On Tuesday I registered my baby for kindergarten. My daughter, Hannah, who was born 6 weeks early, and who at 4 days old weighed only 4lbs, 14oz. The child I feared would never learn to walk, or talk, or use the bathroom on her own. The child who made me a mother. I am so, so not ready for this.
I loaded the children up and we trekked the 3 blocks to the school. It’s not far, but it does involve a fairly steep hill, not fun with a toddler in a stroller. I think that walking to school and back twice a day, 5 days a week may turn out to be good for me. Hannah wanted to bring her bike but I talked her into riding her scooter, since the scooter is lighter and hence easier to handle if when she gets tired of riding it.
Hannah riding her scooter to the registration. Watching her ride away felt very wistful.
There is, as it turns out, a whole lot of paperwork involved in kindergarten registration. The form is short, only two pages of large, well-spaced font, but you need to bring documentation. For instance, you need a rental agreement, home-buying contract or property tax assessment to prove your residency. An electricity bill will not do. Your driver’s license will not do. You also need to provide verification of citizenship for your child and yourself. Does the school district really need to know my age? Apparently so.
No surprise to me, Hannah wasn’t up to riding the scooter the whole way.
I sort of wonder about the necessity of these documents. I understand that they want to make sure that kids aren’t providing fake addresses, but how much of a problem is this really? Local enrollments are declining as the population ages and the birth rate declines. I needed less in the way of documentation to register to vote, for Pete’s sake!
Checking out a hallway display.
Thanks to our fastidious record-keeping, we did in fact manage to find our house purchase agreement. Good thing, because we don’t have a paper copy of our tax assessment due to my husband’s habit of scanning and destroying all of our documents. You’d better believe that when it’s time to register Jacob I am keeping a copy of the tax assessment. And maybe knocking 5 years off the age on my birth certificate with some white-out and a pencil. Or, if I’m feeling really wild, I’ll knock off 10.
Posing in front of the school.
Hannah talked the secretary’s ear off while we registered. She shared all sorts of personal details, and let her know that she’s feeling a little shy. She also let her know that her baby brother isn’t ready for kindergarten, that she is 4 3/4 and will turn 5 soon, and that kindergarten starts in a really, really long time after baby Jacob’s birthday. Having a 5-year-old teaches you to watch what you say, let me tell you.
They are implementing full-day kindergarten here in British Columbia, but not at our school. After much hand-wringing we opted for the afternoon slot. I’m hoping that Jacob will nap while Hannah’s at school and I will have actual time to myself. It could happen, right? (Please say yes.) Or, just share some kindergarten survival tips with me, because I think I’m going to need them.
Another milestone! SIgh
My memories of kindergarten registration are very hazy so thanks for reminding me. I think all the fuss about verifying address and parentage is to ensure that the parents/family are actually domiciled in the area and qualify for ‘free’ school district schooling. There are still rumours of families who buy property and then just leave the kids in the country (hopefully with a nanny) while the parents go back overseas – Canadian education is a Big Thing.
As for more me time – yes, it does happen but at two and a half hours a day don’t go making any big overambitious plans….. just sayin’. Hopefully Jacob will nap …….
pomomama aka ebbandflo´s last post ..(almost) wordless wednesday
Wow. Hannah has come so far from such a frightening beginning. Congratulations on the milestone. I’m enjoying your blog.
Patti´s last post ..Two faces of endurance
Amber! She is absolutely adorable! I love that she added that she was a bit shy! I actually teach Kindergarten gym.
It is such a fun dramatic age. I love kindergartners so much. They are so honest about their emotions and surprisingly empathetic.
Old School/New School Mom´s last post ..Toddler Headstands
I’m almost positive we never showed a house purchase form or told them how old we were — nasty suspicious B.C.-ers.
I’m with Old School/New School Mom. The first day I went to pick up Eve from J.K. (she had taken the bus) she said “Mom! You’ll never believe it! There were NO SEAT BELTS on the bus!” And every day was the BEST DAY EVER. Or sometimes the worst.
And because it’s not full-day, you won’t have time to miss her too much. And you might be able to do one or two things for yourself. If it was a full day all at once, you might go into some sort of shock or something.
Allison McCaskill´s last post ..**************Yes, I do get rather passionate about my tinned fruit
I found kindergarten a major hassle on my time for both boys.
Kid #1 would generally get out of K exactly when his baby brother FINALLY was napping, so cranky afternoons were common.
Kid #2 just meant I had to haul my butt up to the school 3 times a day (drop off/K pick up/regular grade pick-up) so it felt like I couldn’t get anything done.
Then there are all the field trips, the parent participation days, the sick days (the K’s bring home everything), and billions of playdates for all the new friends.
I am painting a grim picture, but y’know it went by very quickly and it was a whole lot of fun watching their social skills blossom, all the sweet crafts they’d bring home, meeting all the other K moms and being a part of their classroom in a way that just doesn’t continue to the older grades…. so it’s overall good.
