Only in France do you meet with your children's teacher and then exit into the hallway where wine and cheese are served. It's a different world here.

I was so eager to meet with the kids teacher. I was pleasantly surprised that they are doing very well adjusting to their new enviornment and classmates. Their teacher said that they are extremely confident and are always eager to share their opinion. (This stamped a happy face on my heart because I lacked confidence as a child in school).

Max and Sophie were in kindergarten in Texas and are currently in first grade in France. (They only had openings in first grade). I was not surprised to hear that they are struggling to keep up in class. Their teacher said that it doesn't stop them from participating. They want to learn and do not give up. She has a small group of children that she is able to teach and give kindergarten material. She only has 12 students. What a blessing.

I walked away from the meeting very pleased that Max and Sophie are so happy at school. Who knew? I think they must be exhausted by the time they get home and I get their "gunk" for the time being.  Patience Gina. 

I was secretly excited that the kids were required to wear uniforms to school. When I was researching the school in November, I took note of the sweet, deep green uniforms the students were wearing with rounded collars sticking out of their sweater vests.

We had an appointment last week at 5:30 pm to meet with the uniform representative to have the children fitted. I thought to myself "a fitting, these are going to be pretty snazzy."  Dan, in his brilliant wisdom, decided that it would be best to take a taxi since our appointment was on the outskirts of the city and Max and Sophie would be tired from their first days of school. We have a taxi stop a block from our apartment, taxi's line up waiting for you. (Very convenient, especially for trips to the airport).

We grabbed the first taxi in line and what a treasure he was. Henri spoke little english but wanted to speak with us in the worst way. He was a virtual "Frommer's Guide" for our family. I was writing down the different museums he recommended we take the children to at a feverish pace. He loved the children and was trying to teach them French until they eventually fell asleep in our laps. (Good call Dan).

He found our location, in a gorgeous area with large grand apartments. Dan arranged for Henri to wait for us since we were in a quiet residential area. (I assumed we were going to a boutique.)  We woke the kids and dragged them into a beautiful apartment building and rang the bell. A tiny French woman answered the door and led us into her house. (How fun for me!). She welcomed us and her next words were "children, take off your clothes." I wish I had my camera to capture the kids expressions, their jaws dropped ..........." Do I know you and ahhhhh " is what their faces were screaming. 

Can I tell you that I was so disappointed when I looked at the navy pants, sweaters, coats and white shirts. So boring.   What happened to the green? (They changed the uniform in September).

As I was dressing and redressing the children, I was sneaking glances at the  apartment. It was open and fairly modern and her windows were wide and had the original glass.   A housecleaner was cleaning her kitchen in the dark (why didn's she turn the lights on?).  I LOVE looking into peoples homes and seeing how they live.  We finalized childrens sizes at size 8yr. Which is interesting because they still wear a size 5 in the U.S..

After we were finished, our chatterbox Henri drove us back to our apartment. The sky was dark by this time and "The City of Lights" had come alive. We were stuck in traffic right in front of the Eiffel Tower when its hundreds of lights began twinkling all at once for us.  Henri continued to teach the children French and shared "his Paris" with us. When he dropped us off at our apartment, he got out of the taxi and kissed the children on both cheeks. He lives right around the corner from us and told us to look for he and his wife on Sundays at the open market.

You better believe that we will!

Sophie loves her school uniform because it is so comfortable and she can wear pants! I did purchase one skirt for the spring, sorry Sophie.

Oh Max, I could eat you with a spoon!

Max loved his wool coat and he looks quite handsome in it.  Sophie said "I look like a boy".......I don't think that is possible curly girl.

Dan and I arrived at school thirty minutes early.  We waited in a small, dark, entry on the first level in front of the stairs that lead up to the classrooms.    After about 15 minutes, we heard a bunch of big kids talking, laughing, and yelling from the second level.  The next thing we knew, a beautiful, young girl (13ish)  came running down the stairs yelling at her boyfriend who was chasing after her saying "I don't give a flying f***".   "Lovely", I thought.  

Four o'clock finally came and our children were nowhere to be found.  We were told that we should wait outside.  We walked outside and found little clusters of Mom's from every country here and there.  I finally spotted the kids walking in from the street.  They must have just gotten back from swimming.  (They were bused to the local indoor swimming pool.)  I spotted Sophie at the end of the line, she had wet hair, and no coat.  (Mind you, it is in the high 30's in Paris right now).  She looked so little and cold.  They were wisked into the school and within five minutes, came walking out again.  They looked so happy to see us. 

