week ending may 17, 2009:

Week ending May 17, 2009: This week we went to Kindergarten Orientation. The kids were a bit worried about it since they didn’t know what to expect, so I assured them that I’d stay with them the whole time and that they wouldn’t be expected to do any homework. When we arrived at the school, the first thing they did was take the kids over to the kindergarten classrooms and leave the adults in the “media center” (library) to listen to speeches by the principal, guidance counselor, and a teacher. Fortunately the kids didn’t seem to notice that I had accidentally lied to them. We learned that it will be most of the way through the summer before we know who their teacher will be, or what time they will get on which bus. For the last several years the school has taken attendance at 8:25a, had lunch for the Kindergarteners at 10:30a, allowed for an afternoon snack (if the kids bring one for themselves), and had dismissal at 2:55p. There is no reason to assume it will change this year, but the county decides the bus schedule which then dictates everything else. The principal said that the first day of school is a very traumatic time, for the parents, and that they tend to see a lot of crying, from the parents, but that the kids generally take it in stride. When I went to find the kids, they were in the same classroom (there are 3 or 4 kindergarten classrooms with approximately 18 kids each). Alex wanted to go home and Chloe wanted to stay for the rest of the day. Both kids liked the teacher and Chloe loved the “partner” that had been assigned to her.

Chloe has started calling Alex “Al”. He doesn’t get frustrated with it, which is surprising since he’s angry with us for naming Alexander instead of Alex. When we try to call Chloe “Clow” (like glow, not like cow), she objected. Even at 5 she doesn’t seem to be able to see how something she does will make someone feel the same way that that she feels when the same thing is done to her.

Casey and I have our 13th wedding anniversary coming up. We are talking about piloting the boat to someplace interesting, having dinner, and docking for the night. Chloe overheard us talking about it and started crying instantly because she didn’t want us to go. I reminded her that if she goes to Grammy Barb’s house she gets… I can’t remember now what it is but it is something like extra soda, and watching “Sponge Bob” (which is NEVER allowed in our house). Chloe sobbed “but I like you better than Sponge Bob!”. I couldn’t believe it! Ever since we banned Sponge Bob he has been the hero and I have been the bad guy, and now I get to be better than Sponge Bob?! Of course I’d really rather that the kids were confident enough that a sleep over without us was nothing to bat an eye about, but being better than Sponge Bob is good too.

We also had the end of school picnic called “Bay Day” at Sandy Point State Park, and Chloe and I drove into the hood for “A-May-Zing Animals”, pictured together here: http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/May2009#