Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Aversion To Kindergarten

Sawyer enjoys having in-depth, heart-to-heart conversations with me.  Usually on the way to and/or from school.  While I'm trying to concentrate on driving.  Yeah.  So this morning's conversation was this:

S: "I don't want to go to kindergarten."
Me: "why?"
S: "Because"
Me: "Because isn't an answer."
S: "Because there wouldn't be Kate." (his friend in Pre-K)
Me: "You'll make lots of friends and we'll see Kate at playdates."
S: "I don't wanna gooooo...."
Me: "Is it because it would be a new school and new classes and new teachers and it might be a little scary?"
S: "Yes." 
Me: "Ok, but they have this thing. It's called the Kindergarten Roundup. You'll see the school, the playground, meet your teachers, everything.  It's so cool. They do that so you won't be scared when you go to school. You'll get to ride the bus to school and everything.  It will be so grown-up!" 
S: "I don't want to go to kindergarten."

We'll pause now and remember that this school year has just started... we have another 10 MONTHS until Kindergarten!  Yes, we are having this conversation.....

Me: "You still want to be a fireman?"
S: "Oh, yes."
Me: "Well, you have to go to Kindergarten, then 1st grade, 2nd, all the way through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college- then you can become a fireman. But you HAVE to do Kindergarten in order to become a fireman."

(Pause)
S: "But MOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!  There HAS to be a way that I can become a fireman and NOT go to KINDERGARTEN!" 
ME: (trying to quell the laughter....) "Buddy? Can we talk about this later?"  :)