Kindergarten
Dear Alexis,
In just a few short hours, a bright yellow school bus will pull up in front of our house and will carry you to your first day of The Rest Of Your Life. It's the beginning of a new chapter, nay, the beginning of your new book. It's the first time in your life that will really, truly count for something. From here on out, everything you do counts.
Welcome to The School Years, kid.
The impressions you make in kindergarten will, in some ways, travel with you everywhere you go for a very long time. Will you be one of the Smart Kids? One of the Nice Kids? One of the Popular Kids? One of The Bullies? I don't know. I do what I can to protect and guide you, but the impressions you make will be entirely yours. I can't be there to give you hints as to how to interact with your peers. You just have to be YOU. You have to be the person you want to be, own that person, and be willing to defend that person. You'll have to learn to ignore what other people think.
It's something that is so much easier said than done.
I'm not sure you're ready to ignore what people think. I know I wasn't until I was much, much older than you are now.
But kindergarten? You are SO ready for that. You carefully selected your clothes for your first day and folded them gently on top of your dresser. Your backpack has been packed and repacked. Your lunch bag is in the fridge and holds many of your favorite things, along with a surprise or two that I hope will bring you a smile in the middle of a fantastic first day of school.
Alexis, you've been a little annoyed by everyone's questions about whether or not you were excited for kindergarten to start. I think you've sensed that maybe there is a reason you shouldn't be excited. You told me today that you're a little worried you aren't a good enough reader yet, which I suppose was your attempt at trying to guess why all the grown-ups seem to be leery of the idea of kindergarten. Kinnley Monster, you're more than a good enough reader. You have every reason in the world to be excited for the start of this new book in your life because you are going to love it.
You love to learn. You love it more than you love anything in this world. You and school are a match made in heaven because it will give you a chance to dive into adventures, explore worlds unseen, and accomplish things you never thought possible. You're going to make new friends as you travel down your path to greatness.
I know you are going to do great things. I don't know what you'll choose to do, I just know you'll kick some ass doing it. It's just who you are.
Enjoy this next part of your journey, Alexis. Enjoy every second of it. I'll just be standing over here watching. There is nowhere else I'd rather be.
Love,
Momma
P.S.
Thanks for still calling me "Momma," my little kindergartner.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Reader Comments (26)
oh man. I can't believe she's starting school. Have fun tomorrow. This is beautiful :)
I love all your letters to Alexis, but this one made me cry- it reminded me of the letter my mom wrote me the first time I went out of the country, when I went to Ukraine for a month. She snuck it into my suitcase with some things she knew I forgot to pack, and finding it was the bright spot in the middle of a patch of homesickness and frustration. I still have that letter, and I made sure to bring it with me when I moved to a different part of the country to start grad school. Having it in my desk is a constant reminder that someone loves me and believes in me. I hope you always write letters to Alexis because she will treasure them.
I remember my son's first day. I hovered too long. He pointed his wee lil finger at me in front of his teacher and said, "you can go now". He was fine. I cried. Wonderful blog and I suspect your daughter is gonna rock Kindergarten big time!
Awe, I love this post. My little guy starts kindergarten next Tuesday. I want to tell him all the things you mentioned yet all I can do it remind him that I won't be there to button his jeans while he struggles... and i keep reminding him to play with the other kids. So stressful and exciting all at the same time! Enjoy her first day!
Godspeed Alexis! (And your Momma.)
XO
Reading this just clobbered me over the head with a time bomb. How, HOW is she old enough to be going to kindergarten already!? There were pictures of a little toddler on here just yesterday!
Sending tons of vibes, juju, and all that other stuff for a wonderful first day for her AND you. There's no doubt that, just like her Momma, she's definitely going to kick some ass!
Goodness this brought tears to my eyes. I hope you have a great first day of kindergarten, Alexis. You are going to be awesome!
Thanks for making me cry first thing in the morning. I can't believe she's in kindergarten already. How is this possible? Where did the time go? Good luck to both of you today.
Dammit! I hate when you make me cry first thing in the morning! Good luck to Alexis and you as you both start the new book! You will both do great!
Have a great time as you dive into learning, Alexis! Mama, you have set her up for success in an amazing fashion. I only hope I'm doing half as good a job as you are.
Aw, Mom. I hope you and Alexis have a great day today!
Good luck to Alexis on her first day -- not that she'll need it. And, my heart goes out to you. I'll be in the same boat next tuesday. Why do these kids insist on growing up?
Good luck Alexis! Big hugs to mom too.
Good luck Alexis! :-) She will do great. You wrote her a beautiful letter she will cherish one day. I wish I had thought to write my son letters as he was growing up. You are such an awesome mom. Looking forward to hearing about her adventures this year.
I'm all weepy. Kindergartens seems so long ago.
Love this... and welcome to this new chapter for you too! School aged children are a whole new ball game...
and if it gives you hope: my 12 year old still calls me Mamma!
This is absolutely wonderful. I wish Alexis all the luck in the world with her school years!
This was beautiful and made me cry. I wish I could find the words like you do. I hope Alexis has a wonderful first day!
What a perfect first day letter!! I know she's going to do amazing...and so are you, Momma :D
Sorry the bus part didn't go exactly as planned. What a way to learn to be a problem solver, eh? :)
Good luck, Alexis! You are going to have an awesome year. And don't be too disappointed if you already know most of what they're teaching the other kids. You're allowed to ask the teacher really tough questions and MAKE her teach you. That was my Gracie's advice from when she conquered kindergarten -just like you will.
Good stuff. Mine started today...cool and scary. I got a letter from the teacher that said "Welcome class of 2024!" I thought, wow. I'm old.
you have done an incredible job of coaching alexis to be a fantastic person. while there will most likely be a bump or twenty, i have no doubt that she will rock kindergarten. alexis is so smart, funny and talented...look out world!
I cannot believe she is a kindergartner. I just can't believe it. That being said, she is going to rock it in a major way - there is just no way she can't! I can't wait to read about all her adventures as she starts this new book!
She looks so much older, suddenly!
This is priceless, and she will love reading it again and again when she is older. I hope she had a great year.
Wow. This is incredible. Hope she has an awesome year!