1st day of 2nd grade, and a PreK do-over

Yesterday afternoon was Open House for the elementary kids at LFK.  The kids and I rolled right up in there and met Mrs. Reinhard, Nick's 2nd grade teacher for the year.  She seemed very nice and young...yet she tells me she has been teaching for 7 years at LFK, so that's a relief.  But she still looked young.  We had a good 20 minutes of one-on-one chatting with her, Nick found some names of friends he recognized, we dropped his box of school supplies for the class, and high tailed it out of the school. 

We had time before football practice, so the 3 of us had dinner at South Street Grill, then walked thru the small farmers market off Main Street Front Royal.  While there we visited with the sweetest elderly bee keeper this side of the Shenandoah River.  He had a glass enclosed frame from his honey beehive FULL of 1000s of bees with the Queen Bee!  Both kids were enthralled and asked the bee keeper loads of great questions and received a honey stick to enjoy.  The 30 minutes spent listening to the bees buzz, finding the Queen Bee and watching the worker bees 'work' were well worth it. 

Fast forward to this morning...I sent off 1 child for his first day of 2nd grade today.  I'm not worried about Nick a bit...as I know he is confident and partially looking forward to his day.  My boy is so laid back, that he didn't blink an eye when I told him his bookbag hadn't arrived yet...that he would have to take his 2 year old black book bag to his first day back (minus the Yoda patch sewn on 2 years ago.  I suggested maybe he should come off, and Nick agreed).  I must say he looked mighty handsome when I dropped him off this morning. 

I sent off my other child to her 2nd 1st day of PreK.  I am worried about Little Missy as she 'repeats' the 4/5 year old class this year (and looks on as her friends from last year hop on the bus to Kindergarten).  I pray she does not feel inadequate because she is not starting Kindergarten today (because she is not inadequate in any way.  She is smart and social and loving and ready to take on new things).  I pray she takes on her older, more mature role as a leader in her PreK 4/5 year old class.  I pray her self confidence and self esteem continues to soar and her acceptance into her new classroom happens with ease.  I also pray she enjoys her last year of preschool to the utmost possibility...including potty breaks, naps, snack times, story time, outside play, and free play. 

God bless my children today!  Amen.