Kindergarten Boot Camp

So...I am clearly not ready for Kindergarten. I've shared the following story a couple times now, and in the course of the retelling I've decided we have not simply started Kindergarten, we have been blindsided and, against our will, enrolled in what I refer to as 'Kindergarten Boot Camp.'

The story: We left Charlie for the first day with a few tears, but otherwise not too many scars. We didn't even linger at the top of the hill with the entourage of nervous parents clamouring for just one more peak. We felt good that all was well.

Yay!

I then picked up Macalan from preschool just a few blocks over. When we get to the top of the hill we can hear kiddos playing and Macalan asks about Charlie. I give him the quick lecture of, "Don't call down to Charlie because if he sees us he may want to come home and it's not time for him to come home yet. And we can just peek, then we have to leave."

We're not overlooking the schoolyard (from a public sidewalk mind you) more than 30 seconds, 45 tops! And one of the teachers literally shouts up to us waving her clipboard calling attention to our out of the way peeking spot and yells, yes, yells that we must leave IMMEDIATELY.

Let's just say Macalan was clearly shaken and I wasn't all too thrilled either. Okay, okay...I was nothing short of fired up! I spent the rest of the day vacillating between fury at being spoken to in such a way and guilt for breaking some rule I was truly not aware of, and disbelief that something so ridiculous had actually happened - did I mention we were on a PUBLIC sidewalk?

On some level, I get it. I understand where she was coming from. I have no doubt lots of kiddos would see a lingering parent and burst all over again into miserable tears...all to be dealt with by not the offending parent, but the teacher. But 30 seconds on our walk home? Really? Yes...I'm still a little fired up.

I am so not ready for Kindergarten. Give me back my half days, welcome hugs (for parents too!), attendance optional, one way mirror for sneak peaks and reassurances that all is well.

Preschool is so much more my speed.