Junior Kindergarten is something my Wee Boy has been dreading since registration last May. I’ve been working on this almost daily since then by trying to prepare him for the day he’d go to school. He was perfectly willing to go as long as I came with him so this was a problem.

Yesterday was day 1 and I was petrified he’d grab ahold of me and refuse to get on the bus. Here’s how we handled things and thankfully, it turned out WONDERFUL. I have no guarantees about how Day 2 (tomorrow) will go but I’m optimistic.

• Talked about school daily in a positive light for the last several months.
• Told everyone in his life to talk positive about school with him. Every relative and visitor that came over did so for the last few months.
• Talked positively about it at bedtime every night even when he got frustrated and was sick of me talking about school. I would just change my approach  when he grew bored.
• Read lots of books about school.
• Took a trial school bus ride as a family when the bus company did a safety presentation a week ago. This made a BIG difference, I think.
• Involved him in choosing his backpack, school clothes and supplies
• DADDY took him to the bus on his first day and I picked him up.
• Big brother was on the bus with him.

Daddy putting him on the bus was a big thing for us. I think if I’d tried to do it, we wouldn’t have had the success because even to be left with his Grandparents is difficult for him because he wants to be with me. He wants Mommy to share in every aspect of his life.  In a few weeks I’ll take over morning bus routines but for now, Daddy will do that part.

Not everyone can have an older sibling help out either. My 12 year old sat with him and took him to his class and even checked in on him part way through the day which probably put my own mind at ease more than anything. That 8 hours was really long for me yesterday but I’m sure in no time, the day will just fly by.