My little ones are starting kindergarten in 3 weeks and so I am trying to get ready for that.

My plan on the first day of school is to drive them and have them ride the bus home. My entire family is making fun of me because I wont let them ride the bus to school. They are telling me that I should let them ride the bus and then pick them up.

So my questions is this.... How many of you are driving your kids to school on the first day?

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Hi Dawn,
Wow! Kindergarten huh? Time flies by!
As far as your family making fun of you, tell them to go fly a kite! These are your children and you have to do what you feel is the right thing for you and the kids. Do whatever you think will make the transition for all of you easier.

This was our experience. I also wanted to give them a ride that first day AND pick them up. I couldn't imagine putting my kiddos onto the bus and just watching it drive away. I wasn't ready. I casually mentioned it to one of their teachers at visiting day and she gave me some advice. She said that as hard as it is going to be, it is best to start them off on the first day. That way, they get used to their routine. As much as it KILLED me, I watched them get onto the bus and then jumped into the van and followed the bus the rest of the way to school. I parked and watched them get off and made sure that they were safely escorted into school. Then I went home and bawled. But not as hard as I did when I put my dd, who was 3yo at the time, on the her bus for early childhood/special ed,lol! I thought I was going to hyper-ventilate!

Good luck! Go with your gut and what makes you feel more comfortable.

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

For 4-year preschool, we let our kids ride the bus (we drove them for 3-year preschool).

We did the same thing as PP! We put them on the bus, then jumped in the car and tailed the bus so we would know the route! But somehow we lost the bus after about 10 minutes -- trying to stay back far enough so the kids wouldn't see us!

Then we high-tailed it to school and hid in the bushes so we could take their pictures comine off the bus! Wouldn't you know it...one of my kids spotted us as he was getting of the bus. Little stinker! He was waving and telling the other 2 we were there, so I just gave them a hug, told them they did GREAT on the bus and to go with their teacher now.

I think it was a bit easier for them to not get emotional at all because they had been in that school and with those teachers the prior year.

BTW, we were NOT the only parents taking pictures/filming their kiddos getting off the bus.

We had them take the bus home too...and my husband was right there with the video camera taping the bus pulling up and them getting off.

Except for a few rough moments (one of my kids ran away from the bus that first morning and I had to chase him down and force him on), they LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the bus. The fact that they could ride it without car seats and choose ANY seat they wanted was just hilarious to them.

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

I'm driving mine to school and then they are riding the bus home. This will be their routine evey day, but I probably would drive mine the first day even if they were normally going to take the bus to school. Just for my own sake because I am sure there will be a lot of people available to help them on the first day. I think your kids will be fine...it seems to be the moms who are having the most trouble!

.



Stephanie

BBB triplets born at 35+ weeks

We were debating wether to drive or school bus, our 2 new kindergarteners, as well. My husband really wanted to drive them because we are one of the first stops and they will be on the bus for about 20-25minutes. But we finally agreed to let them ride the bus and here is why...
The first week of school and especially the first day
They stop all the busses in the front of school and call and let the kindergartens off fisrt. The teachers wait outside (our teacher wrote the boys a letter and let them know what she would be wearing) until they have thier entire class and then all of them together march down the hall to the classroom.
They really make a big deal of the first week so the kindergartens are well taken care of and know what they are doing. The bus drivers know all the new kindergartens by a balloon we have to put on the mailbox.
For these reasons, and the fact that it will be a new experience for ALL of them I decided to let them ride the bus the first week. I thought it would be much easier for them to transition that first week with all the help, then if I was to wait a little ahwile. If I waited until later in the year everyone would already be familar with their rountine while the boys would be brand new to the rountine and not have all the special attention.

anyways thought I would pass that on...
HTH
Either way...I think its important to do what makes you feel most comfortable!

Liz
Mom to
Cole and Troy Feb/2004 28weeks
^Clay^ Dec/2003 20 weeks

Dawn,

I wouldn't have dreamed of taking away the bus trip from my kids. It means so much to them. Unless driving them is part of your everyday plans, on the 1st day I would have them do what they'll be doing regularly. All the kids and parents are learning the routine and it's best for them to do what they will normally be doing on the first day. If you want to do something special, like take them for ice cream, meet them at the bus stop in your car and go right then.

Our school does a great job at easing the transition for both students AND parents. The 1st day on the bus for K is not the same as for other kids. We have 3 transitional days where the child goes for a 45 minute assessment with the teacher for just one of those days.

On the 4th day of school, the K kids ride the bus. By this time, the older kids already know the drill and there is less confusion. The bus drivers are all quite patient and the bus often runs slightly late as they allow time for photo-ops at the bus stop. Honestly, my kids had strict instructions to get on the bus step, turn for a picture, then go their seats. They were so excite , all I got was the backs of their heads .

Once the kids are on the bus, all the K parents run to their cars to meet the bus at the school. All the big kids filter into the school and to their classrooms. The K kids were instructed during their testing time with the teacher to "meet me at the flagpole". There is plenty of time to take pics of the kids getting off the bus and lining up with their teachers. (Don't forget the photo in front of the school sign, as this will be a nice tradition). Plenty of time for hugs and kisses and the kids are off to their 1st day.

For the ride home, they wear a name tag for a week (which has moms phone number and the bus number) and the K teacher does a great job of making sure they get on the right bus. For kids who leave at the end of the day with the rest of the school, the K kids are dismissed a bit earlier and get on the bus before the mob of bigger kids are dismissed. This continued throughout the year.

I do think your family is being insensitive, even if it's good-natured ribbing. They just don't "get" what a big adjustment this is for you. Heck, you have been with the kids 24/7 for 5 years. Going to school is a HUGE milestone for you and for them. I actually found K easy to handle. But when my oldest went to full-day, I REALLY missed him and hated not being a part of what he experienced. That being said, I'm REALLY looking forward to missing my girls in the same way this year.

MonsterMom6
10 year old ^b^ b twins @ 30w5d (1 survivor) and
8 year old gggg quads @ 32w0d

I also wanted to add that you'll likely find most parents at the school with camera and video, waiting for the bus to arrive. When DS went to K, the principal's oldest DD was in his class. There was Mr. W, out there with HIS video camera. For that brief moment, he was not the principal, but was just another parent.

MonsterMom6
10 year old ^b^ b twins @ 30w5d (1 survivor) and
8 year old gggg quads @ 32w0d