I’ve been saving up my insightful articles for the Kidzwire site, only to realize that I have some insights of my own to share after surviving my first month as a mother of elementary school children.

I was very tired when our children were babies.  They are twins, after all, and crying in stereo is enough to wear down the brightest of spirits.  But Kindergarten is a whole new planet.  Here are some of our experiences thus far:

1) Your child will be issued a folder.  It will be his/hers for the academic year.  This folder may come home once a week or every day - just depends on the teacher.
2) About a month in, your child may be issued homework.  In Kindergarten, it is definitely parent participation.
3) If you live in an area with a strong AYSO (soccer) presence, you will soon learn that the joke All Your Saturdays Occupied is not really a joke.  They are not kidding.  You will be there every Saturday even in the rain unless the field is flooded so badly that the ball floats.
4) If your child does not regularly participate in the after school program and has a brief taste of it due to work schedules, he or she may beg you to continue staying after school.
5) You will receive form letters from the school that may not effectively communicate the intended message.  Enough said.
6) Every night is a new adventure.  Plan on it.
7) If you have become familiar with the Gesell test, you will wonder if they should have a similar test for parents to determine Kindergarten readiness.

Thus far, the kids are having a blast, and doing very well, for which we are thankful, but the parents are exhausted.