the 4th week

sam has been in 1st grade for 4 weeks.
just as expected....
he LOVES it!
"way more than kindergarten."
no nerves with this kid.
just excited.
the best part of 1st grade is 3 recesses.
apparently he is still "1st captain" for those that are still playing that game.
it is no longer really captain of the sandbox,
(however, sam told me he dug a hole so deep it got to the black dirt.)
it's now captain on the basketball, soccer, or football field.
1st recess is basketball,
2nd recess is soccer & football,
3rd recess is kickball or just playing around.
i think playing around involves playing chase with the girls,
a game i wasn't quite expecting sam to want to play yet.
he has a girlfriend already.
she asked him,
and he said yes.
her name is izzy.
i asked what she was like,
and sam told me "just like him."
i asked in what way,
and he said "she is quiet, smart, never gets in trouble, and is fun."
glad he found such a perfect match.
i'm guessing his heart is set on someone else though.
he has been bringing home papers that say "i love helle".
i like helle a lot, too.
i like that they both get fruities everyday for being quiet.
sam lives for being the best behaved in the class.
often the 1st thing he shares upon arriving home is how well behaved he was and who else was and wasn't.
i'm ok with that.
he's not so sure about school lunch this year.
he only wants to eat it when they have mac & cheese or pizza.
he accidentally chose the wrong day & got something else.
he said it was "super disgusting".
home lunch it is.
and a recess snack from home.
apparently they can have a snack at 1st recess if they bring it from home.
snack size sour cream and onion pringles are the preferred choice.
that snack may well be what gets him through the long days.
the long days haven't been bad,
except the 1st day.
he came in and went right to bed.
when he was finished in that bed he got into mine.
every day since has been fine.
he adjusted quickly.
i'm still adjusting a bit though.
already i'm having to just remember the days when i used to get to walk sam to & from school.
that lasted about 1 week before he begged to go with a walking group.
i agreed because i know how good it will be for him.
he loves the independence and the chance to be with friends a little longer each day.
i do watch him everyday for the 1 1/2 blocks he has to walk alone.
he doesn't need it though.
i know he would be fine walking to school alone,
(perhaps he will win that battle by the end of 1st grade, but i won't tell him that.)
but i still need it.
i still want to watch him as long as i can
just because i love him so.
i still love being a part of his world as much as possible.
i can see now how your kids grow up so quickly once they start going to school all the time.
sam has definitely grown in 4 weeks,
but it's the fun kind of growing.
i love seeing him so happy,
and so social,
and to have such a love for learning & a determination for it.
i'm so fortunate that he still so readily invites me into that part of his life.
i hope he always will.