BUT don’t expect any more free time. Just enough to go grocery shopping with one less tag-along.
*pol´s last post ..Du-oh!
Aw..yeah..I USED to walk the kids to K but now with them both in and Dh leaving for work HE takes them and I do the picks ups..twice. once at 11:30 for C and once at 3 for A.
But I like the little walks and stops at the park.
I like the time to chat about her ‘day’ with her….I know..our babies grow up too fast!
We don’t have choice of am or pm.
These days..T naps while both kids are at school then we head out to pick up C.
Then lunch then nap then out to pick up A.
Cept today when C gets out at 11:30 and Adam at noon…what the hell am I supposed to do!??
Anyway….
A new thing…a new milestone…sniffle
Crunchy´s last post ..To Sleep…EVER????
That picture of Hannah outside the school is so utterly precious.
I’m really excited about the school days ahead of me. Obviously, I have a few years to go, but I remember my excitement over kindergarten and being a “big kid.” Such a magical time.
And I most definitely wish with all my might that Jacob agrees to nap for you with Hannah at school
Jessica – This is Worthwhile´s last post ..The nuclear family is not my friend
I’m pretty sure I have NO IDEA where our house purchase agreement is. It is somewhere in this house…kind of like all sorts of other things. I will be sure to save the tax assessment in an easy to find spot for next year.
I think the afternoon spot will work out well…assuming Jacob actually naps for you. My son only just gave up napping this week so I definitely think it’s possible!
My son will be in full-day kindergarten for sure when he starts and I’m actually a little sad about that. I don’t think I would of chosen that for him. It’s not that I think it will be too much for him, but I’d rather that he was home for half-days to play with Em. She’ll be lonely I think.
Marilyn´s last post ..Wanna See a Trick?
Wow. Kindergarten. I can’t imagine how hard that is. I keep realizing that Jonas will start kindergarten when I’m starting law school, and that’s only 18 months away. How is that possible?! I have no idea. Nobody told me the time would go by this fast.
TheFeministBreeder´s last post ..You Guys are Making Me Cry
You needed way more paywork they we did. Wow.
We are still debating morning vs afternoon. The school makes the final decision so we will have to see.
I can’t offer you any advice because we’re not even out of diapers yet, but I know you can do it, that it will be fine, and hopefully Hannah will absolutely LOVE IT!! Just wait until she brings home something on which she has written “I love my mom.” Or imagine going to her first class recital. Or sitting down and having her read you a book. As a wise woman I know once said, it’s really the transitions that are the hard part, more than the separation.
Try not to worry. This is just the next big adventure.
Best!!! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}
Molly´s last post ..Arguably my favorite place in the whole wide world
My oldest is in afternoon kindergarden and while I haven’t gone on the nature walks with my youngest like I thought I would while she’s in class (I guess it’s because I’m doing daycare!) I’ve appreciated the half day. I’m not a fan of making kindergarden a full day event but it looks like it will be implemented by the time my youngest is ready.
Melodie´s last post ..When Not Breastfeeding Breaks Your Heart A Little
Our registration documentation was crazy too. My driver’s license, electric bill, property tax bill, his birth certification, proof of innoculations, about a billion forms for me to fill out, and more for the doctor and dentist to fill out. Whew!
Can’t believe it’s time for kindergarten.
Lady M´s last post ..Seven Red Things
We are used to a lot of useless paperwork here, and nothing can be done over the phone, or by mail. Still, it’s always real panic moments when I have to produce a piece of paper. When is she starting?
Francesca´s last post ..One full year
Thank goodness I didn’t need quite that much “proof” for kindergarten registration here! I did have to fill out a million forms though – they had a bus form and the family information form and the child’s personal traits form, blah, blah, blah! My second is in kindy this year and I personally am grateful for the full days and I feel guilty for admitting how much I can’t wait til he’s in grade one and goes full days EVERY DAY just like this big bro. Good thing he can’t wait either. A few years yet til the littlest goes though – that may make me sad, or I might just have a big party!
I found K such a huge transition for me- after bring so involved in parent particiaption preschool i was sad that htey pretty much closed the door and said come back in two hours! Alex loved it though.
we only have to take a utility bill ( unless this changed since will started?) mm interesting ( I wil make sure to keep the assesment then!)
I am really on the fence about hte full day thing- while it would make the transition to grade one easier i dont think any of my kids were ready for a full day program at 4 or 5….. seems like I ownt have a chouce when kate starts.
and ITA with afternoons first! gives you time to settle in and also then when the weather is nice in the spring you can go outside and enjoy!
good luck amber =)
I am looking forward to a year from now…Emma will start kindergarten in September and Hannah will start playschool…but they run on the same days (even though Emma will go all day). I will be the playschool teacher however, until December. Come 2011 I am free though. For three whole hours twice a week I will be all alone. And then I will go the bathroom all I want and I won’t even have to sneak the phone and my snacks in with me!