First Day, Last Day

I knew it.

I just knew he would seem like a different boy to me once he started Kindergarten.

I can't very easily define it.  It's just that his horizons have broadened... his life experience has increased (minimally in the big picture, but feels like a lot right now)... his circle of "people" (friends, acquaintances, superiors/instructors) has expanded enormously... and he just knows more about social norms for his age now.  It's those last two that have the most influence, I think.  Our family might still be his center, his hub and his most important influence... but his peers and school affiliates are a very close second now.  He's not to the point of caring so much about his appearance or what's "cool" and not, but he knows much more about social interactions and feelings and he's simply seen much more of the differences in people than we'd ever shown him.  What he was used to is no longer all that exists to him.  Make sense?  And Will is just one of those people that will adapt to anything.  He accepts it all and soaks up every new experience like a sponge.  Never did I worry about him not acclimating.  In the few times I was able to join him during a school day, I saw our boy thriving in the classroom with the routines he was clearly used to and socializing with soooo many students, even outside his class and in older grades than him.  He remembers first (and often last) names of his friends and acquaintances, what grade they're in, who their teacher is, etc.

Will's language has evolved to include many of the trendy words/phrases among his peers as well.  Things like "duh" or "well that's awkward" or "psycho" or "freakin'" (as in "freakin' out" or "freakin' awesome").  I hate it.  And often I tell him that's not how we talk in our house... though I confess I have used "freakin'" a time or two myself.  Whoops.

There are the old jokes/songs I remember from when I was in grade school coming out of his mouth too.  Things like "____ & ____, sittin' in a tree... K-I-S-S-I-N-G" or something about shaking hands with someone, not letting go and asking a series of questions that somehow end with something gross you just did to/with your hand.  There were others, but I'm blanking on them.  Most all I'd heard before though.  Poop is still a really funny topic among Kindergarteners. 

There was also talk of some kids having girlfriends or boyfriends (usually in the older grades) but never from Will seeming really taken with any one particular person.  Towards the end of the year, he was suddenly saying "eew!" and "gross!" to anything that involved seeing or talking about Craig & I kissing, or other couples too for that matter.  He'd never really noticed or cared before.

Oh, and he seems to have more of a defensive attitude and sharp tongue/tone of voice when speaking to us than he used to.  I'm not sure if that's related to hearing things at school where kids are being picked on and so ALL kids just naturally put up that wall of defense quickly, or if it's just him trying to prove his independence with more defiance and attitude.  The jury's still out.  But it's been frustrating.  He's acted a little too big for his britches here and there.

 

I know I've probably made him out to be 5 going on 15, but he's also still our sweet and loving, agreeable, easy-going boy with an innocence and oblivion that both shocks me and warms my heart at the same time.  That "Will" that we know and love is most his old self when he's rested and relaxed at home.  So, pretty much only on weekends.  :-)  Probably his biggest adjustment to starting Kindergarten was the sudden dropping of naps and picking up of ALL DAY school.  He was/is young for his class and also seemed to still require more sleep than the average kid his age.  So his behavior was sub-standard almost every evening by the time he got home.  He did have good days in there, but often he was just too spent to expect much more than tantrums and flopping around of tired boy.  I imagine it was also a bit of culture shock going from school to home and knowing how to adjust between the two.  Certainly, we would hope that his behavior is good in both places, but you know what I mean.  Going from being surrounded by classmates and teachers to parents and little "immature" sister is an adjustment.

 

Not only is he acting older, he's looking older too!  Keep in mind:  his hair is a little on the long side on his last day and he always looks suddenly older (and I think cuter) with a fresh hair cut.  So that seems to be a big difference.  But his face looks older and he's a LOT taller at the end of the school year!

Check it out!

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

(that's actually not true - this is actually the second day because I didn't get any good sibling pics on the first day - but close enough)

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

First Day

Last Day

 

This school year has been a tremendous leaps and bounds kind of year for Will.  His writing (when he tries) looks nothing at all like it did last fall.  The key words there are:  when he tries.  Same goes for coloring and cutting - the fine motor skills he struggled with the most.

I don't mean to toot my kids horn too much, but he flew through the early reading exercises and grade level reading lists, finishing off the year at a 4th grade reading level.  And I've mentioned it before, but he continues to spell words aloud without barely a pause or a thought.  Mid sentence, he just decides to spell a word he wants to say and rattles it off as casually as if he was just saying the word.

Technology was one of Will's specials each week, so his ability to navigate a computer is quickly going to surpass mine.  And the fact that he can spell so well has given him the advantage of easily searching for whatever topic he's interested in.  His "screen time" is supervised and limited at home, but whenever I watch him do it (like searching and requesting books through our library, for example), he amazes me. 

I LOVED seeing all his work coming home and knowing that he was being introduced to so many new concepts and topics as well as reinforcing some we'd already covered at home.  Mrs. Mullen did a fabulous job keeping learning fun and interesting.  Her newsletters detailed their weekly activities and units and her emails kept me up to date on Will, specifically.  So appreciated!

It's been an awesome year overall.  And I'm hopeful that next year will be the same.  Mrs. Mullen has set the bar high, though!

 

A few more pictures from Will's last day:

Those smiles were looking a bit... ahem... forced.

Will the real Will Riedeman please stand up?  Please stand up.  Please stand up.

Ahhh... there you are, my love...

...in all your mature and handsome glory.

Umm... okay.

I love you bunches, kid.  No matter how big you get for your britches.  And I'm gonna' hug you tight every day that I can, even when the time comes that I'm looking up to meet your eyes.  Hold on to your innocence for as long as you can.  And don't ever lose sight of yourself.

Someone smaller than you is looking up to you.  And I know that's a big responsibility (been there, done that, bud) but try to stay worthy of her admiration for you.

Hard to believe this last day has arrived!  And I can't wait to enjoy all the leisure and fun that the summer holds for us!