Back to School. Yay?

Farah has been so excited to go to first grade. She hasn't had any of the back to school blues or jitters that I feel, and hopefully she never will. Her first grade teacher is Mrs. Steele, and she's in class with a few friends from kindergarten and preschool. Unfortunately, her best friend from last year, Isabella, has a different teacher. None of this has seemed to bother Farah though. School usually means major clothing struggles each morning. She has done so well with clothes this summer and has picked out some really cute outfits for school this year. I have had high hopes that we're moving out of this phase.
On Farah's first day of school, both Heath and I were able to take her to Trisha's and watch her get on the bus for the first day. I was able to be there when she got off as well. She was happy but tired when the day was over. She reported that her favorite things about school were art (which is new this year) and being able to go on the swings at recess (another thing she couldn't do last year). It seems that she likes being a year older and having someone "under" her too!

Unfortunately, there are no cute second day of school pictures, because the second day included kicking, screaming, and tears. Why you ask? PE! She had to wear tennis shoes. These were tennis shoes that she was okay with in the store but obviously not okay once it was time to really wear them. She was fine all morning, and then I heard Blake say, "Farah's crying." This was followed by Farah's signature high pitched, grumpy noise that I cannot even attempt to imitate. I realized it was the shoes. I tried to give her a wide berth, distract by talking about other things, but just like in years past, it was no use. She got increasingly worse as it neared time to go. I tried to put it back on her. I asked her what she thought we should do, but at that point she was inconsolable. I was much more calm and collected than in the past, because I didn't have to be at work today. When I have to leave the house at seven and she's throwing a fit at 6:59, I find it really hard to maintain my sanity. 

She didn't get better when we got to daycare. I had to get the other kids in the house and literally drag her out of the van kicking and screaming. She was screaming and completely wrapped around me when we walked inside; I can only imagine what the new kid must of thought! It was the kind of scene I would have shaken my head at before I had kids. I left her with shoes half on at the bus stop (with the babysitter) crying uncontrollably. The babysitter reported that she stopped trying to kick the shoes off when I left. It took her a few minutes but she also stopped crying and managed to get on the bus in one piece. 

Now, the problem lies in how do I cope with this every Tuesday and Friday (last year it was just Tuesdays). Last year her kindergarten teacher let her wear flip flops to school and change before PE. It was a life changer! I don't know if I should approach her first grade teacher about this or try to find a way to make it work. I did find some slip on, flexible sole tennis shoes today that don't require socks. Maybe that will help. My mother in law said she hopes there is a firm consequence in place for this behavior. I wasn't even thinking clearly enough to consider that. I was just in survival mode. So, perhaps, try the new shoes and create a future standing consequence if that behavior should arise again? 

Another layer of this problem is soccer. In talking to colleagues last year about their children and students in general, the importance of team sports was really stressed to me. I've never considered Farah a team sports kind of girl, but my friends at work assured me that it would be a good thing to try, especially while she's young. Soccer is supposed to be a "low risk" way to introduce team sports. I signed her up. She was not particularly excited about this, but she didn't throw a big fit either. We've talked about some of the fun things associated with soccer, and I think she's most excited about games and the prospect of friends coming to watch those games. She doesn't know about shin guards and cleats. If this morning was any indication, we'll be lucky to live through soccer season.