The day finally arrived! Hadley (and probably me more than she) SURVIVED! I didn't sleep very well last night. My alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. UGH. I made Hadley's lunch, which consisted of a flatbread sandwich with Ranch dressing and turkey. Gross, but hey, she eats it. Then I packed some cheese, goldfish and fruit snacks. She had water in her canteen. I still can't bring myself to pack juice. (But I later found out they give the kids juice with their afternoon snacks, so I didn't feel like too much of a mean Mom for packing water.) Adrian and I woke her up at 6:15 and told her she needed to get up to get ready for school. That girl NEVER pops up out of her bed like she did today! She usually buries her head in her blankets when I try to wake her up. She had her yogurt and milk for breakfast, got dressed, and then it was time for pictures before we left the house.
She wanted to ride in Daddy's car on her first day.
Had to get a picture outside the door of her school.
So after a few formalities at the front desk, we walked to her classroom. She's in the Happy Hoppers room and her teachers are Ms. Stacie and Miss Libbie. We were asked if we brought her crib sheat, extra clothes, sunscreen, etc. and had to answer "no" to all of those questions. OOPS. We never received the parent handbook that told us all that! We were only in the room maybe 2 minutes before it was time to go. Hadley gave Adrian a hug, then me, and then says "Bye, Mama!" She walked over to a table and waved goodbye to us. We took the hint and turned around and walked out. No tears from neither Hadley nor I, but I sure did have to swallow that lump in my throat a few times.
The director then led us to the teacher lounge area where the fridge for all the lunches is located. We were told that the school is a peanut-free facility, so I guess that means no PB&J sandwiches for anyone. Adrian sort of scoffed right in the lady's face when she said there were kids who were highly allergic to peanuts. Ok, I don't really get it either, but I think Adrian might be in for a rude awakening for these touchy-feely American schools! Nothing like his private boarding school education (with the lovely corporal punishment).
Adrian and I both were there to pick up Hadley this evening and she was very excited to see us. She said she had fun and she had made us a picture. We'll get a written report of what she did every day. I noticed right away NO NAP. I'm hoping a new crib sheet and a blanket from home will help her nap next week. As we walked out of the classroom, Hadley turned around and said, "Bye friends!" And then another lump in my throat suddenly formed. I think we can call her first day a success!
