First Day of School - Benjamin

Finally, FINALLY, Benjamin's first day of school arrived 11 days after Josie had started.  I would never have thought that in hindsight I would appreciate his delay.  But, as is most things in life that we lament at the time, I have to say that it all worked out for the best.
Benjamin is an interesting kid and so completely different than Josie in so many ways.  One major way is in his acceptance of new things.  He has always been fearful of and unwilling to try new things if that meant separating from us.  He has definitely gotten better through the years but during his first year of co-op preschool (where I "worked" in his classroom one day a week and one day he was supposed to go solo) I had to sit in the hallway so that he could see me during my non working day just so he didn't freak out. 

Marty and I talked a lot about this and knew that we really could have just "ripped the band aid off" so to speak and let him cry it out with the hope that this would get him over this fear quicker but Benjamin really did seem traumatized by it.  I wasn't working and had the time to sit there with him at co-op preschool and so many other activities so we chose to SLLLOOOWWWLLLY let him discover that he really is capable of doing new things by himself.  He has most definitely gotten better and better every year but the beginnings of things are still quite hard for him.  He doesn't like to change his routine or venture out of his comfort zone.  Even just a few weeks before we left for Germany he had a week -long summer camp (that he chose himself) and the first morning of camp was a battle to get him in the car.
So, all of this is to say that I was imagining quite a battle on the first day of school in a new country and new school where he knew NO ONE.  And to my complete and utter surprise (and JOY) he got himself up the morning of the first day.  And was already have dressed when he walked downstairs for breakfast.  One his own.  No pushing or cajoling or bribing.  He was doing this by himself.  And it was amazing.

Not once did he show any sign of bolting (which was his M.O. in the past - I can't even count how many times I had to chase him around the house or yard trying to get him in the damn car!!) but this time he hopped on his bike, clipped his helmet and we were off.  I'm still in shock.

Because he started school late they arranged for all of the new students (apparently this was the same day that most of the other kids on the waiting list were also starting) to meet with their teacher for 10 minutes before the school day started.
Benjamin's teacher could not have been nicer or more caring.  She, like Josie's teacher, is a German and a veteran.  She has been teaching at JFK for 30 years!!! She started her career there and never wanted to leave.  She took a few minutes with us to answer any questions, tell Benjamin where to put his things and where to sit.  And, there is another Benjamin in Benjamin's class.  What are the odds that both kids have another kid in their class with their name!!  So, he is Benjamim R.

Just before the bell rings, Josie says goodbye and runs up to her class.  Then the bell rings, signaling it is time for us to leave and Marty and I are feeling more nervous than Benjamin is... or so it seemed to us.  You could tell he was proud that he finally got in.  That he finally had something that was his and that he was going to own this!  The delayed start had to have played a part in this.  So, in the end I'm thankful for it.  And for the extra special time that he and I had for those two weeks that Josie was in school.  Oh, and Benjamin had a new shirt and he wasn't so sure about wearing it until he remembered that Marty had one that was nearly identical.  Benjamin said he'd wear his if Marty wore his.  Twins!!

Before we left him at school he said he wanted Marty to pick him up and have lunch with him.  Because he is dismissed at 1PM (Josie is at 3PM) he eats a "snack" at school and is expected to come home for lunch.  Or he can stay and buy school lunch if one of his parents is there with him.  Well, Marty didn't need any other motivation than food to say "sure" 

Marty said Benjamin was beaming and very proud of himself at pickup.  The boys ordered a pizza and Benjamin even got a Fanta to celebrate a successful first day. Yay!!  So, SO SO proud of him and so happy that both kids are both up and running at school.