Milestone {Ryan's First Day of School +}

Ryan had his first day of school just shy of two weeks ago.  He was so excited about school that he had trouble going to sleep the night before.  It made him one tired boy in the afternoons the next few days. 

It was barely light out when we headed out to the bus stop.

He looks so sharp with his new haircut!

He made me so proud that first morning at the bus stop.  There were three other boys there and they were talking about video games.  One of the other boys was telling Ryan how his brother wouldn't take turns with him on the game.  (You know how kids are really dramatic when they are telling stories.)  Ryan responded, "Well, that's not fair!  God wants us to share!"  How it warmed my heart to know he was headed to that first day of school with the name of the Lord in his heart and mind.

 

We had one little hitch in the end of Ryan's first day.  For the bus ride they have a tag system in place for the Pre-K and Kindergartner's that allow the bus drivers to keep track of the kids.  When Ryan gets on the bus he's handed a lanyard with a card in the bottom with names of people who are authorized to pick him up.  We are required to show our I.D. before the bus driver will release him.  Three o'clock rolled around and Tim went to meet Ryan getting off the bus.  I was standing across the street in our driveway, camera in hand, watching as all the other kids get off the bus.  Then I watch Tim go up to the bus and ask for Ryan.  The bus driver gets up and starts looking for him.  My heart probably started racing about this point. I could hear the bus driver call his name a few times and he even got up and walked down the isle looking at the other kids.  Still no Ryan.  I was really starting to get nervous, upset, mad; but I stayed put and let Tim handle it.  I was trying my best not to jump to conclusions or to over react.  The bus driver came back up to the front and it looked like he radioed someone.  Just about the same time Ryan came walking up the side walk from the direction the bus just came from.  Apparently, Ryan took the tag off from around his neck and was holding in his hand.  The bus driver didn't notice it and Ryan just walked right off the bus, one stop early.  Thankfully, Ryan knew where he was and it wasn't that far.  It sure gave me a scare though.  I'm glad he showed up when he did.  I'm not sure what I would have done if two more minutes had gone by.  I was just about on the verge of tears and I had to let Tim talk to him for a few minutes while I composed myself.

We were a little frustrated with Ryan because he took his tag off, but my heart tells me the purpose/importance of the tag wasn't explained to him in a way that he understood.  That is one of the things I wish I would have had more information on prior to school starting so I could have gone over it with him.  My impression was that it was a tag he brought home with him and we would put it on him in the morning before he got on the bus.  

Since that first day though we haven't had any other bus issues.  Praise God!

Later in the week, I was also blessed by Ryan and his vision for some of the friends he's already made.  On Thursday we were headed out to run some errands after Ryan got home and he asked us about one of the neighbor boys and where he went to church.  We told him we didn't think he went to church anywhere.  Ryan sounded very surprised and asked, "Well, how is he going to learn about God?!"  I am very thankful for the mission field that public school is and the many ways that it has already opened Ryan's eyes to see the need to tell others about God.  We encouraged him to invite the boy to church with us.  While nothing has happened yet, I am excited about encouraging Ryan to invite his friends to church with us and any/all other ministry opportunities that might present themselves through this new chapter. 

As the first week progressed, the teacher started sending home a little more information to help fill in a FEW of the gaps.  Even with as much as Ryan likes to talk, there's still a lot that is lost.  Everyday Ryan has a notebook that he brings home with him.  As of now there is a snack calendar, a homework calendar, a daily behavior calendar, and a few other random pages.  There is also a pocket in the front of the folder to where we can leave notes in order to correspond with the teacher.  For the daily behavior calendar the teacher will mark in it everyday.  If there is a check mark, then it means it was a good day.  If there is a number, then it means there was an issue.  Each number corresponds with a certain issue.  IE #1: Not being a good listener. # 8: Misbehaving in the hall.  Then every evening we are to initial next to it.  This helps us to be aware of anything that might have occurred that day and it helps the teacher to know that we are seeing it.

The teacher didn't mark anything that first week of school since it's mainly an adjustment time.  He came home twice this week though with the #4.  He seems to be having trouble keeping his hands to himself when they are in line going somewhere.  (hehe.)  I have to kind of giggle.  That definitely sounds like Ryan.  Although we were a little disappointed to be seeing numbers so soon, I'm pleased that it's for what it is and not for being disrespectful to adults or one of the misbehaving ones.  I expect to see other numbers on the calendar from time to time.  Not that I expect him to misbehave by any means, but it's a new environment for him.  He gets excited.  He likes to touch.  He likes to talk.  He has trouble staying focused sometimes.  Tim and I know that we are going to have to sit down and talk about the consequences he will receive at home for any ongoing issue that he is having at school.

Overall, he's had a good first two weeks.  I'm hoping to go eat lunch with him sometime next week and maybe go spend a few hours in class with him the week after that.  I don't know how they feel about me bringing Colin and Blaine along, so that might hinder how often and how long I can go for.  But I'm very excited to go see what he does!  It has also been wonderful to have Tim around these last few weeks.  With the job he's doing now he is here in the morning when Ryan gets on the bus, and is home just before he gets off.  It's wonderful to be able to share all the excitement with him.  I love watching Tim interact with Ryan and ask him questions about his day.  Tim will go through his backpack; look at his folder; discuss the day with him.  Tim will check Ryan's lunch to make sure he ate everything he was given and that he drank enough water during lunch.  It's so special to have Tim home those first moments when Ryan gets home from school and to be involved with what is going on.  It warms my heart.