Noah’s first soccer game

 9/11/2021

First soccer game on the fields behind the Ahern middle school in foxboro! Thursday would have been the first practice but it was cancelled due to rain so there we were at your first game, with no practice. We have never met the coach or the other kids but you were so ready! You were so excited, you didn’t complain about anything in the morning. You woke up, changed into your gear, ate your breakfast, took your medicine, brushed your teeth and you were ready. 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous! Couldn’t have been any better. Sunny Saturday morning about 65 degrees and warming up.

We got to the field and found the coach, introduced you , got your uniform and off we were to the sidelines. 

And that’s when it happened. I mean wow! You started to play like you have played your whole life. You dribbled the ball, passed to teammates, listened to instructions, ran up and down and scored the first goal and then seven more! Amazing. 

We tried to catch it on video but I think we were so amazed that we only caught a little bit on camera. It was priceless. You loved every second! I was so proud. Daddy was so proud. 

And most of all you kept your head down, you were humble and kind. I was so impressed! That’s my boy. 

You were so cute. We told you not tog ER cocky if you do things well or better than others and you took it to heart so much , you didn’t show an ounce of arrogance. I almost felt bad that you seemed almost nervous to celebrate even though you were so awesome! When we got in the car, all you said to me was “mommy, I thought I did really well, but I kept it inside, I didn’t say anything to anyone, only in my own brain I said I was good”. You are the best. You take everything to heart and follow through. Not an easy task especially at this age. Kudos to you Kicsi Lego! I love you so so much! And just know- I’d love you just as much even if you didn’t do well! To me you are awesome in every way- nothing could ever change that. 

-Mommy

Kindergarten for first born - Mommy's perspective

Kindergarten has started for Noah on 9/1/2021. He went last Wednesday and Thursday and then he was off on Friday and Monday (Labor Day). He is back in today. 

So far, Noah LOVES Kindergarten! He tells us about his teachers, his food and his friends. He even did yoga on the first day! He was so excited to go the second day, he was up at 6 am. He loves having a back pack and baby Yoda lunch box. We also shopped new outfits and shoes which he is super excited about. He loves sport brand like Nike and Under Armor, and I got some deals in TJ Maxx, so we bought quiet a few outfits. 

I am thrilled that he loves Kindergarten, but this journal entry isn't about him. It's about Mommy - because sometimes we all just need to vent. 

I must say it's been WAY HARDER than I anticipated that it would be. The day before his first day we had to go for a 90 min orientation where the kids saw their classroom, saw where they will sit, met their new friends and teacher. They even went on a bus ride (which Noah LOVED); the parents sat in the cafeteria where we got some information from the principal, the school nurse, the food service leader, etc. and then went into a classroom to meet the teacher. This was all good and exciting until in the room with the teacher, she was having trouble talking and breathing so per another dad's suggestion, she took her masks off. I was LIVID. Just the Friday before I had to ask her to sit him separately from our neighbor's kid, whose parents are not vaccinated and Noah is high risk; and then she goes ahead and removes her mask right in front of me, indoors. 

Next day (first day of school), I went to pick up Noah and the first thing he said is that it was awesome and he even made a best friend, his name is Kyle - OF COURSE he is the neighbor's kid!!! my anxiety went through the roof. I am so so worried about Noah because of all of his illnesses and respiratory issues since he was little - I cannot have him with unvaccinated people. Of course, all of his classmates are unvaccinated since they are not eligible yet, but I wish their parents were. I know vaccinated people can still carry and transmit the virus, but unvaccinated people carry higher dose and therefore can transmit higher dose. I need Noah SAFE! As much as possible. I HATE that he has to start Kindergarten under these circumstances.

I am trying not to show him my anxiety at all - and I am so happy that he loves going - but I haven't slept for a week. I keep waking up at 3 am and I can't go back to sleep. The night time is the worst, I have so much worry - I don't know what to do with it. If I imagine anything happening to my kids - during nighttime - my brain goes wild. It's awful. I am working on trying to remain positive, especially since we don't really have a choice. He has to go to school. There isn't an option for remote or hybrid learning, so I don't really have a safer choice. I must make peace with it. 

On the other hand, I must mention how insanely chaotic the start of the school has been. It is a myriad of information to process, to read, to sign, to fill out, to bring home and to return, to pay. Need to sign up for various lists, and apps to handle his food order, his medications, his soccer practice, swim lessons, piano lessons, all of his gears and supplies etc. It is a full-time job and last week with all the emotions running high, I was super stressed out. Hopefully this will settle down soon and things will get a little easier because this is way to much to handle and I usually pride myself on performing well under pressure. 

At least we had a 4-day weekend which has been nice. I can't wait for the next weekend already haha:)

I think I will feel better when Ollie goes to the same school so they are closer. It's also hard to go Mansfield Children's Center without comparing it to school. MCC has been a God sent and right now it feels like nothing will ever compare to it. In any case, Noah is happy and handling it like a true big boy which makes me very proud! We can do this together. We are a great team:) I just need some time to adjust. 

- Mommy