Rudy started what is called Pre-school here in the U.S., and Play School or Nursery in the U.K.. He's been going for 10 days now, and he runs into the building with out looking back. When we arrive at school he looks for his Filipino friend, Kimmy, or his other friend, Bilal, from Kazakhstan. Both of these children are learning English at school, and are bright, rambunctious and kind kids. The first two days had tears and sad farewells (Margot fell and banged her head so I had to make a hurried exit from the classroom). His teacher (Mrs. K) said he made a quick recovery and apart from one morning of tantrums from our front door all the way into the classroom (15 minutes!) he's absolutely loving it! I think the turning point was the day he had the tantrum about attending he also found a big box of dinosaurs and from then on he has said "Mummy, I love school".
I have to say that I didn't cry when I dropped him off the first day. I was fully expecting to, but then I just felt so excited for him, and massively proud of him going on a new adventure. He is so ready to be in a new and challenging environment. He comes home talking of instruments, shapes, stories, songs, sand, water, painting, and playground games. At first it made me anxious to not know those two hours of his day, but it has since made my heart glad to see him so much more independent, and trying things that he wouldn't do before, like climbing high on a climbing frame, or jumping with strength from one rock to another. I think his teacher will allow him the space to be the reflective, imaginative, sensitive child that he is, and we're excited to see how he grows and flourishes.
Day 2. Thoughtful and a little concerned. Note his uniform of white shirt and blue shorts. White shirt for pre-schoolers? It's filthy before we even get to school!
Cool LLBean Shark back pack. Very proud.
Looking in his classroom window.
We had to send with him a family photo, framed. This is what we could manage! We're lying in the shark tent Mary Katherine gave Rudy before he was even born!
