The Narrative

As you can see by the pics I posted last week, Kate did great on her first day of Kindergarten! She was nervous, but we had the opportunity to spend a half hour in her classroom by ourselves with her teacher on Monday, which really helped calm her nerves. This was a big relief to me as she had quite a few tears and conversations with us in recent weeks about how she never wants to grow up, she never wants to leave her preschool environment, and didn't want to be a Kindergartener. :(

Thankfully, the morning went off without a hitch...for her anyway. Mommy and Daddy had to deal with dead batteries in the camera, Mommy's car's power steering almost going out completely on the way to school, and forgetting Kate's backpack. :)

She was a little hesitant to introduce herself to her classmates, so I helped with that. She was a little disappointed when she climbed up into the loft and the boys up there didn't talk to her. But then I reminded her that all the kids in her class were in the same preschool class together, so they all knew each other and were happy to be together after a week or so apart. She went and joined some girls who were playing ponies and sat on the edge of their circle. She watched for a few minutes while Mommy and Jack walked around the classroom (and Daddy drove home to get power steering fluid and her backpack!). I glanced over to see how she was doing and she stood up, walked to the center of the group, took a pony out of the pile and started playing along. (Yay!) I checked on her a few minutes later and she smiled at me and said "Mommy! They are letting me play!" (which made me take a HUGE swallow so as not to burst into tears b/c she is so dang sweet.)

Daddy made it back and saved the day. We took pics at her cubby, gave her a hug and kiss, and headed out the door. She ran back to us for "one more hug and kiss" which made me have to wipe my eyes in her hair while I hugged her. I couldn't even speak at that point. I was so excited for her and proud!!! She was so brave and confident. I wish I could bottle it sometimes and take a dose myself.

She loves Kindergarten so much that she doesn't want me picking her up on MWF at 2:30, when the "official" Kindergarten day ends. Instead, she wants to stay with her classmates, play outside, and have fun with "Chris" (the twenty-something man who is there in the afternoons with the kids who dresses crazy and is fun like a barrel full of monkeys. The kids LOVE him!) We are still working on a compromise about this b/c it is hard for Mommy not to have her home with me on MWF afternoons. We'll see. Most importantly, she loves it and is finding her place among new friends!

The big day

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Happy Birthday Kate!

Dear Kate,

Today you are FIVE YEARS OLD!!! I don't know what it is about the age of five, but I distinctly remember looking into your wrinkly, pink, bright blue eyed face when you were brand new trying to imagine the little girl you would be at five. It was so hard to picture you growing big enough to fit into newborn clothes that day, nevermind imagine you with a backpack heading off to Kindergarten.

And here it is. I am so excited for you to be this age! You are embarking on a whole new world and I'm certain you will leave a strong and lasting footprint. You are very imaginative and love the world of make-believe. You remind me of my own childhood, as you play for hours in your far off lands with fairies, love stories, danger, and happily ever afters. Daddy and Mommy often hear "just one more minute!" when we call you to dinner, remind you of bathtime, or ask you to leave your secret world.

You continue to amaze me by your love for all things. Everything is precious to you. You don't like parting with friends, family, outgrown clothes, old toys, or dead flowers. Sometimes you tell me that you don't want to grow up, you want your life to remain EXACTLY as it is in that very moment. And while I can't stop the clock, there are plenty of times when I wish I could.

The world is big and can be overwhelming, but it is full of friends, adventure, love, and kindness. Good things will always find you because you are a light in this world.

It's been five years, they've flown by in a hearbeat. One more deep breath and you will be ten. But for now....for now, you are five. Happy Birthday to my baby Kate.

Love,
Mommy