To School We Go

The obligatory first day of school picture has been taken. And thus begins the next 15 years of our lives. I didn't feel terribly sentimental as I walked with him to his room, showed him where to hang his backpack and waved goodbye to the kid who already had his nose buried in trains so much he merely threw his hand up in a hasty goodbye without even looking up.  As I'm sitting here thinking over the day, I wonder if this will be one of the memories I recall when I'm sitting in the audience at his high school graduation years from now. (Lord willing, we see that day!) The thought had occurred to Jack just last night about whether or not school would have trains. It was the first question he wanted to ask his teacher, Mrs. Hart. Turns out he didn't even have to ask, one of the first toys she pulled out for the kids to play with while everyone was getting dropped off was Thomas train stuff. With that Jack began his first day of preschool. I desperately want to know what when on in his classroom and I think I will feel that way with every class. Couldn't I please be a fly on that wall?  When I picked him up an hour later (short first day), Mrs. Hart gave a good report. She said Jack sat very well during class and was quite and I imagine pretty serious. She seemed a little surprised given his exuberant behavior during her home visit. But I wasn't surprised at all. Despite his never ending energy, in new environments and situations Jack is often a bit more reserved. And frequently when we are doing really fun things he looks very serious like he's not enjoying himself but at the end he goes on and on about how much fun he had and how much he wants to do it again. I'm guessing once things become more familiar to him and he gets to know the kids and Mrs. Hart a little better, he's going to be making people laugh and smiling and being his typical energetic self.

Jack's report on the day was, as expected, quite brief. With a big smile he told me how they had trains and dragons and school. :-)

At home.

At school.

After class with Mrs. Hart in his classroom.