VanSickle Family: Kindergarten

Children are like kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you're both breathless - they creash - you add a longer tail - they hit the rooftop - you pluck them out of the spout - you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You wath them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they'll fly!...Finally they are airborne, but they need more string and you keep letting it out and with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant and somehow you know that it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the life line that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar...free and alone.

Taylee's first day of kindergarten was Wednesday, August 25th. We were up, clothes on, hair done, breakfast eaten, lunches packed, teeth brushed, and backpack double-checked by 7:15 a.m. So we had some time to wait. We walked the two blocks to school together and hung out in my classroom until the bell rang to signal the beginning of the day. Stan and I walked Taylee down to her new classroom where she signed in, moved her stick into the cold lunch basket, and sat at her table to begin her day. That afternoon when I went to pick her up at HANDS she wanted to stay and play a while, which is always good to hear. She was a pretty tired little girl and just told me a few things about her day--mostly that she was "waiting and waiting and I mean waiting for lunchtime to come." Thankfully, as we were walking home she called Giana and told Giana ALL about her day so I got to listen in that way. Taylee is sharing some of the poems and songs that she sings and how funny her gym teacher (Ms. Peedcock) is, and who she plays with outside at recess. It already sounds very eventful. She's not used to rushing through lunch so so far has only been able to eat half a sandwich every day (normally she eats an entire sandwich, a small bowl of fruit or bag of carrots, a yogurt, and a bag of chips along with her drink). She is literally starving when she gets home and eats everything out of her lunch box as soon as we walk in the door. Taylee told me, "Mr. Cory shuts off the lights and I don't know what he keeps saying but it's time to go." She'll get better as the year goes on. I had warned her that she is going to have to practice eating more and talking less during lunch time. A tough skill for Miss Taylee. Taylee loves her teacher and knows most of the names of the kids in her class. She has 23 kids including herself in her room so Mrs. Clapshaw will have an aide most of the day--who just happens to be Mrs. Clapshaw's mom. Mrs. Clapshaw also has a foster grandma, Lila, who spends her entire day in the room. Mrs. Clapshaw used to work at Whittier teaching kindergarten and Lila likes Mrs. C so much she followed her over to Lincoln. It sounds like there will be a lot of activities, small group work, and centers that I might be able to help with once in awhile throughout the year as well. We are excited and optimistic about all Taylee will be learning this year.