Today was Roman’s first day of kindergarten!!!
Roman, going to kindergarten: “When I grow up, I want to be a drummer.” AND “When I grow up, I want to sell cars.”
After seeing what he came up with to wear on his first day, a gray Minecraft t-shirt and gray athletic shorts…I decided that I would try to finagle him into wearing something nice for his first day of kindergarten. (I know…I know…but I just couldn’t let it go…next year.) I explained to him that every other day of the year, he can wear whatever he wants (besides picture day and church day which are nice clothes days). He heard that and agreed to put on some khaki shorts. So, I thought I’d go for the polo next (not a button down…a polo). He even picked which two he liked best but then totally put the breaks on. Being one of the stronger willed of the three, he REALLY put the breaks on. As I was watching us all lose patience with each other and the anxiety increasing and seeing his sweet little face start to break down and cry and meltdown mode beginning, I decided that it just wasn’t worth it. After Tom stepped out of the front door, Roman walked up to the kitchen counter, with his tear stained face, and started counting out poker chips (we use them as “task coins” for completing tasks and each one counts for a minute of screen time…the boys prize them…especially this one). I said, “Roman, what are you doing?” He counted out 17 task coins (to add to the three already in his jar), pushed them over to my side of the counter, and said, “I’ll do it for 17.” I said, “How about 15?” He said, “Nope. 17.” I shook his hand and said, “You’ve got a deal.” (I’m not in the habit of making deals, mind you, but I made a deal this morning…and my strong willed five and a half year old put on a red polo for his first day of kindergarten with a big confident smile.) Ah, life.
Here Roman is holding his first day of school sign, posing with mommy and daddy in front of the school, walking into the kindergarten hallway with this big brother, putting away his backpack, and getting started on a gingerbread necklace with his sweet teacher. Look out kindergarten…here Roman comes!!!
