kindergarten

in the garden waiting for the bus

mom's first day with students.  we ride the bus to school together

on the sidewalk just outside our flat and in front of the bus stop.  very convenient

on the bus. he's walked this route several times with dad to get to the grocery store.  so much faster on the bus!

outside the kindergarten building.  the two windows on the ground floor are his classroom.

these boys were playing when we arrived and tim joined them as soon as his jacket was off and his teacher had told him welcome and turned to the next child.  no tears, no clinging, no drama - from either of us.  The blonde boy on the floor is the child of one of my colleagues, kate, who i also consider a friend.

the room has a wonderful atmosphere

I planned to wake Tim at 06:30 to give him enough time to be ready for the bus at 07:15, but he came into our room just after 06:00 and asked if it was tomorrow yet because the last thing we'd talked about last night was that he'd get to start school tomorrow.  He has been ready to start since we moved into the flat, hungry for playmates and thirsty to learn.  The other day he wanted to know when he was going to learn about science.  

His teacher is a thirty year veteran name Annie Dunkley.  The kids have been instructed to call her Miss Annie.  When Paul collected Tim at noon today (half days all this week then full days from next Monday), she said, "He is such a sweet boy."  We know him well enough now to not be surprised by this, but it's still wonderful to hear.

Tim put himself to bed tonight.  We're all looking forward to tomorrow and another day of discovery.