BACK TO SCHOOL AND GROWING UP

I wanted to write this post a lot earlier than now, but I waited until we go our new computer.
-----------------------

(He was so happy to take this picture...can you tell? hehe!)

The first day of school seems to be a rite of passage for most mothers, especially those who stay at home and whose children have never been to daycare or preschool. It's not just the first day of school, for many it's the first day your little will leave your comforting side to step into a teeny tiny part of the world that they will get to discover with their peers. I am so excited for Joshua and Lucas when I look back and reflect on my own childhood, my school days and the times in my life where I was able to grow into my own. Childhood is a notion that adults often simplify "being a kid is easy, you don't have any responsibilities, wait til they get into he real world!" I admit, I use to utter these phrases, often when I became overwhelmed by the realities of life forgetting just how tough and how important and how much responsibility it takes to be a kid.

Currently he is learning how to navigate the world on his own. This week we continued the process of growing up both my boys started school. Joshua is now in Senior Kindergarten and Lucas is attending full day daycare (luckily they are going to the same place). Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten and very different. First in JK Joshua only went for a three hours a day, in SK it's all day now that I am working.

He has also received "homework" for the first time! He takes home a work package on Wednesday and has to return to school to be checked on Monday. He has actual subjects such as Language Arts and Math twice a week and Science once a week. On Fridays he learns Mandarin! For the area we live in Mandarin is an important language as we have a large Chinese population in Toronto. When I looked at his curriculum for the year I have to say I was a bit surprised at the amount of work he had to learn but he does have an entire year to learn it and I trust his teacher's ability and judgement.

I walked through the book store the other day (it's like a church for me) and I passed the ever famous Dr. Seuss book "Oh the Place You'll Go." This book so fitting for people of all ages and it's truly fitting for a kid just beginning his way through his big kid world.

"And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.
But on you will go

....be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way"

- Dr. Seuss "Oh the Place You'll Go!"