good days to come!

Posted by: Stimey | 08/31/2010 at 09:03 AM

Yay! So glad for your family.

Posted by: KBO | 08/31/2010 at 09:15 AM

I'm so glad that his first day went well and that he loves his teacher and kindergarten! I think this is going to be the fresh start that he's needed for so long. I'm so happy for your family! Hooray!

Posted by: Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama | 08/31/2010 at 09:23 AM

5yo kids don't know how to lie about happiness. (That's a skill reserved for jaded 40yo moms, I think.) Thrilled that he likes it so much!

Posted by: Headless Mom | 08/31/2010 at 11:43 AM