Meet The Teachers Day

Yesterday was Anna's long anticipated meet-the-teachers day at a local park. She was so excited that she even refused Yogo snacks while we waited in the car for Mikel to meet us after his work day ended. When I asked the children if they wanted a snack, Anna said "No, teacher." The whole event was pretty climactic. We just walked up, got our registration packet, introduced ourselves to her teachers and a few other parents, enjoyed a cookie and then chatted with the owner of the school, who we recently found out lives just a few houses down from us!

I'd been talking it up with her for a while, which, after reading something in the information packet, I guess I need to cool on before school actually starts. One tip to help ease the transition for young children is to not make going to school THE conversation because it could create anxiety and nervousness for the child. I'm probably more excited about her going to school than anyone else. It feels like real school or something ... like the equivalent of kindergarten or first grade when we were kids. I mean, we're going to be dropping her off and then picking her up hours later. She must carry a backpack, so I found a cute, but not too cutesy, preschooler backpack from Pottery Barn Kids that I'm going to order within the next few days. In a light pink, of course. In addition to school clothes, we have to send her to school with slippers (Not the big gaudy kind. I'll get her ballet slippers.). When children get to school, which actually is a house with big open rooms, they'll take off their shoes and slip on their slippers. The reason for this is to help create a quiet learning atmosphere and for cleanliness, I'm sure, especially in the winter with slushy snow outside.

Of course, parent volunteerism is expected, and I'm looking forward to that. And I have to get a few supplies — such as paper cups — for the school, something each child must bring. I also have to remember that she's supposed to bring a can of unfrozen concentrated juice each month. There are a lot of other things to think about, including should I offer myself for a parent committee, which I'm not inclined to do. I really feel like I'm most effective as a background worker bee, especially regarding subjects about which I know nothing.

I feel like I need to reread the packet just to absorb it all. Oh, and I also must attend a mandatory parent orientation in two weeks. Children should not come to this meeting, so Mikel will have to stay with them. Oh, and another thing, I am also going to help clean up the school for a couple hours this Saturday morning. I think I'll take Anna with me to help her get familiar with the place. I know it sounds like a lot, but I'm kind of excited!!

After our school obligations, we walked into the park for a little fun before we had to go home for dinner. This is such a great park. No explanations necessary, except that I will point out that Alexander was going down the shoe slide so fast that he's all blurry in the photo. Not sure how evident that will be when it gets posted.