So Cool For School

Last week Kiernan had his first day of school at the infant/toddler program. He had an auspicious beginning by using a new word that day...school. Or, as he says it, "Cooooool!" It was a nice surprise, as this is not a word we've been working on with him. But on our way, Wendy said to him, "Kiernan, we're going to school!" And he responded with the above as if on cue. Now it's possible he was actually commenting on how he felt about going to school, but I don't think so. The spelling I've used doesn't quite give the way he said it justice. He didn't really say the word "cool". Imagine what he said with just the barest hint of an 's' before it, a tiny little 's' too tiny even to put down in writing. It was clear he was trying to copy his mother. He's becoming quite the little mimic.

School is going well. He seems to like it a great deal. It's a loosely structured affair. The first forty-five minutes or so involves playing. There is a theme for the week--last week was animals, this week is transportation--and toys that deal with that theme are set out all around the room. Children are welcome to play with whatever toys they want to from the shelves, though. They are also welcome to wander into the adjacent room with the previously enshrined ball pit. Kiernan still loves the ball pit, but his clear favorite in that room is the laundry basket full of pom poms. Since his mother and his godfather Daniel were both cheerleaders, and indeed cheered together at William and Mary, this comes as no surprise. Kiernan loves to take all the pom poms out of the basket, shake them a little bit, then put them right back in. It's surprising how many times this has to be done. As a non-cheerleader I clearly do not understand the many nuances of dealing with pom poms.

Next everybody goes outside to play in the yards set aside for the little kids. Since the infant/toddler program is on the campus of a middle school, it is important to set aside areas like this. Kiernan does not agree that this is important, however, as he took every opportunity that first day to try to get to where the big kids were playing basketball and dodge ball. Perhaps he just wanted to cheer for them. Or perhaps he just sees himself as more mature.

Outside the kids ride around in little cars and wagons, and go into the sand area to slide down the slides and make sand castles. The other day Kiernan discovered how to use a little sand shovel to move sand from one place to another. Today, which was our third day at the program, he discovered that the primary function of the shovel is clearly to throw sand on himself and his father. The teacher was none too interested in him acquiring this skill, and I think she's going to give me a demerit, or maybe a time-out on Friday, for letting him learn it.

After sand-throwing class everybody heads back inside to sit in a circle and sing. This is followed by snack time, during which everybody sits around tiny tables and has a snack--crackers, apple, cheese, pea-pod with shrimp--and a drink--apple juice, water, martinis--together. It was at this point on the first day that his mother almost started crying she was so proud of Kiernan. All of a sudden she just looked at me, her eyes glistening, and said, "Look at him. He's sitting there in a chair. Eating with other kids. He's just so good."

After snack time the kids play again for awhile, then everybody cleans up (while singing the clean up song, of course). Finally, the kids all get in a semi-circle again and sing the goodbye song to each child.

Kiernan has had three days of school so far, and he seems to really enjoy it. I feel like I'm falling behind, especially in the homework, and I'm a little annoyed that they don't have a special snack time for the parents, but as long as he's having a good time, I guess I'll just have to deal with my disappointment.

Just like high school.