Kindergarten

Declan started Kindergarten officially today. We did orientation yesterday morning in order to prepare. Here is my memory of the events for Declan:

Declan you were so excited to go to orientation and meet your teacher. We walked around your classroom dropping off all the supplies we had spent the week before hunting down in the crazy back to school aisles packed with parents. Then we hung up your batman backpack in your cubby and went to work on the craft project your teacher assigned to us.

The project was to cut out a hand something you have trouble with because you are left handed. I was so nervous that you were going to get frustrated with this task and get emotional but you didn't. It took you a little bit longer than the other kids at our table to cut out your hand but you never gave up and you were so proud of your finished hand and I was so proud of you.

You hit it off with your teacher right away which made me feel so much better about the idea that you would be spending so much time with her.

Your Darth Vader shoes were a big hit. It was a conversation piece for you and you showed everyone how they lit up. I think your new shoes helped to give you an extra boost of confidence.

Lining up to go out to recess you smiled back at me and then blew me a kiss.

While you were out for recess I was inside going over paperwork with your teacher. When you came back in before I could say anything you said, "Did you have fun mom?" I loved that. You always think of others I hope that you never lose that.

Today was your official first day. You woke up so excited and asked me, "Mom aren't you soooo excited". I said, "yes I am super excited!", even though I was a ball of nerves and was worried about so many things. I just kept telling myself that you were ready for this and that I need to be ready too. You practically jumped out of the car when we parked at school.

As we walked into the busy school you looked up at me nervously and I said, "do you remember how we find your teacher?" You beamed with confidence and said, "yep, the Mickey sign". This year your teacher's theme is the "Happiest Kindergarten on Earth" so everything is Mickey. You were so patient waiting in line for the other kids to arrive from the bus.

Lochlan did not seem very happy about you going to school or it could of been that we ran out of lucky charms but either way I know he has had fun with you this summer and will miss you now that you are going to school. He looks up to you so much. Dad was there too of course and was probably as nervous as me but he just kept encouraging me and giving you big smiles.

I stopped you to take this picture as you were going in and gave you one last hug. You said, "mom you are so beautiful, I love you". I told you,"I love you too and you have fun today". We watched you walk to your classroom and then went out to the car. I began to cry as we walked through the parking lot knowing that this is the start of you growing up and not being home with me the majority of your time.

When we got to our car at the edge of some woods two deer ran out and stopped us in our tracks and stopped me from crying. I remembered that God guided us to this place and that we were following his plan. I will trust in God to keep you safe when I am not there. I know that he has a plan for you and that I am here to help facilitate that plan and guide you toward him. I love you so much and will miss you while you are at school but am excited to see you continue to grow and learn.