sob!

First grade seems so much more legit than kindergarten did.  

For one, he is gone all day.  Which seems like an inordinate amount of time for him to be away from home.  Plus, we have to be good and get the lunch and clothes ready the night before so we can make the 8:00 bus every morning.  Of course, that's not THAT early.  But still.

And the homework...  As in, he will actually have homework this year.  Real homework that requires a parent's initials.  So official.  Tonight, the homework was for the parents, and I filled out forms for a half hour.

I think Henry could sense the big change that was coming with this start to first grade.  He has been very clingy to me lately.  On Sunday, I dropped him off in his primary class only to have him appear at my side 30 seconds later in tears.  He said, "I'm just going to miss you a lot, Mommy".  He also got a little weepy this morning as we were putting him on the bus.  

Even so, we are off to a great start this year.  Henry got the teacher that he wanted and one of his best buddies, Evan, is in his class.  His reading and math skills are far beyond what they need to be, so he can just go to school and have fun, no pressure.  He had a great day today and is over his nerves for the most part.  

As I was putting him to bed tonight, he showed me a little trick that his teacher taught the class.  It's called the hand kiss, and this is how it works.  I kiss the palm of his left hand in the morning.  Then, during the day if he misses me, he just puts his palm to his cheek and it's like I'm kissing his cheek!  I love his teacher already!!