School Prep

Kindergarten classroom

School starts on Monday, you guys. Monday. That's like practically early August in our "school doesn't start until after Labor Day" world of the Midwest. We don't like it. It's cutting into our summer fun. So we'll do silly things like go have a sleepover with friends this weekend and then kick off the school year a little extra tired. But it's okay ... we'll use the long Labor Day weekend to rest up and be responsible...

We did our first (of many) double (someday triple ... shudder) Open House evenings on Wednesday. Both girls got to see their classrooms, meet their teachers, and generally check out their schools. We had actually gone to Bugs' school on Tuesday as well to bring our bag of medical supplies and meet the nurse. Mike and I felt strongly that our petite Kindergartner didn't need to wrestle a box of catheters on the bus with her for the first day of school. We like the school nurse very much and even found out that there is another girl at Sun Path who also gets cathed during the day. Why? Because she has spina bifida too! Bugs was thrilled and Nurse Emily is going to ask the other little girl, once school starts, if she would be open to meeting Fiona. Yay for not feeling like the only one.

The "Quinn V" locker

Quinn has a different teacher at the full-day fours preschool than Fiona did. As we walked to her classroom, we looked for her locker and saw that there is also a "Quinn G" in her class. Ms. Vanessa told Q that "Quinn G" is a boy. Mind blown. Ms. Vanessa laughed and said the other Quinn had a similar reaction to learning "Quinn V" was a girl. That will be a fun one for the class to wrap their heads around!

They are both getting excited and nervous in their own ways. Fiona is extra weepy and keeps telling me that she's "not used to Kindergarten yet." And I keep telling her that the funny thing is, she won't get used to it until she does it! The super bubbly college student who works at the After Care program made her feel better because they have some serious art project plans in the works already. Quinn won't admit she's nervous, but if you question her too long - or talk too long about school - she bursts into tears because she's "tired." 

It will be an adjustment for all of us. Each of them will be on their own, in their own place. And we will enter The Year of Three Drop Offs and Pick Ups. But we also know it is going to be a great year. We are going to be a little extra patient with each other as we adjust. And when dinner is late. Because three pick ups simply don't happen quickly.