Kindergarten...Meet Jack!

Dear Jack,

To quote Dr. Seuss, "Today is your day, so get on your way!"  That was my sentiment at 6am this morning.  By 6:55 am I was willing to try spinning counterclockwise super fast in an attempt to turn back time.  I read once that the Kindergarten milestone feels like a marathon when viewed at the birth of your child and a sprint when viewed real time!  It is true...just yesterday Daddy and I commented, "Two more years and he starts Kindergarten."

How did your first day go?  You gave Kindergarten two thumbs up, your teacher ten thumbs up, and each child in your class one thumb up (even though you said you didn't meet half of them.)  It wasn't all roses...we are still perplexed at the smell emitting from your returned lunch bag.

How did we do?  Well your overprotective father was online searching ballistic-proof backpacks a few weeks ago.  You picked out a monster backpack instead (at the bus stop you growled at anyone who came close to it...claiming it was the monster, of course!)

I tried to connect with your teacher over some lame joke and got the stare (I suspect you'll experience the stare all on your own around week three.)  This morning I held it together until you started blowing me crazy kisses through the window on the BYB (Big Yellow Bus).

Note, your father chose to take my teary eyed picture rather than console me.

We'll be okay.  I mean we've done okay thus far, right?  We managed to raise a fantastic Kindergartner.  We bought organic milk, gave you zero sugar until you were one, no TV until two, we perfected hovering possibly stalling your walking but on the plus side preventing scarring from skinned knees (forgive us, you were our first!)  More importantly we gave you hours of tickles, a gazillion hugs and unconditional love.  Make no mistake, we'll goof up plenty.  I'll forget to sign a permission slip.  Dad will do your science project when he was just supposed to "help."  Both of us will barrage you with questions about your day like Frost on Nixon.  But, we will support and guide you through school!  We'll attend Parent Teacher conferences--sitting on the excruciatingly small chairs that are wide enough for only one adult butt cheek.  We'll volunteer in the classroom feigning altruism but really spying on your teacher and classmates.   We'll also listen to you, read with you, and even open up our home to your friends! 
 



Jack (K) and Devin (1st Grade) 

What about you?  You will be great!  While saying our prayers last night, I asked God to bless you with wisdom when choosing your friends.  You asked him to just bless you with the wisdom to remember the right bus to get on at the end of each day. Clearly, you are already smarter and more practical than your own mother (by the way, you did get on the right bus...YAY!) 

But seriously Jack, you were born with a love of learning that allows you to be just as engaged when learning simple math as learning the hokey pokey.  You are not only inquisitive but blessed with a healthy dose of assertiveness that drives you to ask and ask until all your questions are answered.  While confident, you are intrinsically cautious preferring to watch the risk takers break their nose before jumping off the bridge with a tether.  And finally, you are absolutely joyful, finding excitement in the mundane (that should come in handy during most of sixth grade!)  You will be brilliant.

It won't all be perfect though.  You'll get in trouble for things you didn't even do (and things you did, as well.). You'll get teased at some point and your best friend will choose another to sit next to at lunch.  You'll have lonely days, tired days and scary days.  You'll be popular one day and an outcast another.  But one day, you'll look back on all of this and you'll remember how you felt today.  The excitement.  The awe of it. The pure happiness.

Today is as much about Jack starting his journey of becoming his own version of Jack as it is about school buses and backpacks.  Until today Daddy and I were the most important influences on your life.  

Starting today your teachers and friends will share that honor with us. 

So my final advice?  Choose friends wisely.  Never laugh while sipping milk.  Keep your eyes on your own paper.  Believe in yourself, take risks, study hard and play a tad bit harder! 

Now...I am not the only one with advice for you, my precious son.  This blog has a few people who still check in every now and then...granted they are all blood relatives...but let's see (if they can figure out the comments button) what advice they have for you!

I'll love you forever,
Like you for always,
As long as I'm living...
my baby you'll be.

God Bless you baby Jack,

Mom