Kinder Recap, And When I Don't Cry

My house is quiet tonight. Mike is working out of town this week so I try to busy myself at night. We usually get all our books and movies rentals from the library but when I want it to seem EXTRA cool we do the REDBOX. So tonight Ella is watching Rio 2 and Maxwell is watching Ninja Turtles on TV in my bed (He hasn't seen it so he thinks this is a HUGE deal. Which means I have myself to thank for every karate chop he gives Ella tomorrow). But right now, my house is so relaxing and calm. And Pandora is reading my mind because every song that comes on is the best.

So here's a recap of our first week of Kindergarten. Well, they love it. Like, they could probably go all day and be great. Our district has early and late start. We start late, which is not really late, and the kids go from 10-1:20. Except we live across the street from the school at 7:45 parents start dropping kids off and my two begin asking, "Can we go yet? Can we go yet?" while they stare out the window. And this is where I bang my head on the wall and try to use a polite voice and say, "Nope. We STILL don't start til 10." So one week down and we have our 'for now' schedule. Maxwell is up between 6 and 7, Ella around 7:30 and we do breakfast, pack lunches then head to the gym. A. because I should.  B. because they go to they gym's childcare and I don't have to hear them ask me if it's 10 yet.

It seems like there are two kinds of Moms. The criers and the coldhearted  dry eyes. Apparently I don't fit into either. Because the first day of school, I was SO READY. I was excited, relived, and anxious for them to experience more than I could offer. It was time, and there was ZERO tears or sadness. I have friends who feel the same, but they had to wear sunglasses to drop off. They were weepy and it was hard for them to let go. But I waved goodbye and walked home with a smile. Although my tears come at the dumbest times. Like when my kids were in a cheesy fourth of July parade with Miley's 'Party In The USA' blasting in the background. And then when I got the text from their preschool teacher with a video clip of Maxwell during the school dance contest which HE WON (insert waterworks and proudest Mom ever). Then yesterday at our first soccer practice, with the very friends of mine who cried during kinder drop off...I was the only one who got misty eyes as I watched them practice for the first time. So I cry. Good cries. Happy cries. Nostalgic, not sad. Apparently just not when everyone else does.

And the time goes by SO QUICK. I work from home. Just a little. Together with a business partner we buy mass quantities of beauty products from wholesale retailers and then we sell them on Amazon and eBay. I've been doing this for over a year and while it's a long stretch from school counseling it's extra money and I can do it from home. So now, I can do it without my kids interrupting me.

But really, dropping them off and picking them up is my favorite thing. I love watching them run up to the gate to be the first in line and greet their friends. I'm happy with their teacher because they're happy with school. This means she's doing a good job, right? When I pick them up they give me the toothiest smiles and run in my arms telling me they learned about the letter C, sunny weather, and how to shut the door when they pee. I love you kindergarten.

After day two Ella started talking about Cloe and Natalie. I asked Maxwell if he played with any friends. He said, "Of course." When I asked their names he looked annoyed and said, "I don't know." So, OK. He's playing. With boys. Do the names really matter on day two? Nope.

I made them take pictures in our back yard today. If it seems like they loved it, they really didn't. But I missed my camera and pictures of them together. They were annoyed at me but I bribed them with fruit rollups. The bribe won.