this day came. the one we talked about and thought about since the day we moved and entered into the preschool world. we couldn't decide to send her on or wait another year. sending your kid off and knowing they are ready is quite an amazing feeling. but all along the way i spent my time telling her about kindergarten, how much fun it was going to be. we talked about making friends and being kind to those kids that looked lonely. we talked about kids that might not have had the same opportunity to go to preschool and this might be their first time away from their parents. she came home that day and said "i saw someone who looked lonely and i went and tried to play with them and talk to them but they didn't talk back". oh my heart for my sweet girl. she is so caring and so brave. somehow through the years i did not think to prepare myself. the day she was born my world was flipped upside down. i have spent the last six years with this girl. in preschool i was blessed with teachers i got to see everyday. i heard stories about her day, pictures were sent and texted to me. she was gone but i knew what she did that day and i knew the moms and kids in the class. then this girl went off to kindergarten. i didn't think it would be that big of adjustment but i was wrong. i miss her. i know it will get easier and this will become our new normal. and maybe next year when things aren't so new i can be a little more like my girl and find a new mom who looks sad and talk to her and assure that it does get easier.
i was part of so many conversations for the last couple of years about kids needing to be able to read before they got to kindergarten. i was so worried if she would be academically ready. it wasn't until this moment that i even thought about it and realized that should have been the least of my worries. no, she cannot read but i am confident she will. but, more important than those academics she will learn to be a kind and considerate person. she is probably one of the smallest people in her entire school. she has already told me she is the smallest in her class but her heart is bigger than anything.
the pictures were from the first day. i came home and uploaded them and couldn't help but see them like the other years passed. but, everyday she comes home and seems just a little bit older. tells me about the friend she made and about their conversations and they are real. she is developing real relationships with these kids. she has decided she wants to ride the bus and while i thought this wouldn't happen for quite some time i let her ride on the second day. she made a friend on that bus and i watched them play as if they had known each other for years. running around and whispering to each other. i couldn't be more proud of this girl! i can't wait to watch how she grows this year. what a fun ride it will be!
