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At the Cheese Eater's school, parents have plenty of opportunities to volunteer--PTA, fundraising, classroom parent, etc.  So at Back-to-School Night, when there was an opportunity to sign up to volunteer in the Cheese Eater's kindergarten classroom, I didn't hesitate.

I always knew that I would be a PTA parent.  You know, one of those moms who is willing and eager to help out.  As a past teacher, I can certainly appreciate all that parents do to help make schools successful.

So now I volunteer in the Cheese Eater's classroom every other week.  My first time, much like that of a new student, I really didn't know what to expect, but that morning as I got both myself and my son ready for school, I was actually pretty excited.  The teacher hadn't given many details.  Would I be working with the kids?  Would I be standing at the copy machine the whole time?  I wasn't sure, leaving me unsure as how to dress for the occasion.  You would think I would know, considering that I used to teach for a living, but this was my first time to be there as a parent.  I wanted to look nice, but not too nice just in case I came into contact with a lot of glue or magic markers.  But I didn't want to look like a slob either.  I was starting to get nervous and I hadn't even left the house yet. 

My son went to his classroom ahead of me.  I had to turn in my TB test, a requirement for all parents working in the school.  I signed myself in and took my large, apple volunteer sticker to wear proudly around the building.  I was happy to be back in an elementary school again and couldn't wait to see what my child's school day was all about.

The best part about volunteering is getting to be that fly on the wall that all parents wish they could be while their child is at school.  Ever since the Cheese Eater's first day, I hadn't been able to get much information about what he did while he was at school, so I was anxious to get in there and see for myself.

The moment I entered the classroom and the teacher introduced me, I knew that this new, extra time commitment was going to be well worth it.  The Cheese Eater's grin was so big--he was so genuinely excited that I was there--that I was reminded that there will come a day when he won't want his mother showing up every other week to his classroom. 

That day, I had the opportunity to sit at one of the three centers that the children were rotating through and got to help them cut and paste green construction paper for their "green" page of a book that they were each making about colors.  After that, I helped to stuff homework folders and visited with their student teacher for a bit. 

I was so proud of the Cheese Eater.  Every once in a while I would catch him glancing my way, but for the most part he stayed focused on the teacher and had a regular day even with my being there.  I tried hard not to watch him the whole time, but it was so nice to witness what his kindergarten days are like. 

He's a lucky boy to be at such a great school and I'm lucky to get to be a part of his school experience, even if it is just as a little parental fly on the wall.

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