He is enjoying his new school life. He is bringing home art projects, including a rabbit hat and a toilet paper roll "shooter." I'm not very impressed with his shooter, but I am also too tired to protest right now. He was super excited to play in the schoolyard playground today for the first time. And he really enjoys being with the other kids. My son is super social, and thrives being around people.
While he is exploring his new role, I am discovering mine one step at a time. My husband is translating lots of paperwork with notes and information for me to digest. And yet with every turn, I find myself surprised. For example, I'm learning about the proper way to drop my son off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon. In the mornings, parents are not allowed in the school yard and are encouraged to move out of view as quickly as possible. While in the afternoons, parents enter the school yard and line up. The teacher comes out of the classroom and says a few words about the activities of the day and any announcements. She then shows us a whiteboard with written notes of what she just said. Our children are then called out of the classroom one by one to change their shoes and head out with mom or dad.
When we signed my son up for public kindergarten, I was warned that volunteer hours and active parental participation would be expected. If you want full time childcare, you register your kindergartener for private school, which has longer hours and less "expectations." Yesterday, my son returned home from school with a note that detailed his first field trip. It seemed pretty standard. Children are supposed to bring a lunch (bento), water bottle, and mat. I was surprised by the last item listed for children to bring: their parent! This wasn't a request for volunteers. It was a requirement.
So, I guess I'm going on my first field trip with my son. It should be fun and, frankly, I'm looking forward to it. My son is beyond excited to have me join his class trip.
When my son was picked up from school today (I had Japanese class and my son was picked up by a park mom since they are still on a reduced schedule, working their way up to five hours a day), he had his uwabaki, indoor school shoes, with him. The park mom explained that I needed to take them home to wash them. He would bring his uwabaki home every Friday. With raised eyebrows, I said "well, it's not hassle to just toss them in the washing machine." She laughed as the other moms displayed shocked looks on their faces. She said "that's such an American action!" I was told that they only ever use a brush to scrub shoes and they would never think to toss them into the washing machine.
It is the little things that add up and define us. I never thought my washing habits would define me as an American, but I guess they do.
Washing aside, a friend emailed me to ask if I had found some rest and relaxation this week since the school year began. This week has not been relaxing whatsoever. It actually has reminded me of moving - happy and sad at the same time; tons of things to do and worry about; as well as a crazy schedule that is out of my control. There have been lots of highs and lows this week, new beginnings, and challenge after challenge. But, as always, my family maneuvers their way through the chaos and finds our way.
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