Yesterday was Ry’s last real day of school. We have to go in Wednesday to pick up his report card, but he won’t be staying. I’d planned to start singing “School’s Out For Summer” the minute he got in the car and suggest we go get ice cream, but one look at his face told me he wouldn’t be interested. Before he’d even buckled, he’d burst into tears, crying harder than I’d seen him cry in a long time. He’d been so excited about the end of the year and approaching summer that I was surprised by the tears. When he was able to talk, I discovered he was crying because he was going to miss his teachers…not his friends. I’d found myself tearing up earlier in the week about the same thing.
Both of Ryan’s teachers were great this year. He learned so much and really developed a love a school. He still had a few days where he didn’t want to go, but I could count those on one hand. Both teachers were kind, enthusiastic, motivating, loving. One of them did Ry’s first Kindergarten test. He passed academically, but she suggested that socially he might benefit from the Kindergarten Readiness program. You may recall, I’d already done research and been thinking along those lines, but I am so thankful she encouraged that. It’s hard to feel like you’re holding your kid back, or like your kid isn’t good enough, so I may have second-guessed that decision a bit more without her encouragement.
As a SAHM, I often feel like R and I are looked down upon because he doesn’t attend the local magnet school. I get the impression people are wondering why he couldn’t get in. After lots of discussion we’d decided public school was best for R, in my heart I think he’d have gotten in though. M arrived just before the application and testing period, so I sometimes wonder if I just didn’t have my act together or if it really was the best decision for R to attend public school.
The two teachers he had this past year, help with that second guessing as well. He learned so much and came away from the year with a positive attitude. He was challenged with new and harder work when he got bored and was doing 1st grade workbook pages and reading at a 1st grade level by the end of the year. Our public school did right by my kid and I really believe his teachers helped start the foundation for a life of success for my sweet boy.
Schools out for summer, but I can’t wait to see what next year brings!
