A running commentary about life: Kindergarten!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Kindergarten!

Today marks the first day of the last week of summer vacation for me and my kiddos. I am filled with conflicting emotions about this. We have had a long, busy, FUN summer. There were road trips and even longer road trips. Swimming, golf, beaches, lakes, more golf and more swimming. We saw family and friends we haven't seen in a long time. Despite all of the incredibly fun times we've had, I think my kids are getting sick of each other and, more importantly, sick of me. I have turned into the (sometimes) screaming-always-saying-no kind of mom that I don't want to be. After spending all day, every day, all summer long, with my children, including 4 weeks and 3 days of single-parenting, I am ready for a break.

Now that we are down to the bitter end of summer, though, I am starting to feel sad. I'm happy for J, because I think he thrives in school. He is smart, and friendly, and loves to be with other kids. Unfortunately the only kid he's been around all summer, for the most part, is his baby sister! I'm glad that he's getting "boy time" with his football teammates, and that he'll get to see old (and meet new) friends when he starts fourth grade. He will be in the same school as last year so there is no real apprehension (on his or my part!) this year.

On the other hand, my baby girl is starting kindergarten. This one is hitting me hard. Harder than it did when J started kindergarten. This surprises me, because he was my first baby, and the first one I sent off to school. Maybe it was easier (for lack of a better word) because I still had a baby at home. K was barely a year old and she definitely kept me busy, and kept my mind occupied. Now that baby will be joining the ranks of new students at Wylie Elementary. I think she is ready. I hope she is ready. She is so, so smart. She loves to learn. She tells everyone that she is going to kindergarten to learn to read. She is beautiful and thoughtful and imaginative and sensitive. It's the sensitive part that worries me. She laughs with her whole heart and she also cries with her whole heart. I hope and pray that she is blessed with a teacher who will nurture and love and support her in the ways that she needs, and that her classmates are kind and friendly to her so she will feel confident and bask in newfound friendships. She started preschool when she was a year old and even (still!) this past year would cry when I left her. So if you're a parent or teacher at Wylie, don't be surprised to see me, in tears, leaving my daughter, in tears, the first day (or week or month!). I hope she surprises me and adapts well, because I had enough tearful goodbyes over the past four years with her!

It's hard for me to believe, but this beautiful baby girl...