It was River's first day of school today. Mixed feelings. I'm very grateful that River is progressing and taking a very new, very big step. My little girl is big enough to go to 7 hours of school by herself. I'm proud of her that she is ready to go to school and is excited and willing to learn. I also feel the loss of not having her with me all day. I was hesitant about all-day school instead of 1/2 day, but she was so excited when she tried all-day out today: "Mom, It was SO great! Can I please do ALL day?" Yes! We went down yesterday and helped her teacher Ms. Beusner clean and straighten up the classroom - this was Excellent for River!! She took ownership of her room helping to clean the blackboards, put together packets for each of the kids, organize the decorative borders, cut out things to place on the walls, put name tags on all the centers for the kids, etc. She was beaming and Oh so ready to start. She had a couple of hours with her teacher and feeling like she could do this. She chatted with her teacher telling her that she just read her first 2 books the day before (hooked on phonics is a fun thing for her - Yard Sale - $5!). Cleaning the classroom was excellent for me too - I saw that River really could do this - that she was ready and I got to know her teacher too - to see that she cared about education and is really good with kids.
River doing her Hooked on Phonics - This is a program for sounding out the words. She knows all her letter names and sounds - so this was perfect for her to start making words with. You could see a light-bulb go off in her when she looked up and said "I CAN READ!!!" Smile nearly splitting her face in two. She covers up the pictures and can pull off the cards when she reads the words. I try to give Silver time too for her "learning time" River gets reading and piano lessons. So I give Silver piano "lessons" and pre-school lessons - she is working on colors and shapes. I usually have them both going at the same time - Silver with her coloring or project and River with hers - it's busy but I love teaching our girls!
Back to This Morning :) River got a little hesitant - it was overwhelming for her last night - after cleaning their classroom there was a meet your teacher evening with all the kids. She was nervous about going and meeting new kids and experiencing something new and not knowing everything that would happen. We explained that that was normal to feel that way and that she has an excellent teacher that would help her get to everything - lunch, recess, etc. and would explain everything that they would do in school. She also had a Father's Blessing just before leaving for school which was really special. River received very clear, very specific blessings from the Lord that she would be protected and thrive.
Silver also went with us while we cleaned the classroom and had such a great time playing with all the toys and stuffed animals! She wanted so badly to go today too. I took her with us to wave goodbye to River. She insisted on wearing a backpack too, and cried so hard when she had to say see ya later. She cried all the way home. It's really hard when your big sister leaves all day. I'm really looking forward to being able to spend some extra time with Silver - she needs a lot of individual attention that is easier to do with 2 than 3. She's now the big sister and really thrives with the extra one on one time. Silver ran down the hall and gave River a HUGE hug when we went to pick her up today. :)
We went out to dinner at Pizza Hut tonight to celebrate her first big day, while talking about her day she told me about their homework they will have, lunch and recess time, what song they sang, toys to play with, but her favorite time is when the teacher teaches them! She loves learning! She told me she cried and had a hard time when a boy was rough on the play ground and knocked into her. She said that the Father's Blessing really helped her to be brave all day long. She is learning so much more than reading, writing, and math!
What a special little girl - You brighten any room you are in with your shine and goodness - Your innocence and love for the right are a true treasure. You can do anything you set your mind to!
