Third Time, No Charm

This is my third time to send a child to kindergarten. And while some experiences are easier once you have already been through them, I can honestly say that this is not one of those. Sending number three to school was just as hard as it when my two oldest went to kindergarten.
Kindergarten is hard because it marks the end of an era, the baby era. No more mommy and me play dates, shopping trips at 10am, and snuggling in bed for naps at noon. By the time a child goes to kindergarten, they feel the need for independence. Despite all the preparation I've done, a wave of emotions hit me all at once.
Just like when Sydney & Naty started kindergarten, I felt those same words and emotions pouring out again……
Did I prepare him enough? Will he make friends? Will he be picked on? Will he eat all his lunch?
The first couple days of school have been busy and big sisters have been very helpful. Over breakfast, you can hear big sisters explaining lunch room procedures, recess, and anything else they could to make their brother feel comfortable. I just smiled knowing they would be there to take care of him during the day. But, it didn't make me miss them any less.
By the third day of school all I got when I dropped them off was a simple wave goodbye. So when I got back home, I just had to sit for a moment. And then memories of the last five years seemed to hit at once.
Their first smiles.
Their first steps.
Their first words.
Their kind heart and compassionate spirit.
And now I had another first to add to the list.
Their first day of school.
How could we be here already? All three kiddos are in school, and it came too fast!
Have we really given Ethan what he needs to be successful?
Because now, everyday, he has to rely on his own thoughts and decisions without our supervision. It’s his first real step towards independence. And my first real step towards letting go.
Now I was home alone (with hubby) with just random thoughts and memories of my children and it made me sad. So I decided to make myself busy to help make my day easier. But, When I put Ethan's shoes back in his cubby...tears, when I picked up Naty's dirty laundry....tears, when I vaccuumed Sydney's room...tears!!! It took all of me to patiently wait for the school day to end, the afternoon walk seemed longer than usual...I just couldn't get there fast enough! Then I wondered if the kids would be just as happy to see me as I was to see them. What would I do if they weren't? All I got this morning was a hurried 'see ya' and a quick wave. When the school bell rang and the kids flooded through those big glass doors, here they came running. smiling. happy. happy to see me!!!
Guess what? They really missed me too!!!!

A New Beginning

The first day of school came and went......
Sydney is now in her last year of elelmentary school and she is turning into quite the little woman. Naty is enjoying the fact that she is not the youngest or the oldest kid in her school. I think this suits her well because she used to always being in the middle. Ethan is still at the age where he enjoys having mommy by his side, while still trying to be a big boy (he's in kindergarten, you know!). Since it is Ethan's first 'real' school experience, I will walk him to class everyday and give him a huge hug.
I enjoy the beginning of a new school year. There were pencils that needed sharpening, nerves to unjitter(mostly mine), special snacks, warm smiles, and brand new backpacks to fill with schoolwork. Photos taken on front lawns, at desks, and in front of classrooms. Old friends and teachers to wave to and new friends to be made. Brightly decorated bulliten boards are welcoming and remind me of my school years!
With each new school year, it brings new beginnings, fresh starts, goals to set, and challenges to meet. My kiddos are very excited. Nothing makes me happier as a parent than to know that my kids are enjoying school.

Meet The Teacher

Last night was our Elementary schools meet the teacher night. This is the first time that all my kiddos will be in school. It was a very overwhelming experience.
Ethan, my youngest, will be starting Kindergarten this year. Seems like only yesterday, I was bringing my little man home and now I found myself packing his backback with school supplies and showing him the ways around the school. His class will be directly across from his best buddy, Parker's class, so I'm sure they will help eachother get to and from class and I know he will enjoy being a big boy now.

Sydney is starting fifth grade so this will be her last year in elementary school and I am glad that she will share the halls with her brother and sister before she moves on to junior high. This year she will switch classes four different times and will have to learn how to get used to having multiple teachers. I am sure that this year, as she like to put it...her and her friends will 'rule the school'. She is growing way too fast!

Naty is going to third grade and will be facing the dreaded taks testing and she worries a little about it. I am confident that she will be fine, she has a great head on her shoulders and is very book smart: advanced in reading and math. She is fortunate to have her best friend, Lilly, in her class again this year. They saw eachother last night and picked seats right next to eachother. Lilly and Naty have the kind of friendship that will last forever, BFF's as they call it, for sure!!!
This year will be quite an adventure for our family. With my work schedule and Mike's fire schedule, we will still be able to walk our kids to school, go on field trips, juggle between three different class parties, and still have days to ourselves for errands and alone time. It's an adventure that will take some getting used to but one that I am looking forward to =)

Where Are My Babies

I took the kids to get some school clothes today. What an emotional day!
All the backpacks look so big on my little man and not only did I let Ethan pick out his first pair of kindergarten shoes (well, shoes we both liked) but he picked out his first lunchbox. He was so excited because it's a Super Mario Bros metal lunchbox, like years ago, and he said "I bet no one will have one like this". he was so excited, he held onto it so tightly making sure not to set it down. It looked so big on him but he was so proud.
Naty picked out a few things and I learned that for once she is in the same shoe size that she was last year...thank goodness! Until now she was still wearing size 5 and 6, and although the clothes still fits, she has grown!!!! So, I have to get her some new jeans to hide her ankles and new shirts to hide her belly. I went through her closet and have four large bags of clothes to get rid of!!!!
The hardest time for me was when I went to help Sydney find some clothes and the kid section was no longer an option, my little girl is onto big girl clothes. She is now shopping in the junior section!!! This is her style now. She found a purple jacket that she absolutely fell in love with and her face just lit up when she put it on. I think she will want to wear it everyday. I am not ready for all of this.

Tassels to the Left

Today was a big day. My little man graduated from preschool. I know it must seem so incredibly lame to be tearing up over this and to be thinking so much about the closure of his time in preschool, where circle time and peeing in the potty sometime seem to be the biggest challenges. But, really, those weren't the true challenges. It is amazing to see how much he has grown in the past five years, even little Ethan got choked up when he had to say goodbye to all his friends and his awesome teachers. And I have grown a lot as a parent too. So I get emotional - very quickly - when I make scrapbook pages. And when I think about them going to Elementary School in the Fall.So next year? He will be heading to kindergarten at public school, where he will....well, I don't REALLY know...sit at tables and come home with homework? For kindergarten? At least he will get to still GO OUT AND PLAY and will continue to love school and learning. It is hard to go from a place you love to the unknown. This morning, I told Ethan that today was his last day of preschool and he said “I’m a big boy now and I’m going to the big school”. I said, with tears in my eyes, “Yes, you get to go to kindergarten next Fall and that will be so much fun and I'm very proud of you."So as I walked down the green hallway to Ethan’s class I fought back the tears and visited his class one last time. All Ethan’s friends were having lunch, their last lunch together as a class and I got very emotional. I gave the teachers their gifts and thanked them for such a great year. I left the classroom and headed for the auditorium, took my seat and just waited. When I saw my little man in his graduation cap and a big smile, I felt happy, sad, and excited all at the same time.
So as we say goodbye to preschool with tears in our eyes, we are happy for the years to come....homework, field trips, and new friends!!!