It's time for back to school.

Two kids.  In the same school.  For the same hours.  First time ever. 

It has been a long 5 years, 3 months waiting for this day to come.  The day when my life of juggling two schools, two very different locations, two very different set of hours would come to an end. At last we are here!  It feels great.  Well, let me correct myself and say, it feels great to everyone but Samantha.  She doesn't want to go to kindergarten.  No how, no way.  Leading up to the first day of school she has been very vocal about her feelings.  Samantha has no desire to go to Kindergarten.  And if Sam doesn't want to do something, she won't do it.  I think I was looking forward to her first day less than she was.  Could you imagine if I had to "convince" her to go each and every day of the school year?

Meanwhile, the other one could not be more excited about his first day of 3rd grade.  He was a ball of energy and litterally jumping up and down with joy at his open house the Friday before school started.  It was a bizzare show of emotions.  One child crazy-excited and his sibling, crying hysterically and shaking with fear.

As the first day loomed near, we knew a game plan was needed.  Something to turn the hysterics around and help Samantha (and us) survive drop-off.  Jeff and I were going to implement a first day, first week, and 3 month "incentive" strategy.  If Sam could keep the tears to a minimum, have no meltdowns or screaming then she could pick the place we went for ice cream after dinner in our back-to-school treat we do each year.  For a successful first week, Sam gets a new outfit for Mckenna (American Girl Doll) at the lunch we have planned on Sunday.  For a successful 3 months, Sam gets a new American Girl Doll at Hanukkah.

Our plan worked as well as could be expected.  Sam was not a happy camper and she had a few tears rolling down her cheeks.  But she let Jeff and I get her settled in her classroom, give her a hug and leave the room. There was no struggle or running after us.  The teachers didn't need to intervene and Sam did not cause a scene.  What more could you ask for?

Happy about school!

Not so happy about school.




 

 

 Sam is a combination of looking like she is going to be sick and is crying.

 

One big hug from daddy.

Dealing with the fact we are about to leave.
Pinky understands how tough it is.

Walking away from Sam and she is not screaming = success!

Checking in on Ian.

I was hoping for a spectacular first day experience.  This was the only way I knew Sam would return to school without a struggle.  I am happy to report she was all smiles when I picked her up.  The first day was a success!  She even told me she knew what she wanted to wear to school the next day. 

Now we get to tackle her taking the bus in the mornings....fingers crossed Sam thinks this is a good idea too.