What happens when one creative little girl hears the national anthem on the first day of JK? Our chief mama shares an adorable story about the first day of school.
New lunchbag – check!
Can you open your snack containers? – check!
New runners that you can get on yourself? – check!
JK paperwork all filled in? – check!
Extra epi-pen for school? – check!
Practised how to introduce yourself? – check!
On time? -check!! (whoo hoo!)
My daughter's 1st day of Junior Kindergarten was yesterday and we had gone over so many things in preparation for her mini one hour in the classroom yesterday. 5 little JKers all stood in their classroom very patiently, a couple a little tentative, my child bouncing in her toes and waving her picture she drew for her teacher Mrs S (really much too close to Mrs S's face, reminder, work on that).
Parents were invited to learn more about JK and while parents were occupied on one side of the classroom the morning announcements started on the loudspeaker along with the national anthem.
Only one of the 4 year olds knew what this meant as he stood, so Mrs S calmly asked the others to stand up with their hands by their sides. Which they all did.
Except for mine.
Now, she wasn't running around or being disruptive but Lauren was creating her own moment out of Oh Canada. Her graceful ballet arms started to move up and out, a toe pointed and her body swaying and moving to the beautiful music she heard. My ballerina was putting on a little show, quietly, during the solemn instrumental of our nation's respectful song.
Oops, maybe I should have prepped her for this?
Just another reminder of how different our children all are and how they interpret things in their own manner. Soon enough, Lauren will be filing in line with all the other kids, well trained and doing all the things she's taught to do. She likes to follow suit and I know she will be a good little student wanting so badly to please Mrs S.
But I'm just going to try to remember how special that little moment was and how individually minded she is, and I'll try to keep that little spark alive in her as she grows up. I don't think I'll ever forget her first day of school and how my ballerina made that day her very own. Or how proud she made me, even as she did exactly what she wasn't supposed to do.
Ann-Marie Burton, mom of 3, founder and president of momstown.ca; Follow Ann-Marie and the momstown team on Twitter @momstownCA, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram.
