Starting Kindergarten!
May 5, 2008
Today was Tyler’s first day at afternoon Kindy.
** Here in NZ, children start Kindergarten between the ages of 3 and 4 (depending on the length of the waiting list at each centre). They stay at Kindy until they turn 5, and then they start school (Year 0/1).
Anyway … Tyler has been SO. EXCITED. about starting Kindy. Almost every day during the school holidays, he would ask if he was going. This morning he finished his breakfast, then came and picked up his backpack – he was ready to go! We had to explain (again!) that Kindy started after lunch. When it was finally lunch time, he tidied up his toys in about 10 seconds flat (extremely out of character!) because he knew what would be coming next! 
Since Monday is Rob’s day off, and I work from home, we were both able to walk down to Kindy with Tyler.
The Kindergarten is on the other side of the school, and it was lunchtime as we were walking through. We saw Ethan sitting with his friends eating his lunch, so we stopped to say hello. Tyler shouted “I’m going to Kindy!” very loudly … I’m pretty sure every child in Year 2 heard him, LOL! 
When we got through the Kindy gate, Tyler was off!
He was so excited to find out which cubby hole would be his. We found his name on the board and looked to see what the picture was. It was a flower. Yikes. I held my breath, waiting for him to completely freak out and shout, “I don’t want a stupid bum-bum flower! Flowers are for giiiiiiiiiirls.” But he didn’t freak out at all. He just ran over to the cubby holes and looked carefully until he found the one with the flower picture on it. Then he proudly put his bag inside. Yes!!
He found his name on the whiteboard, and then sat down to write it. He did a pretty good job, and I only had to help him a little bit. As soon as he was finished, he raced outside, yelling “Bye, Daddy!” as he ran over to the playground. I actually had to follow him over there to get a goodbye hug & kiss!!
He is SO different to his brother. Ethan took a long time to settle into Kindy – it was probably a few months. I know Tyler’s confidence and independence will help him settle in really quickly.
Afterwards as Rob and I were walking home, he looked over at me and said, “Suck it up.” So I did. If I had been on my own, I SO would have cried. Why? Because it’s a bittersweet milestone. I love seeing him try new things, and I know he is more than ready for this next stage. But at the same time? I wish he would stay little forever. He’s my baby, after all.
Anyway, enough of the silly mummy ramblings.
Tyler had a great afternoon. And that’s what it’s all about, really.
Entry Filed under: My Boys. .
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1.
Alison | May 5, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Liam was so like that when it was his first day at kindy and was ready to go as soon as he finshed breakfast. Good to hear he enjoyed his first day at kindy. Im much the same with Liam and he is my baby and would love for him to stay small just a bit longer, but he always seems to be ready for the next step although he lacks confidence in some areas. Well done for not crying too.
2.
Debbie aka Scrappygirl | May 5, 2008 at 4:55 pm
OMG I can’t believe how much older Tyler is looking! Way to go Tyler and I hope that you are having a great afternoon at Kindy – I can imagine just how proud your mummy, daddy and big brother are of you!
Hannah they aren’t silly mummy ramblings, i just imagine what you are feeling!
3.
harmonia | May 5, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I’m back!
AND…I can’t believe how RED his hair is these days!
4.
Vicki | May 5, 2008 at 7:28 pm
That is so cool. It does take the worry out of it all and just goes to show how ready he is to be there. Way to go Tyler even if Mummy does have to “suck it up”!!!! LOL.
5.
Trace | May 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm
WTG Tyler, and Mum! Such a milestone!
6.
Louise Williams | May 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Yay Tyler!! I can so relate to wanting to cry, it’s such an end to an era when they start! Joshie’s been going to kindy a wee while now and he loves it, goes in, hangs his bag up and runs off… it’s really brought out his independence (which isn’t always a good thing!!).
Yay on having a cool little guy that’s ready to take on the world (one step at at time)… hmmm there’s a scrapping title in that…
7.
nztreasure | May 5, 2008 at 7:33 pm
No way!!! He looks so grown up and so proud of himself!! Rob’s a meany – I would have cried ;O) Awww time goes so fast.
8.
Mrs Frizz | May 5, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I was reading down thinking to myself, Hannah’s going to be in tears in a minute and then I started laughing my **** off with Rob telling you to suck it up … too cute …
Just think though … Rob was probably feeling exactly the same way as you …
9.
Meg McKenzie | May 5, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Had to laugh Hannah at Rob’s comment, my DH would have had similiar advice!! Still when Paige started afternoon kindy she was such a good wee girl that I forgot to be upset terrible mother that I am lol!! Either way it’s fantastic that he has settled in so well, imagine what he will be like when he starts school!!!
10.
Shell | May 5, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I agree … Rob probably wanted you to ’suck it up’ so that he didn’t get all emotional himself, LOL! Tyler looks sooo happy!
