Today is the twin’s last day of school. Which is bittersweet. Sweet because it has been such a wonderful year. Bitter because of my raging to-do list. Right now, it seems, I need to stop by or pick something up from half the places in our town. Not to mention our house is really in need of some love. By love, I mean someone to pick up all the shoes and towels we’ve been throwing on the floor in these hectic last weeks of school.
Help.
This last day of school is less bittersweet than other last days of schools since the twins will be in Kindergarten again. We met with their teacher on Friday, and she reported their progress. Both are reading above grade level, both are doing first-grade math, and both are sweet, well-liked, and rarely get in trouble.
So, why repeat?
Both are also, just, young. I think I’ve mentioned Sam has the attention span of a flea at a dog show. Really, it’s crazy. And this is coming from an adult who has to take several breaks from putting away laundry. The monotony kills me. I can’t stay focused.
Elisabeth has better focus, but she has some growing up to do socially. This story tells it all… Yesterday I chaperoned the twins’ field trip to the Museum of Natural Science. Elisabeth’s best friend, Elizabeth (pictured), was one of my charges. She held my hand and told me this 500 times: “At the beginning of the year, the teacher kept telling me, ‘Elisabeth is shy! You need to play with her today!’ So, I played with Elisabeth because the teacher kept telling me I had to. But guess what? She is really nice and really fun! And now she’s my best friend!”
Unfortunately, this sweet friend is moving on to First Grade next year. She also mentioned 500 times. “I’m SO SAD to leave Elisabeth!”
Hopefully a year to grow will give Elisabeth confidence to come out of her shell and Sam the mental ability to focus.
And next year at this time, on the last day of school, we will be able to say Sam and Elisabeth are ready for First Grade is every single way. Elisabeth can make new friends with ease. And Sam can do his homework in twenty minutes rather than two hours.
Which would be more than I can say for his mother and cleaning up the house.
