When the Preschooler was born, almost immediately people {even strangers} would routinely say things like, “Just enjoy these baby days because all you’ll have to do is blink and she’ll be going to kindergarten.”
She was so excited I couldn’t help but be excited for her, too. She’s been counting down the weeks, and more recently the days, until she would get to meet her teacher and her classmates. She knows this is real school, and she’s more than ready to take her place among the kindergarten “big” kids.
The only difference between her excitement and mine is that mine is a little bittersweet. I’m not sad for her to start school and begin this next chapter. I honestly think she’ll thrive on the stimulation and routine of the school environment. She’s ready in every way. But, her first day of real, Monday-Friday school does make me think about all the opportunities I may have missed to be a better mom to her over the past five years when I’ve had her to myself at home. And, this past year when we moved and welcomed a new baby into the family, I know I didn’t take time out to be with her ~ just her ~ often enough. And, that makes me sad. All I can do is pray she’ll remember the good and forget the impatience and negligence and selfishness I exhibited.
But, this will not be a pity party.
No, this will be a celebration of a big milestone and a special week.
Besides, the Kindergartener herself is making sure we all have this in proper perspective.
This is what she told her sister after we picked her up from her first day and had settled back in at home:
“I have to go to kindergarten every day, so you can only play with me now on Saturdays and Sundays… Oh, and I’ll be here on fall break and spring break. So, you can play with me on those days.”
{pausing to gauge her sister’s response to this news}
“Isn’t that sad??”
And, this is when I had to cue her stone-faced sister to pretend that she was crying and just terribly upset about this.
Because, even though we may not be moping around here unsure of what to do with ourselves in her absence, we still want her to know we are going to miss all her energy between the hours of eight and three each weekday.
We love you, Kindergartener!
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