School

M started "real school" in September.  He's in what the Dutch call "Group One," which I think is what we would call Kindergarten but they start at age 4.  With a fall birthday he missed the cut off date by 4 days, so he's the oldest kid in the class.  This used to bother me, but now I'm fine with it.  I recently realized that my best friend from high school missed the cut off by 5 days and that may have been one factor in her academic success.

M not so thrilled
on the first day of school.

M and his cousin both complained about school in the days leading up to it.  I think they must have seen an episode of Berenstain Bears in which Brother and Sister Bear complained about school.  They have both been in daycare since they were babies and seemed to really like it.  On the first day of school M publicly announced to his class that he didn't like school.  But, by the time I picked him up, and every day since, he has loved it.  His school is much more academically demanding than nursery last year--he has math, phonics, PE, and Dutch.

Spontaneous writing attempts at the playground.

A portrait of two ladies on a bench.

A portrait of me with our friend's baby.

Within 3 days of the start of school I discovered him writing his name and drawing "portraits" in the sand at the playground, and within a couple of weeks of the first day M didn't even want us to enter the building with him; instead he happily walked in to line up with his class by himself.  He loves school and is excited about learning.