How I Handled the First Day of Kindergarten

I think we all managed to survive the first day of Kindergarten.

Some of us fared better than others.

• Peanut rocked, of course.
• I could barely keep my shit together.
• Hubby was cool as a cucumber as always.
• Bubba was unfazed.

Actually, it was a really great day for us. Peanut started Kindergarten, and that is one of those milestones that we as parents strive for. Basically, I kept my shit well enough together for the last 5 years to get my kid to the point where she is independent enough to go off to school without me. And she was excited and ready. No tears, no fear or apprehension - she was just ready. And I was sad and proud.

I am sad because I mourn the baby that Peanut  was. I am sad that she is growing up faster than I am ready for. I am sad because she was the one who made me a mama and she needed me to teach her things. And she is the one who taught me so much ~ not only how to be a parent, but how to be her mama. Now she needs a different kind of teacher.  

I am also so very proud of her.  I celebrate the amazing person that she is becoming everyday. She is smart, so smart and so ready to be learning everything she can at school. I am so excited to share in all of her new experiences, starting with this one.
 
The first day of kindergarten is a venerable right of passage that signals the end of babyhood and bestows a new identity on all who enter.  For the next 15 + years she will identify herself by her position on the educational ladder: "Hi, my name is Peanut and I'm in kindergarten ... I'm in 4th grade ... I am a freshman, a senior, a graduate student ..." 

My Kindergartner

  My Kindergartner and her large backpack.

First Day Kiddos: Kindergartner and 1st-year pre-schooler (3's)

 Proud Dada

Proud Mama

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