Excited, slightly disappointed about the start of school
For the past week, I’ve been trying to write about my Darling Angel starting school but everyday I digress on the topic and end up with an unsatisfactory draft. I’m looking at the multiple drafts I’ve written, trying to figure out which one to complete but I don’t like any of them. Monday, 3 days ago was her first day of school. It was exciting. I had butterflies in my tummy just like it was MY first day of school, yet I couldn’t write about it. What’s the matter with me?
I just figured it out. Or rather, I just admitted it to myself. I’m disappointed that she’s not starting in kindergarten. She’ll turn 5 in a few months and I can’t believe how strict the schools are about their August cut-off dates. So you’re wondering, then what school is she starting? We found a school with a K-4 (pre kindergarten) class. We decided that getting her into a formal/structured program now is better than another year of preschool.
You may wonder why we’re in such hurry to get her into kindergarten. Her preschool teacher thought she kindergarten-ready at the age of three. She was very excited about learning, she was a sponge absorbing everything she was taught. We moved to another city. New school. Boredom, rapid decline. We tried to stem the tide, varied learning material, changed schools, a little improvement. At the age of four, I felt like we were working so hard just to get her back to what she knew a year ago. We decided that rather than spend so much energy trying to ’save’ her knowledge, we should get her into kindergarten, and do it quickly.
I feel disappointed that we didn’t do it. I wonder if we tried hard enough. The obstacle seemed to huge to surmount. If the issue is the knowledge, then test it. “Oh yes, she’s very bright, but she doesn’t turn 5 until December. It’s our rule. We’re sorry.” What happens on the day she turns 5? Does she reach some magical maturity milestone? I don’t think so. I believe kids (and adults) of the same age will always exhibit different levels of maturity. Her preschool teacher thought she was ready and mature enough for kindergarten. No less mature than the other kids, a few months older who were headed for kindergarten. But we have to accept the schools’ decisions. They’re sorry, that’s the rule.
I’m glad we found a good school that has a K-4 program. She’ll be in a school and hopefully learn more than she would have in preschool/daycare. Will she learn enough? And what’s enough? I don’t know. But I want her to become excited about learning again. I hope we made a good decision. It’s been three days, and I’m watching, listening for signs that she was excited by what she learned in school. I’m still watching and listening. And the teacher? We’ll be having a lot to talk about.
In the meantime, we really are EXCITED about school. It’s a whole new experience and Darling Angel is loving it. Once I work out the disappointment from my system typing fingers, I’ll be able to write more about school and all the fun that goes with it.
