1st Week of Kindergarten

Day one- only 3 criers, 2 had to be pried from Mother's legs and held onto. Fortunately, the "Stockholm Syndrome" is still intact, and the same frightened little lambs were then clinging to me in the room.( In psychology, Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a real paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness)
Except Giovanna, who cried pretty much through the day.
Day 2 - 6 criers today. Starting with Giovanna, and after prying Kayla off Mom ma's leg, just before she tripped Momma with baby, when 2 boys saw 2 other kids from another class having a meltdown, which triggered theirs.
Again, once safely in room, with doors closed to prevent escape, Stockholm ruled until recess. Recess, new kid got lost- we never found out where, but showed up at our door 20 minutes later. (Help to find him showed up 30 minutes later....) once safely inside, the tears started rolling.
Then came a 2-for-one deal, as the twins came out of the Auditorium, after lunch and a movie (as it was 100 plus outside,) sobbing.
One twin had other by the hand, dragging him past all the lines, saying something in Spanish, like" You no gusta es escuela, yo quiero va mi casa!" between sobs. ( He wanted to go home.) Turns out, they were afraid of the dark. At least one of them was. The other wouldn't speak...
Day 3, back down to 2 criers again, with Giovanni encouraging herself through the minutes and encouraging herself and us when she made it an hour without tears. "Look, I'm not crying, "she announces happily, yet still shakily..
I had to lower the rules boom and get very stern with Maite, who wouldn't stop interrupting. "Wait your turn to talk, raise your hand..... Blah, blah," my lecture went. Finally Maite gets it. Her hand went up and there was no yelling . I gotta reinforce this behavior I think. "
"yes Maite?" I query.
"My dog used to poop in my room." she announces, somewhat proudly??!!
"Your dog pooped in your room?" I mistakenly respond.
:Yes and I stepped in it!"
I KNOW, I'm supposed to feel more sorry for THEM! But the truth is, they will never remember this week after a year from now. Just the impression of a good or bad kindergarten, (a good or bad prison guard who didn't torture us tooo much.
They all will find out that Mommy really does come back every day and gets them.
But me, well, let me just quote the Red Queen and her husband in Alice in Wonderland, "The horror of that moment, I shall never forget," says the Queen.
"You will, my dear, if you don't make a memorandum of it!!"

Aunt Cookie

Everyone should have one. My sister-in-law, real name of Carol, is a gracious and friendly lady who seems to really get a kick out of the little ones. And they eat it up. Here's a few shots of her and Miles visiting. Lucy snuggled up to her also, but the older boys were busy chasing down bugs outside. She made fast friends with them, however, when they found her "pet" baby lizard that lives under one of her planted pots in the yard!
It was a lovely visit. I wish we could see more of our Paulson relatives.