First week of school for Levi

Day 1...He got up and dressed super quickly.  The bus surprised us by being 15 minutes earlier than we thought, but we were ready!  On the way out the door, we had a little disagreement over him wanting to bring crackers with him in case he didn't like the food there.  He was smiling when he got on the bus...and sobbing when he got off.  He had fallen asleep and woken up in a strange place.  He doesn't wake up well even in a familiar place.  He wouldn't talk about school, though the daily report said he did well.  All I could get out of him was, "I had to sit at a table 5 times and it was NOT fun."  Of course, I didn't push too hard either.  Destressed with Mario, and wouldn't take his coat off until bed time.  Peed in my bed while playing.  This is all new to both of us.

Day 2...Again dressed quickly, surprising me.  He was very excited this morning, so the first day must have been more fun than he let on.  He even got off the bus smiling this time, though still cranky all evening.  School wears him out, even with a nap on the way there and on the way home (1 hour + bus ride!).  Mommy was nervous today, but daily report says he did well.  Destressed again with Mario the second he got home, but I successfully cut it off at half an hour.  Peed in my bed AGAIN...marking his territory?  Mario has to get out of my room!

Day 3...Didn't want to get dressed.  Ah, here is the Levi I am familiar with.  I'm sure there will be some days he goes to school in jammies, but not today.  Also didn't want to wear his boots, "Why do I have to wear boots if I'm inside at school??"  Reminded him that he does sometimes go out at school and we want his piggies to be toasty warm on the bus.  Sneakers are in the backpack.  Three inches of new snow on the way out to the bus convinced him that boots were a good idea.  Nana got him off the bus today, as Brian and I had appointments in Syracuse.  I'm not sure how he did today, as the contents of his backpack were strewn through the house and I couldn't find his daily report.  He pooped in his pants tonight, which he hasn't done in a while.

Day 4..."I have to go to school AGAIN??  I did it every day!"  Still got dressed and got on the bus pretty easily.  Daily report says he did well again.  More than a bit of Mommy guilt floating around today.  How is it that he is marked "happy" every day in school and he is just miserable and destructive at home?  What is wrong with me that I can't make him a happy little boy?  And surely it must make me a bad mom to feel such relief at being able to work with the other kids and not worry about what Levi is into now.  Sigh.  One more school day in this week...oh, and he peed in my bed again.  He hasn't had this many accidents in the past month.

Day 5...Very cranky getting dressed this morning.  And when the bus came, it was a substitute driver AND aide, which worried me, but apparently he did okay.  Daily report says, "He is doing wonderfully!"  I'm glad.  And sad.  I do hope he comes out with the same behaviors we've been dealing with at home.  Will they think we made it all up?  Pooped in his pants again tonight.  Ugh.  I reminded him that there is no school tomorrow; hoping he'll sleep in and catch up on some of his lost sleep.

SATURDAY!!!!  Woke up at 8 and in a very good mood.  He does appear to be learning some things already.  Hannah was pestering him and instead of flying off the handle, he told her, "My teacher says we have to be kind, Hannah, and that was not kind."  It was a rather shocking conversation between the two of them. 


Observations:

• He has had an accident every single day this week.  This has got to be related to school starting, but I have no idea how to deal with it other than hope he adjusts quickly and it stops.
• I am on an emotional rollercoaster, alternately very happy over the decision to send him to school and distraught with my failings as Levi's mom.
• I think 5 days a week is too much for him.  These next two weeks are 4 day weeks, so hopefully that will help with the adjustment.
• We survived the first week.  I survived the first week.