and so it begins

I think school is going well. The building is still standing and the principal hasn't called me. Yet.

It's only been half days this week. Next week will be the true test. The older kids are getting used to new teachers and getting back in the groove of doing homework. I had forgotten how deafening their whining is while doing math workbooks. And writing sentences. Those poor babies.

So far, I'm getting good comments from Shout's teacher. "She's a leader." "She's first to finish things." "She's helping other kids." All things I had hoped would happen by having her do another year of kindergarten.

When I pick her up though, it's another story. The first afternoon, as other parents were videotaping their preshus kindergarteners coming out of the building, Shout yells to me that school is "BORING AND STUPID!!" And yes, I'm pretty sure it was captured on videotape. (Do we still call it videotape?)

But she got up the next day and got dressed to go back.

I think that BORING and STUPID are code words for "Ack. This is new. I'm anxious."

Today I asked her if the other kids at her table are nice. She said "Well! First of all, Madison is a MORON!"

Oy.

Why is it that when kids have trouble processing things, they default to anger and assholery? I've seen it before and even though it's not directed at me, it's still a little hard to take.

But as the professionals told me before, and I'm telling myself now, she's clearly holding it together at school and letting out the anger at home. So that? Is actually excellent. It would be nice if there was no anger at all, but since there is? I'd rather it happen at home than in the classroom.

Let's call this a win, shall we?

In other news, this weekend, Shout will be the flower girl at her cousin's wedding. Fingers crossed that a little of that good behavior will carry over. Because I'm planning on being in the Cone of Fabulousity.