Kindergarten! Maybe not....

Corben had Kindergarten Orientation last Friday. We had talked about it all week and he was EXCITED! We got there a few minutes early, got all his packets and papers and sat down up front. Corben shared all the fun things he thought kindergarten would be full of. The principal began the meeting - welcomed everyone and introduced the Kindergarten teachers - then she excused all the kids to go down and check out their new room. I forgotten this part of the orientation. He looked at me with unsure eyes and very hesitantly walked out of the gym with the other kids.

After the redundant informative meeting for all the parents we headed down the hall to collect our kids. There was Corben sitting in a chair looking like he was about to cry. I thought as soon as he saw me he would perk up. No such luck. I kneeled down and asked him "What's wrong, buddy?" His reply "I am just so scared (sniff, sniff)". My heart sank. I didn't expect this. He goes to preschool in that school. The rooms are right next to each other. I didn't take the time think about how even though the surroundings were familiar the situation was so incredibly different. So how did I assuage my guilt and his fears?

ICE CREAM

We chatted about what in particular he was afraid of - mostly that he wouldn't know anybody. I reminded him didn't know anybody when he started preschool and asked how long before you knew everyone? "Maybe 2 or 3 days" he said.  Then he shared another concern. The elephant art project they got to do while were in the parents meeting had him very frustrated. It had already been cut out and glued together for them all they got to was color it. He was worried that was how art would be in Kindergarten and "that is not creating!" (his words). By then end of the ice cream therapy session things were looking up

Just don't mess with his art projects and after a few new friends are made I think Kindergarten will work out after all.