Success

First, let me give a huge THANK YOU to all of our friends and family that called, emailed, texted, Facebooked, stopped us at church and the grocery store, and simply sent happy thoughts toward Parker as he entered his elementary school for the first time last Friday.

All of your kindness wroked its magic for us on Friday.

Kindergarten Round-Up was a success.

(It was like pulling teeth to get Parker to let me take his picture...luckily, I got a few shots in.  One where he is actually smiling and looking at me!)

Let me set the scene for you guys...

Brandon picked Parker up from Preschool on Friday and took him to one of our favorite spots for lunch (Keim Bakery) and then I told the boys to go to another one of our favorite spots (Front Row Sports) to pick out some new shoes for Parker -- Big guy needed some new shoes...desperately.

Parker was feelin' pretty good by the time I got home that afternoon to go with them to Round-Up.  He was all smiles...confident...somehow he'd learned his phone number that day...excited...actually, exuberant is a better word...he was ready to show Round-Up everything he had.

We drove up to the school.  Got out of the car.  Walked up the loooooong sidewalk to the entrance of the school.  And in we went.

Okay, now stop for a moment.  Here's where it gets good.

This smiley, confident, excited, exuberant boy of mine....something changed in this moment.  He saw the big hallway, lockers along the wall, front office window, lines of doors leading to classrooms, the bulletin boards, drinking fountains, the bright lights, and I could tell, just by the tightened grip of his hand...that he was a little scared.

But, to be honest, I loved it.

Parker walked down those halls (to find room 207) holding onto parent's hands.  He had us there to support him, to encourage him, to smile at and comfort him the entire time.  You see...success comes in stages...and this one, this small step toward success started with the support of his parents. 

We registered and waited and after a couple of minutes, Parker was wisked off to be tested for Kindergarten.

I nervously filled out paperwork with Brandon.

And, with a few sheets left to fill out, Parker was done. 

He was fast.

One of the (super sweet) Kindergarten teachers took us back into one of the Kindergarten classrooms and sat us down.  She gave us her Kindergarten teacher smile and said this: 'Parker is one smart kid.  He did wonderfully.  In fact, he scored 100 out of 100.'

I knew this would happen.  Parker is intelligent.

She went on to show us every test they did.  Which, by the way, did not include asking him what his phone number was.  Teacher told us that he got everything right.  He even did the 'cognitive thinking' test and got it exact - something the teacher said hardly any kids his age get right.  She told us he may be bored for the first few months of school, but to keep working with him.  Have him read, color, and do his school work and he will be so great in Kindergarten.

When we (finally) got to see Parker - he was sitting with some of his preschool buddies - and we asked him what he thought of Kindergarten Round-Up...he said, 'Mom, it was easy.  They only asked me easy questions.  Like, I only had to count to 13 and write my name.  Stuff like that.'

 

Yep, Kindergarten Round-Up was certainly a success. And, now, with a big sigh of relief, we head into this whole Kindergarten adventure with high hopes and expectations.  Hopes of learning, friendships, bright school days, and of course, many more successes!

 

Happy Wednesday friends!  May your day be filled with many of your own successes!