Wheels on the Bus

Last week Jake's teacher Ms. Woznicki prepared a special morning for her preschool kids. In preparation for kindergarten this fall, the kids were able to take a ride on a school bus. For most of them, this was a first time experience. When we woke up that morning Jake immediately found his toy school bus to play with. He asked me lots of questions and waited in anticipation for our arrival at school. Just a few minutes after we got there the bus pulled into the parking lot. Ms. Woznicki led her class outside and introduced them to the bus driver. I spotted Jake in the middle of the line clenching the hand of his buddy Jack. The driver explained the bus safety rules (both inside and outside). He turned the flashing lights on, pulled out the stop sign, closed and opened the doors — all the fun stuff a little boy wants to see. Next they lined up in front of the bus for a final farewell wave to all the moms, dads and siblings watching. As the class boarded the bus they yelled out their goodbyes to everyone. Jake and Jack still held hands the all the way up the stairs. When Casey and I came back to pickup Jake after class he told us the rest of his story while on the bus and taking a ride around town. He loved the experience. Since that day, anytime we see a big yellow bus, he yells out "Mommy, that's the bus I rode on".