Fighting the Chicken Gene

Eddie had his first day of Kindergarten today. He attends in the morning and we're down to one car, so we were all violently dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to ensure enough time to bring Daddy to work before making our way to school. He confidently marched in at 7:55, having gone to a pre-K program last year in the same building, but after about a half an hour of the teacher trying to make them dance and sing and do other ridiculous things Ed refuses to do in front of anyone other than his sister, he became wary of this 'teacher' dictator and her little fascist regime. He squeezed my hand and dove under a nearby table, the 'safe zone,' and sat hiding behind a blanket, trying not to cry. He was one of the brave ones, though, because at least four of the other kids were breaking under the pressure, blurting out national secrets and begging for mercy when they were asked to sit Indian style on the alphabet carpet. One boy wouldn't keep his shoes on and repeatedly asked for juice out of his backpack (which he couldn't have; that's why there's a drinking fountain, punk!). Each time the teacher told him no he would nod, looking satisfied that he'd been given a thoughtful answer to his question, but not 30 seconds would pass and he'd interrupt whatever she was speaking about to ask again. With his socked feed. So Eddie was all right, comparatively. I took off about nine, secure with the knowledge that he was safe under the table, and he let me go without a fight. When I picked him up he was smiling and happy, like I think he knew he would be. He already has a couple of comrades and is looking forward to tomorrow. Truth be told, I'm more worried about Rosie than Ed, as he usually keeps her occupied all morning. Today went smoothly enough because she had a play date with her buddies Tucker and Mason, but tomorrow. Tomorrow we have to face a morning with just the two of us. Maybe we'll kick off our girlie time alone with breakfast mimosas and manicures. That ought to take her mind off of brother.