I’ve written, though it’s been a while, about how sensitive Max is. He’s been better but still cries if you cut his toast, don’t catch his kiss when he blows it or give him a red shirt when clearly he wants a blue one.

Still, I felt better at soccer practice. Day 1 there was a 6-year-old sobbing like someone was beating him because he did not want to play soccer. I watched his mom coax, cajole and threaten him out of the corner of my eye and I wanted to hug her. Because I understood. Max has done the same thing. (That kid is now the best player on the team a few weeks later).

At their first game, the son of a couple I’ve befriended started crying on the field. He wanted his mommy. She might have been embarrassed, but I knew how she felt. They eventually pulled him and took him home.

He’s not the only one.

When you have one child, you don’t have much to compare to. You can look at other kids but it’s the behind-the-scenes stuff you can’t measure. Is it normal? Are you handling it right? Know what I mean?

By the way, Max is ROCKING at soccer! He’s not the fastest, but he’s dedicated. Sigh of relief.

I haven’t said much about Max being in Kindergarten. I guess he was on my mind more when he was here all summer.

Yes I know this isn't at school but I'm rad enough to have forgotten my camera Day 1.

He’s doing well. He loves school and is making friends (when there’s time; sounds like they don’t have much time to socialize). His bestest friend is Isaac, proven by the 5 stars Isaac gave him when he gave everyone else just 1. Clearly it’s meant to be.

He has Art, Music, Spanish and PE, so I ask every day what he’s learning. Usually I get, “I don’t remember.”

My tax dollars at work.

He’s still pretty tired after school, so while we’d started to forego the nap it is back in effect until Mr. WhinyPantsAttitudeMan can learn to cope with a 7 hour school day again.

Today Max started kindergarten. Now let me tell you, I feel like a duck out of water being surrounded by clucking mother hens who are freaking out with their kids going to school for the first time. Don’t get me wrong, kindergarten is a big stinkin’ deal. He’s in a really big school (more on that later) and he’s in “real school.”

But Max has been in day care or preschool (2 years) since 8 weeks old. Being apart from him is how I love him more. So I didn’t cry when we left him, although he did. I knew he’d make friends and learn things and that our time apart would only make us closer.

Sniff.

He did come home excited to share his day. Or more specifically, the Happy Meal toy he got from the treasure chest. My son, always the eager student.

And me. Such a diligent mother. I managed to not bring my camera to mark this historic event. Thank goodness for non-iPhone cell phone cameras that take crappy photos of your kid as he rushes in to his new school:

The school, by the way, is awesome. All the elementary schools in our district are magnets, and this is the International Baccalaureate school. They teach Spanish and have a really rigorous program. I’m really excited for him to be there (if we have to be here).