First Days of School

Boy howdy have we had some transitions! Chispa had her last swimming lesson with her 2nd teacher, W. S taught both girls in the summer, but the last month was a different teacher. We felt only Chispa would make the transition well, so Changa finished early August. Chispa went to her last regular summer attendance of Changa's playgroup. Chispa was a bit sad to have her "last this" and "last that". But good things were to come...

Yesterday...Chispa started her first day of Big Girl Preschool. Yes, ladies and gentleman. Chispa is now a Big Kid. She's in the Big Kid's class, and she is pumped. She was thrilled to go back to school, and so far is thrilled every day at the end too. Let's hear it for preschool! She's been singing about Apples and Honey and a sweet New Year for Rosh Hashana.

Today...Changa started her first day of preschool ever! (M W attendance) I prepared Changa by taking her to REI yesterday to get the same lunch bag Chispa has in a different color. I like the Cool Totes as they are machine washable when culinary spillitude occurs and the lunch bag starts to have an odor less than fresh. Chispa has been pumped for Changa to start school. Chispa has been telling Changa all about it. Heaven knows, Changa was plenty peeved with me when I pried her out of Chispa's class every day, twice a day last year!

That said, on Tuesday, Changa was feeling reticent, and pretty much clung to my leg. There was no attacking of shelves of toys or refusing to leave. "Bye bye car Mommy". I guess Changa needed to ease back in, since we hadn't even been with Chispa to summer session since July. I was wondering if I'd leave Changa screaming today. Mind you, I do that at the gym regularly, she stops 10 seconds after I've walked out, I can hear her stop. It's sort of for show. One of those transition things with toddlers. In any case, given Changa's reluctant appearance to drop Chispa off Tuesday, I had a sneaking suspicion Wednesday might not be absolutely smooth for her.

Let me tell you. Mommy was WRONG. Changa was all ready. She proudly carried her lunch bag around, and out to the car. Both girls excitedly marched into their classrooms. Chispa ran into hers, and I got Changa into hers, where she happily put her VERY OWN LUNCHBAG into her VERY OWN CUBBY. Then she took out some baskets, and went off to some legos to play. And guess what? Nobody told her to stop playing and leave school! She got to stay. I left without her noticing. This wasn't hard, she had a whole crate of legos all to herself.

And now an interlude about ME:
I then went, without any babysitting arrangements needed (holy cow!), to my 2nd session with my fabulous trainer in Oakland. Helene is helping me rehab my abs, which took one doozy of a beating from birthing our girls. www.befitmom.com is her. With her help, my abs are starting to return to normal. I seem to be getting less queries as to when I'm due with my next baby. Note to all: Never ever ever ask that question. My dear friend A is right. The only time you may ask that question safely is when the baby is crowning, you are in the parking lot with the mother, and need to offer to help deliver the baby. Otherwise, shut it. That said, the constant comments did finally motivate me to try to fix it out of self-defense for my ego. My transverse abs, which hadn't bothered to do their job, are considering joining back in the game. Three cheers for Helene!!!

I then drove home, ate lunch, and picked up our children. By myself. Woo hoo! Was Changa weepy and waiting for Mommy? Was she worn out, being in school 9am-1pm, kicking it with mostly 3 year olds? No siree. Not our Changa. Changa was happy as a clam, and hamming it up with a pretend telephone when I arrived. She proffered the phone to me when I arrived, in fact. Hello Mommy!

Changa apparently had a wonderful day, was completely cheerful, and participated in everything she possibly could. She ate a million grapes for snack. That's our girl! She sat in her chair like everyone else and tucked into her lunch I packed for her. She was deemed a totally well adjusted cheerful student. Go Changa! Such fun for Mommy to hear. She also already picked up that water=mayim in Hebrew, and announced she was pouring mayim into her teapot during playtime.

We then played on the playground till things dissolved. Changa is napping off her big day. Chispa is pouring water around the splash pool. I need to make dinner.

What a big two days!