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School Notes

Ane lost another tooth yesterday… but she lost it at school.  This is generally known as a big deal.

She had showed me her tooth right before we walked out the door to the bus, and it was extremely loose.  I could tell it wasn’t hanging on by much, and I offered to pull it.  She refused, and I decided not to push the issue.

So, when she hopped off the bus after school, she came running up to me and cried, “Mom!  Mom!  I lost my tooth at recess!”

According to Ane, she was running around at recess when her tooth finally gave way.  She immediately got permission from the recess teacher to go to the nurse’s office.  When you lose a tooth at school, two very fun things happen.  First, the nurse hands out a little plastic “treasure chest” to kids to keep their tooth in (apparently she has several different colors – Ane chose pink), and second, you get to write your name on the “big tooth” – which is a large picture of a tooth that hangs on the nurse’s office door.  And only kids who lose a tooth at school get to write their name on the big tooth.

Personally, I think Ane just wanted to lose that tooth at school to have all that fun.  What fun is it if your Mom pulls the tooth, anyway?

*****

Yesterday was also the first swimming session for Tad’s class.  I signed up to help with the swimming because I thought it would be unique and fun.  And I was right.

I arrived early, and slipped into the classroom without Tad noticing me.  He was paying attention to his teacher, sitting in his chair at circle time, and blissfully ignorant of my presence.  There was another volunteer there, and Mrs. W. decided to introduce the swim helpers.  First the other volunteer – and all the kids were supposed to greet her by name or at least give her a high-five (if they are nonverbal), and then Mrs. W. beckoned to me.  As I stepped forward, Tad turned around in his chair and saw me.

And his jaw just dropped.  He was SO surprised.  And then his face broke into a huge smile.

I went to the front of the class, and Mrs. W. said, “Tad, would you like to introduce everyone to your mom?  Say, “Everyone, this is my mom!'”

Eagerly, Tad ran up, hugged me, turned around and said, “Everyone, this is my Mama!”

I got to observe as Tad did some of his “table work” – meaning that he was working on his numbers and doing other puzzles – before it was time to line up and go to swimming.  I helped the girls in the locker room, and then met up with a very happy and excited Tad at the pool.

And Tad was the first kid in and the last kid out.  He went first with the swimming instructor for his first backfloat and for kicking practice.  He was a little nervous, but was still grinning like crazy.  I think with time and practice, he will become quite the little fish.  Right now, he just calls walking around in the water “swimming.”  But he had a fantastic time, and I had fun watching him.

After the girls were all rinsed off and changed, I went back to the classroom so I could say good-bye to Tad.  I knew he would want a proper good-bye.  When he came in, he wanted me to stay for snack, but I told him that I had to leave.

“Mama, you go get Rerun?” he asked.

“Yes, Tad, Rerun is at Grandma and Gichan’s house.  I will see you after school, when you get off the bus,” I promised.

“Okay, Mama.  I love you,” he said, giving me a hug and kiss.  “Good-bye!”  We waved at each other.

And then he turned and went off to play before snack time.

I can’t wait until next week’s swimming lesson.

5 Responses to “School Notes”

  1. Ressis
    September 28th, 2010 05:29
    1

    Awe, Tad’s so sweet.

  2. Aunt Lynda
    September 28th, 2010 07:42
    2

    What a sweet story. With all his interest in sharks, I can see him wanting to be a great swimmer.
    It is fun to be a part of your kids’ school experiences, and parents who do not volunteer are missing out!

  3. Nana
    September 28th, 2010 08:03
    3

    Sooner than we think, he will be swimming in the Tilton River with us. Hooray!

  4. Erin
    September 29th, 2010 19:42
    4

    Thanks for sharing, I’d love to hear more as I’ve often wondered about the pool at Woodmoor 🙂

  5. Aunt Mary
    October 2nd, 2010 00:54
    5

    How wonderful to have a swimming class each week! Sounds like he is enjoying his new school.