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Just Around the Corner

This guy had his big debut as a 2nd year kindergartener today.


He was up early and brimming with confidence as he and mama headed to the bus stop. All the mamas rode the bus today along with the kids since it was the opening ceremony for continuing students. Plus there was the obligatory parent meeting where the teachers explained all the details of what's expected going forward. It's pretty intense. The school isn't messing around. 


Eri got dressed up and was looking particularly enchanting. Osamu prefers the playground to picture time.


I took a late lunch break and went to meet Kenzo on his way home from elementary school. Today was the last day that the teachers were walking home with the new first graders and making sure they know the way and to look both ways before crossing streets.

I could hear Kenzo's laugh from a block away. He's having the time of his life. When he saw me he shouted, "Papa!" The old guy who was leading the kids confirmed who I was and gave a bunch of formal Japanese greetings and Kenzo and I walked the rest of the way home together.

Some of the kids are already fine with walking home by themselves. Kenzo is fine, too, as he has told me numerous times. Eri is worried about him crossing the main street behind out house. I'm worried, too, but I'm more worried about his self-esteem. He can do it. He wants to do it. He has to do it.

Kenzo held my hand as we walked. I made a mental note to cherish this moment. I know there will be a time when he will outgrow holding my hand, and it's just around the corner.

He told me about his new friend Hidekazu, who lives nearby. Hidekazu already walks home by himself apparently. His mom and dad trained him. Kenzo said that when we get home he wants to write a letter to Hidekazu and invite him to our house to play, which I am all for. I want the boys to invite all their friends over. I want them to value friendship and togetherness and the joy of having friends over. When they are adults I want them to have tons of amazing memories of the good times they had having their friends come play at our house.

I gotta work on Eri. She's way more practical than me, which is a good thing. She's concerned about Kenzo's friends disturbing me because I work from home and also letting it be known to the kids and their parents that our house is an after school day care. I get it. It's easy for me to be cavalier about these things but it's Eri who has to actually deal with it. And she's not naturally into little boys doing little boy stuff around our house.


Recently Kenzo and Osamu love collecting wine corks from when mama and papa drink wine. They play games with them, one of which is hiding a cork under a paper cup and shooting it with a suction dart from across the living room. I've participated on occasion. It's crazy good fun. 

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