First Week of School -- Stories From

Three of four of our kids are now enrolled in Curlew School. Emma Lena is in Kindergarten. Nicholas is in First Grade and Korin is in Fourth Grade. We've had a good week; here are some anecdotes to share.

First, Annika. The only one left at home. On the first day of school, as I was getting ready, she came running up with a whiny, but well received, good morning hug. She wouldn't let me put her down so I packed her into the bathroom to I could comb my hair. When I tried to walk away (in search of my belt) she voiced her displeasure. I told her I had to get ready for school. It was at that moment that I realized she understands the idea of school. She said, "Korin and Emma and Nicholas go to school, too. I not go to school." I said, "Maybe next year." She smiled and I could see something like hope in her face--that she wouldn't be left alone at home by her dad and siblings forever. And just like that, she hopped out of my arms and cruised into the kitchen announcing that she wanted her breakfast.

Korin has school down pat. But this year, something new was added to the mix that had her a little uneasy. Combination lockers. Wednesday, I realized that I hadn't asked her about how school was going. It's funny, but even though we are all in the same building, we hardly ever see each other. Last year, the elementary grades ate lunch together in the cafeteria (at staggered intervals), and I'd get a hug from Korin and Nicholas as they made their way to recess. But this year the elementary grades are eating in their rooms, so I don't get to see them as often. Anyway, in her normal positive tone she said school was great. And to her great relief, she was routinely able to open her locker on her first try.




Nicholas's teacher, Mrs. Warner, has already stopped me twice to say nice things about him. Mrs. Warner is always edifying, but the things she has said about him these past few days include words like genius and exceptional--which as a parent are pretty wonderful things to hear about your son or daughter. Apparently Nicholas already knows some fancy math properties that he won't "learn" in school until 2nd grade. He has grown up so much and you can just hear his brain revving, applying all of this new knowledge to the old. And you know what? He really is sharp.




Lastly, Emma Lena, our kindergartener. She's just turning five on the 15th and that makes her young for her grade we bumped her up, skipping a second year of preschool, instead. The thing that frightens me about how school will affect Emma is how constraining it can sometimes be. What I love so much about Emma is her free-spiritedness, how loud she sings when no one is looking, how recklessly she plays, her unfettered imagination. I realize that's not much of a story about her first week of school, so how about this: Traditionally, Tera has taken "First Day of Kindergarten" photos in front of the Curlew School sign with our kids, and so she'd planned to take Emma's photo there, too. But it didn't fit into Emma's plan for her first day of kindergarten and she refused. Refusing to participate at school is often frowned upon. In some instances it is referred to as defiance. And honestly, I love Emma's defiant streak, and I will be sad to see it taught out of her.