Congrats on your wedding anniversary as well … you were a beautiful bride and it’s so nice to hear ‘real love stories’ like yours.
11.
Megan Renfree | May 5, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Aw, he looks adorable! It is strange when they go to kindy. Riley goes to school in 12 weeks, and I really can’t quite believe it!!!
12.
Beverley Warwick | May 5, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Another great milestone in the growing up business. You are growing great boys Hannah – had to laugh at the flower thing, lucky he was so excited!
13.
spgettie | May 5, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Didn’t he and you all do so well. I bet Rob was about to let it go when he told you to suck it up.
I am putting off enrolling Isaac at kindy ‘cos I don’t want him to grow up too fast. People keep asking me when he will go, people he is only 2. Anyway I digress, this is about you and your fantastic, spunky little red head. And isn’t he adorable!
14.
ruthnz | May 5, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I cried! Cool photos you managed to get, glad it all went well.
15.
Tracy | May 5, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I love the pics of Tyler, you can see he is so happy and excited!
16.
trina | May 5, 2008 at 11:20 pm
What a trooper he is! Sounds like a wonderful first day. Good on you Mum for not crying. I would have!
17.
Angella | May 6, 2008 at 12:03 am
Awwww…He looks so grown up!! What a great post, Hannah
18.
yaseennz | May 6, 2008 at 1:54 am
Aww he’s soooo cute, gorgeous photos! How wonderful he’s so ready to embrace this new phase in his life and enjoying every bit of it. And good for you to having Rob there, I so know what you mean, sometimes it’s us big people who have a much harder time adjusting to the changes in our kids’ lives … Especially the growing up things … my baby is 18 now and there are still moments when I want to take out a magic wand and turn him back into a 3-year old!
19.
teeni | May 6, 2008 at 5:13 am
Awww, where is Rob now when I need him to tell ME to suck it up? LOL. I was brought to happy tears reading this, just trying to imagine all the emotions you, as his mom, would be going through. You have a wonderful attitude though and you certainly are very centered. I’m proud of both of you AND Tyler for having such a good day on his first day of Kindergarten.
He is very fortunate to have had Ethan already blazing trails for him. 
20.
Kami | May 6, 2008 at 5:30 am
I may have cried too! Does he go every afternoon?
My baby, er I mean, I, would not be ready for that yet with Kamden!
SO glad Tyler is so enthusiastic, he’s going to have a great time!
21.
Anna | May 6, 2008 at 7:59 am
I am sure I will cry when this day comes for us. Kaitlyn is already begging to go to school…I am so not ready!!
Congrats on the milestone, they grow so darn fast!
22.
Dayna | May 6, 2008 at 8:44 am
Your kids sound like they’re pretty awesome!
23.
talinan | May 6, 2008 at 1:27 pm
That is priceless “suck it up”… Ha! Look at that hair, I love red hair!
24.
Merri | May 6, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Aww how happy he looks in the pics; so proud of himself!
That is totally cool….
Poor you(”suck it up”, indeed!)
I would have given him a smack for saying that..lol!
Take care!
((hugs))
25.
diannasullivan | May 6, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Thats so sweet how excited he was. My dd is just about to leave kindy quite sad about it really.
Hey how was your weekend away.
26.
Sharon | May 6, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Very cool
27.
Penny | May 6, 2008 at 8:27 pm
that is so sweet he was so excited!
28.
shornsheep | May 7, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Yay kindy boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It never ceases to amaze me how different the personalities of kids from the same gene pool can be. Isn’t it neat that we are all unique?
Love the photos he looks so proud and happy with himself. What a great start to a lifetime of learning!
29.
dallasnz | May 7, 2008 at 1:38 pm
He’s so adorable!! I’m pleased he’s an easy kid to settle (we’re going through the whole start of term dramas again) – and that he had an awesome afternoon!
I totally get you with the whole growing too fast thing – I often have to remind myself that Molly isn’t a baby *sniff*
30.
acreativeblank | May 7, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Woohoo Tyler. I love that he was so excited to get there (so much easier than the clingy crying ones – yep that was mine lol)
Lol at Mr insenstive with his suck it up comment
31.
mommyknows | May 7, 2008 at 4:41 pm
OMG … he is so adorable!
I know how you feel. When Sam went to ‘kindy’ I was so sad. I thought he was the last one (Georgia wasn’t expected). It felt like the end of my babies. I’ll have a hard time letting Georgia go.
MK xo
I can’t get enough of the ginger hair and sweet face!
32.
juliemaree | May 7, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Great photos. He looks more than ready.
Tiana strated kindy just before the holidays & loves it to. She is just like Tyler straight in there. Where as Jamie was like Ethan & took a long time to settle.
33.
Lisa | May 8, 2008 at 5:51 pm
He is ABSOLUTELY. ADORABLE.