“Is that your little helper?”

Well, it finally happened… I've thought about this many times since Jack was born and really couldn't understand why it has never happened to me. Maybe it was a thing of the past and something that just isn't "in vogue" today... Maybe I always seem too stressed-out or rushed and people don't feel like they can approach me… Maybe Dad was just a more charismatic guy that people liked to talk to… Maybe people just aren't as friendly as they used to be… I remember it happening to Dad almost every time he took us somewhere. I remember it happening to Dad EVERY SINGLE TIME he took us to Kuesters Hardward on South Weinbach by East Side Marine. Someone would always ask Dad if Greg and I were his little helpers and he would smile real big, look down at us, pat us on the head or rub our shoulders and say, "Yep, they're my little helpers." It always made me feel so good that Dad actually thought we were helping him when, Lord knows, it was usually just the opposite! Well, tonight, Jack and I went to Sam's to pick up some things for Missy and as we were checking out, Jack was helping me take the items out of the cart and put them on the conveyor belt. All of a sudden, I heard someone behind me say, "Is that your little helper?" It took me a few seconds to realize they were talking to me and when I turned around, there was about a 70 year old man smiling at me and waiting for me to answer him. I said with great pride and a huge smile on my face, "Yep, that's my little helper!!!"

What a difference a day makes!

Today was MUCH better. I was so afraid he wouldn't try again today but was up and ready and excited. Yesterday, I called the bus driver and told him he needed to sit up front and that he was lost. The bus driver told me that he makes 2 stops...the first one is for the older kids (that's the one Jack got off at yesterday) and then the second one for Kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd graders so Jack got off at the wrong spot. I told him if Jack hadn't been in the back of the bus with the big kids then he wouldn't have followed them out! I told Jack all that and then we went down the street last night and knocked on some doors and introduced Jack to a couple little kids that ride the bus so he would know someone. So, this morning, he was ready to go and we waited at the end of the driveway. I was praying he wouldn't start crying and say NO! As I got him on the bus, the driver had saved the front row for him and he said "Is this right Mommy?" I said yes. I then met him at school and saw them stop at the 1st stop and then pull up to the 2nd stop and I waited right there. He came running full speed off the bus yelling "Mommy, I did it!". I was so relieved and proud of him. I told him to now take me to his class since I won't be there tomorrow. He slowly walked in that direction looking at every door and when he found the Kindergarten area, he got so excited and started giggling. He was so proud of himself and it made my day!

When I picked him up today, he said "Mom, you need to just go straight to work tomorrow and tell Grandma not to meet me at school!". He's all grown up now!

Jack started Kindergarten today! :-(

Well, the day started off great. Jack was so excited. He looked adorable. Jeff and I both stayed home to get him on the bus. We waited on the front porch until we saw the bus and then he went to the driveway and waited to get on. I swear, 10 minutes before the bus got there, he looked so old and big and then immediately looked so little. I had told him that he would be sitting in the front of the bus and the bus driver would talk to him when he got on. Well, Jeff and I stood up by the garage and he got on. The bus driver just said HI and then Jack started walking and had to go all the way to the back. Not a big deal but I felt like he was not prepared for that and searching for a seat. I immediately started crying. I immediately jumped in the van to get to school to take pics of him getting off the bus and going to class. Yesterday at orientation, his teacher told us where the bus would drop them off and it was right by the Kindergarten classrooms. We practiced the route so he'd know where to go. Well, I barely got to the school in time to take pics of him getting off the bus. I couldn't even get up to the bus before it stopped and opened its door. Unfortunately, it stopped at a different door further away from the Kindergarten classes. So, I took some pics from further away and then went in the door that we thought Jack would go in. I waited for a while and then started headed towards the direction that Jack came in. As I was walking that way, Jack came around the corner holding a teachers hand crying his eyes out. He didn't even see me and I figured he was just missing us or something. So, I went up to them and he just looked at me. The teacher said he got off the bus and got confused following the other kids (since he was one of the last ones off). He started to cry and went up to her and said "I'm lost and I'm in Mrs. Faulkenberg's class." When she told me that (and as I sit here and type this) I immediately started to tear up. We just talked to Jack and the teacher told him he did such a great job. We got to the Kindergarten area and she told Jack her name and said she'd come back and visit him later. When we finally got to his classroom, his teacher just looked and me and I told her what happened. This whole time, Jack isn't saying anything and just crying a little. His teacher told him he did the right thing and that now that he's had a tour of the school, he's ready to have fun in her class. He picked out his seat and I asked the little boy next to him his name (Ethan) and introduced Jack to him. He was trying hard not to cry but was just shrugging his shoulders from crying. He sat down and I said "can I take your picture?" He looked up at me and tried to smile. I told him I had to leave and hugged him and said I'd be back soon. He just sat there very quiet and never said a word and tried not to cry. My heart was breaking for him. I cannot stop crying here at work. I cannot wait to get back and get him. I prayed that the first day of everything would go off without a hitch. I'm a little worried about tomorrow now...