Today we did our Monday morning routine of walking to school and playing on the playground together until the 8 o'clock bell. We all filed into the classroom, parents said their good-byes, and the children filed out onto the playground through a different door for a short (20-minute) assembly.
Although parents are invited to hang out for the periodic assembly (where they say the Pledge of Allegiance, give announcements, do the school chant, promote the PTA, etc.), I decided to "leave" like most of the other parents but hung out next to a building within eyeshot of Kristina but far enough away so she wouldn't see me.
I was *wrong*. She saw me. She waved a few times but then I saw bystanders near Kristina looking back towards me. Ugh-oh....she didn't look happy. In fact, Kristina was sobbing, the kind where she couldn't catch her breath. I went over to her and held her and wiped the tears -- the real tears. She just kept telling me "I want to go home wichu, I want to go home wichu". Her teacher approached me and tried to comfort Kristina, too, but to no avail. Then she nestled her head into my neck and said "I miss my old school." My heart was aching.
When the assembly ended, I held Kristina's hand as we walked back to the classroom. All the kids took their place on the carpet and Kristina just held me. We did the "one more hug" routine and the teacher took Kristina's hand and lead her to the carpet. I walked out the door, heard her crying, and tears escaped my eyes.
Took hours for me to get the sound of Kristina crying out of my head...and the report from our darling after school is that it took "10 minutes" for her to feel better. Also, when she came home, she declared "I got a 'lellow' card because I was talking to a boy when we were listening to music BUT this girl got an ORANGE card and now she's going to be in trouble from her mommy and daddy." Good try at deflecting the attention away from your yellow card, my dear....
Now for some photos of Happy Times from this past weekend!
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| On Saturday night, we went out to dinner with about 45 other people -- all who belong to the So. California Russian Adoption Group. Kristina is trying the Borscht Soup...but we finished it. She's a chicken noodle kinda girl now! |
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| The new era of "playing together". |
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| All the kids. The little boy in front far right was born the exact same day as Kristina! |
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| We spent Sunday with family/friend Michael who is getting out of CA and moving to N. Carolina this week. |
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| "We're going to miss you very much, Uncle Michael!" Best wishes, Michael -- you are truly a survivor in every aspect of the word! |
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| Kristina doesn't pass up an opportunity to pose! |
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| It's a rarity that we have a photo with all 3 of us! |
3 comments:
Ahh, hang in there, Laura! It IS a tough transition. Don't worry, she isn't really unhappy there. It's just that it's more "work" than "play" compared to her old school (and we could debate forever whether that is developmentally appropriate, but it is what it is) and she is mourning the loss of her more carefree days where she was allowed to talk freely! She will get used to it, and will enjoy school. But yes, it is a tough transition. Keep up the routine, make sure she's well rested, and she will be loving it before long. Good luck!!
I'm sad just reading that post. It has to be tough, so many changes for our kiddos, and us. Thankfully Colby hasn't cried about going to school, yet. On the contrary he tells me to leave. It's all I can do to get a quick squeeze and a kiss and he's off. I almost wish he did hold on a little.
Melissa
poor, sweet girl. Hang in there! She will adjust just like she did at her other school.
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