Every Kindergarten Instructor knows the broad spectrum of possibilities for how a toddler may respond to their first day of school. Though there are some who come with a puppy-like curiosity that seamlessly blends into a wag-tailing joyous acceptance of their new environment, others, upon catching even the slightest whiff that they will be leaving their mother's company, burst into a mythological metamorphosis all within kicking distance better beware of. Allow me to outline a few of the signs to look for should you encounter such a terrifying spectacle. Please remember however that though menacing in appearance, these children, like all children are absolutely docile and entirely lovable beneath the spectacle of its beastly transformation:
- What once used to be soft buttocks swiftly jet out into a fish-like tail whipping at all within reach
- Their milky soft skin hardens and becomes scaly like a coy
- Like snakes to be feared they wrap themselves around the bottom limbs of their parents resisting any possibility of being left behind
- Their bellies harden like a clam under predatory threat
- Their heads begin to bob like camels confirming to all within view that they are most definitely NOT interested in a starting their 20-some year long life of schooling
- Their tender toddler fingers morph into prehistorical claws threatening all within reach to back up less then lose a bit of their own flesh in the social adjustments transcending
- There are no high fives on a first day with children like this. The palms of their hands turn into the paws of tigers. They can withstand all dragging across the floor if teachers were to need to drag them to their first class.
- Their ears stretch out like those of cows becoming capable to hear their mommies voice even 45 minutes later having safely arrived home.
- Though 8 or some years away from puberty, they grow out the beard of a goat and their bleating sounds very much like a curse from hell from which
- their horns grow out like a stag
- and their eyes darken into those of a demon.
In my 10 years as an early childhood educator I have seen many of these traits present themselves but never, ever, had I witnessed them all at once...and so suddenly. Meet Dragon!! A fantastical representation of the Chinese heroic creature from which we aptly appropriated his new English name. Though we have been through these "tricky" first timers before, when one is in the thick of the madness it is often hard to believe in the peace after the storm.
There was certainly some crying in the morning when Dragon came to school. But he was always quick to get on with the activities of the day and wipe his own tears away. His fierceness however would strangely erupt at pick up time. Just when all the other children were so happy to see their mommies, Dragon who had been a tame beast all day would transform, once again, into his fiercest manifestation. For me the whole thing was pretty funny. But I remember Dragon's mom being tremendously confused and overwhelmed. Soon enough, she was not in charge of pick up anymore. Apparently, only Dragon's daddy could calm him.
Dragons are supposed to have a good appetite. And our little dragon most definitely did but he sure didn't like the idea of having to eat by himself. But, slowly but surely, within the first month at our school, our little dragon gave in and rather than starving he learned to eat on his own.
Potty training was the big one for our dreadful monster! I remember him getting so mad at me upon peeing his pants! You see he used to stare at me with a fierce glare and I can only imagine that what he really wanted was for me to help him walk to the bathroom and pull down his pants and hold his penis so he wouldn't drip on his underwear. NO WAY! Not me! Not at MT:) Our primary goal for the first 3 weeks of school is for all children to be potty trained, eating independently and enjoying a healthy balance of playing by themselves and with others through out the day. With little dragon every aspect of his integration into the program happened with quite a bit of ease but when it came to pee-pee time we all had to cover our ears in the presence of his roar!
Sleep time was never difficult for our little dragon. I can only imagine that when it was time for the children's nap, he fell to sleep with considerable ease due to the exhaustion of his potty training:)
Now, 4 months after he has joined our school, Dragon is an example for all other young toddlers to follow. Those who see him applaud his interaction with admiration. But only those of us who were near him through his process of assimilation know the terrible beast he once used to transform into!
