Cranky Jr’s too young to go to school, so I can’t answer. But I’m curious to hear about that first day of kindergarten for you parents, whether it just happened recently or is a memory from years ago.
I cried the first day I left my baby in day care - the necessity of mortgage and groceries didn’t make me feel any less lousy for leaving my baby in someone else’s care. But by the time she started K, it was no biggie. I wasn’t even there - her grandmother took her to the bus.
Geez - that sounds so cold… but we do what we must, and I like to think that my having to work has made my Perfect Child[sup]TM[/sup] more self-sufficient and independent. To be honest, I’m fretting about her departure for college in 3 years - then she’ll really be on her own. My poor baby!!!
My son just started 3rd grade.
No, I didn’t cry when he went to kindergarten. I don’t know why.
It was nice though.
I was proud of him, and still am.
When he has xmas shows and stuff, I always go and grin at him like a goon.
We’ll find out next week. That’s when MilliCal starts pre-school.
My brother’s daughter started kindergarden a few weeks ago (and you do not want me to start a Great Debate about the Riverton, Illinois school district’s so-called “balanced” schedule :mad: ). Anyhoo, neither my brother nor his wife cried. The little girl, Jordan, wailed and moaned and caused a pretty godawful disturbance, so I’ve heard. Also, Jordan’s younger sister, Katie (age 16 months) also cried, but that was because she didn’t want to leave; too many crayons and toys and whatnot.
When my son was starting school I took him the first day every year until he was in high school. His very first day of school he was alittle anxious. He held my hand very tightly and asked me why I couldn’t stay. I told him it wasn’t allowed. We walked in the classroom, the teacher showed him where his desk was. Within 2 minutes he was talking to the other kids, I was forgotten. I walked out, and yes, I was crying as I went to my car. But he didn’t see me, and he didn’t miss me. It’s hard to let them go, a lot harder than it is for them to move on.
Yes! Every year. This year started Wednesday and I’m still missing her. She’s in 3rd grade.
That loud noise you heard yesterday was a small (but tasteful) celebration started by my son’s school district (“it’s his last year, hip hip, hurray!”)
His first year. God what a trauma. I remembered kids going home for lunch, so, I envisioned my son walking from school to the sitters’ house alongside minions of other kids. We practiced the route (go across the school yard to the foot bridge, go over the foot bridge and keep heading in the same direction. You’ll get to ‘the store’ and you know how to get to Gloria’s house from there). I’d arranged that at least for the first day that his sitter would meet him at the store (it wasn’t possible on a routine basis). So, I dropped him off in the am with a note in his pocket advising his teacher what the plan was for him after school.
Meanwhile, I was at work, trying very hard to not look at the clock. Time came for him to be out of school, mom envisions son walking confidently, surrounded by new found school chums. and on to the sitters house. Time passes. I should have gotten a call. Well, probably the sitter decided to do a bit of shopping at the store. Phone rings. IT’s the sitter. Ben did not show up at the store. I make emergency call to get some one to cover me while I dash over to find my son.
I try at the school. The teacher is there, explains what happened at her end. End of school, 25 kids, some with busses pinned to their shirts, she’s busy making sure the bus kids get on the right busses, while keeping an eye out for the other kids, making sure none of them leave w/o a grownup. Finally, my son’s the only one left. She approaches him and he hands her the note saying he’s supposed to walk to the sitters. By this time, aout 20 minutes has passed, so he’s late. I take off
Watching the entire way, I don’t see him. I stop at the store. nope. But do find out that a little boy had entered the store, approached the counter and asked if “Gloria” had been there, describing her very well. Upon learning that she’d been there and left, he left as well.
I head to the sitters house, there he is calmly sitting on the porch with the sitter, having his lunch. “Hi mom” he says casually.
That afternoon I made arrangements for a taxi to pick him up every day and take him on to the sitters.
Cry? that wasn’t the half of it.
When my oldest started kindergarten, she quite happily walked into the classroom without a backward glance. I cried a little as I walked back home.
When my son started preschool, he cried very hard when I left him. I went to the car and cried harder.
It does get easier. I managed to put my third on the bus last year without tears.
Then my oldest went to camp (for 8 weeks) for the first time 2 summers ago. I cried on and off for the entire 3 hour drive home.
I cried like a baby ! I cried all day on the first day of kindergarden, That was 2 years ago. Now I shout with joy at having a little time to myself!!! 
I didn’t cry when flodjunior started first grade (no kindy here). We went into the classroom with him and it was just so obvious that he was where he was supposed to be. In fact he comforted a buddy from preschool who was clearly having a harder time of it. When we left a half-hour later we all knew everything was going to be just great.
Now he’s in second grade, started a little over a week ago, and we were both glad the school year started again. He couldn’t wait to go, and I couldn’t wait for him to have something interesting to do again. [sub](Maria Montessori, thank you, wherever you are!)[/sub]