I gave them a big hug and zipped their coats up tight and stuck their hats on even tighter.  Dan took Sophies hand and I grabbed Maxwells.  I asked him how his first day was and he said "great!".  He told me that he made a couple of friends but couldn't remember their names.  He said in Art Class, the teacher spoke french and he couldn't understand her.  He just asked his friend what to do and he was fine.  He also said that someone called him and "idiot".  He said "I just laughed at him".  Ha. 

All in all, Max loved his first day of school.  When I asked if it was a thumb up, thumb down, or thumb sideways kind of day, he gave me a "thumbs up!"  He loved swimming and told me that they had to take swimming lessons.  I thought that was pretty cool, even though they are great swimmers.  I liked the fact that the school offered the classes.   Max happily held my hand the whole way home, still full of energy with a big smile plastered to his face. 

When we got home, I had a pain chocolat for them and all of us crammed into our tiny kitchen and had our treat and talked about their day.  Sophie was clearly exhausted.  She said it was a thumb sideways kind of day.  She met some friends but then they said "don't be friends with that girl".  Sophie hates stuff like that.  Her motto is "can't we all just get along".  She said Art Class was frustrating because she couldn't understand french.  She wants to learn french NOW.  So impatient, just like her mother. 

After our snack, the kids went into their room to play.  I finished up the laundry (which is a story in and of itself), then I started dinner.  Sophie helped me with dinner and set the table and was back to her energetic self.  After dinner, we began helping the kids with their homework.  Normally, their homework is to read one book that they bring home from school.  Ha, those days are long gone.  The kids had two books each to read, approximately 8 spelling words to write three times and work on all week for a spelling test on Friday, some math homework and a poem they need to memorize by the end of the week.  Thank goodness Dan was home because he took Sophie and I grabbed Max.  After 40 minutes or so, we were finished.  This should be interesting when Dan goes back to work or is out of town and I am on my own.  

The reason why "the jury is still out" for me, is that I am struggling with the disconnect with the parental involvement at this school.  We have not met their teacher yet.  We are not allowed upstairs where the classrooms are.  I want to say "what are you hiding?"  I don't mind the homework, I think it is good for the kids.  To be real honest, it is just sooooo different.  The aesthetics of the school are so cold and dreary.  I am having a hard time putting my finger on it, I need to give it time.  I guess my first impression was not so great.  This school was so hard to get into, has a great reputation, costs a fortune and I don't get it at the moment.  I will keep an open mind and see what this semester brings. 

The kids woke up eager to start their first day of school.  They sat at the tiny kitchen table eating their cereal chatting quiety about their first day in a "Paris school".  Oh, the anticipation was exhilarating.  As I sat and listened to them I beamed with pride that these were MY kids.  Their joy for life inspires me. 

I read a quote recently from a woman in her seventies that I have decided to imbed into my soul, she said "I want to live everything with the most density as possible", she goes on saying "My relationship to time is totally different.   I am so conscious that life might escape me at any moment, that everything has become keener and more distilled.....I tell myself, all this happiness still, but for how long?  So I devour life!"  Isn't that great?  Children, as a rule, devour life.  What happened to the rest of us?  I am choosing to devour my life.  I hope you do too. 

Sorry, I got off on a tangent there.  We walked in thirty degree temperatures to school all the while the kids rolled their small backpacks along the cobblestone sidewalks.  We found the school after twenty minutes and met a teacher and secretary.  After a formal hello and some paperwork signed, the teacher whisked Max and Sophie off into a large room to start their day.  They were so eager, they gave us half a kiss and were off.  They didn't even turn around to say goodbye.  Imagine that?  After Dan and I left the building, I asked Dan to stop right where he was and hold my hands and pray for our kids.  Poor guy said "Okay baby, don't worry, they will be just fine".  Mama bear was a bit worried for her baby cubs.  The school is quite large and so different from the fairytale school that we just came from in Southlake.   I think the teachers sweat sugar, they are so sweet.   

 "Come on Mom and Dad, we are ready to go!"

Their new school...........doesn't it look so inviting?

One more picture in front of the school kiddo's.....

"Oh, to be a fly on the wall.........

I will fill you in on their first day of school tomorrow.  Dan and I had a busy day and got nothing accomplished.  Welcome to france!  The kids have quite a bit of homework now.  I got three hours of sleep last night and I need to get into bed soon.  Stay tuned for part B.