first day

eljo woke up early today ( around 8 am). maybe, unconsciously he is excited to go to school, too. however, he didn't want to eat his breakfast. he just wanted to watch his favorite tv shows (which is the whole nick jr. line-up). so i let him be. i didn't want to start a fight on his first day. i'm cool.

so i prepared all his things, double checked if all his school supplies are in the envelope, all his other stuff in the paper bag, and all his extra clothing are in the backpack.

around 9:30 -i prepared his lunch. rice with asparagus, grapes for dessert.
10:00 - i took a shower, got dressed
10:20 - i demanded that eljo get in the bathroom or we'll be late for his first day. he complied (probabaly because he saw i mean business already)
10:45 - we were off
10:53 - we were stuck in a small traffic jam in visayas avenue.
11:00 - we were at the gate of the school (whew! just in time)

as soon as we entered the room, eljo held my hand so tightly which means he's feeling a little anxious about the new situation. but the teachers were quick to put him at ease. they showed him his cubby, helped him change his shoes to slippers, and gave him his nameplate (for the attendance chart). after all this, he went to the block building center and started playing by himself.

it would have been a joy to watch him the whole time, but teacher michele asked all the mommies and daddies to say goodbye already so they could start their day. so jong and i said our goodbyes, gave eljo our kisses and hugs and we're out the door.

there was no hint that he was still anxious, except for a little question he asked me, "will you be outside, mama?" so i said, "yes." and that put him at ease.

i saw myra, a friend of mine and parent of 4-year old, Sui, at the lobby, and she commented, "wow, you're leaving na? di mo na siya titingnan?" and i said, "hindi na, kaya na niya yan."

but inside i really wanted to stay (inside the classroom) and see eljo do all the things he can do. but this is the first step to letting him grow...letting him go.

so at 1:20 pm, jong and i went back to the school (after doing some errands). at 1:30 pm, their class was dismissed. when he got out, he saw me and said, "Mama!!!" (with much gusto). He looked happy. He started telling me some of the things that happened in school (a kid cried, he played in the sandbox (turtlebox), he ate the grapes and asparagus). But what really mattered was what he said, "It was fun!" And that made me realized that he is ready to go to school and be with other kids and experience the joys and challenges of school. and all the while i'll be waiting outside for him to share it all with me.