Kindergarten Jitters

Ian is already having lots of kindergarten jitters. He started crying tonight at bedtime about how much he loves his Pre-K class, the Friendly Frogs and how he just wants to stay with the Friendly Frogs. His teachers are really great this year and he has a lot of friends since his class has been together for 3 years now - more for some kids. I know that the stamina for everyday, 8:30-2:30 kindergarten will be a challenge for him but so will the classic sitting at his desk and waiting to be called on to speak. After assuring him that he will have four friends already in his kindergarten class and that we can still see some of his other classmates at other activities, we got to the real issue that is bothering him so deeply. In the Friendly Frogs class they have a red-yellow-green system for correcting behavior. If you are put on red for bad behavior, you can usually get back on green before the end of the day and earn an item from the treasure box. Apparently today Ian heard that in kindergarten if you get on red, you don't get a chance to get back on green. This really concerned him because the idea that he can't get back to green is hard for a kid who's journey to red isn't usually because of maliciousness or defiance, but exuberance and excitability. We talked about it and came to the conclusion that making good choices in the beginning is important with the goal to stay on green, but when he makes a bad decision he can always get back to green by asking for forgiveness from the teacher and learning from the mistake.

What an opportunity to talk to Ian about forgiveness. During our prayers tonight we thanked God for His grace and the provisions He has made for us through His son to "get back on green." The lessons have already started and I am excited!