Daughter going to Kindergarten!

[Ophelia23]

Blessings to each of you!

Well, we’ve made it. School age. My eldest starts Kindergarten on Thursday. All summer long, we have been preparing for it and looking forward to it. We’ve been doing a “first day of school” countdown for the past few days. Everything was peachy and dreamy until…

Yesterday.

My youngest was napping. My husband was at the store. And my girl, she was snuggled up with me on the couch. She said, “I’m so excited for school, but I’m a little scared too. I don’t want to leave you, mama.”

Leave me? At 5? I hadn’t thought of it that way. But it just all connected in my head and it kicked in my gut that this really is the start of something that we can never come back from! She is going to school! This path has a trajectory that ends far from my arms. I’ve never been a crier, but now I’m finding myself very emotional about it!

I am sure this is normal. …I’m sure it will get easier. I’m sure, I’m sure, I’m sure. But I can’t quite tell if my heart is rejoicing or if it is breaking! It feels overwhelmingly like both.

 

[Catholic1954]

She will be an awesome little student! Be sure to take lots of pictures and don’t worry if she cries the first few days; just be sure to be there the minute school lets out and she will know that everything is ok.

 

[Evania]

What a beautiful post! I’ll be praying that her first day goes smoothly. The first day of school is rougher on mom and dad, I think. They grow up so darn fast! I want to point out that since you mentioned that “this is something we can never come back from” and that there’s a trajectory that ends far from your arm, that a lot of parishes and libraries have excellent homeschool communities/programs if this is something you may be interested in the future. I’m not suggesting that you do this, I’m just pointing it out in case you weren’t aware. I wasn’t aware in how mainstream it has become. Either way though, I emphasize with you. It’s bittersweet seeing your little one grow up.

Many prayers and blessings to your family!

 

[Evania]

She will be an awesome little student! Be sure to take lots of pictures and don’t worry if she cries the first few days; just be sure to be there the minute school lets out and she will know that everything is ok.

Love this advice!

 

[Angela77]

I can’t totally speak to this because I’m not a parent; I’m a junior in college. But, in case anything I say is useful…

You still have thirteen years before she goes to college, which is when she’ll really be independent on a day-to-day basis. She’s not going to be far from you for a long time. When the time comes for her to really leave your arms, she’ll be ready and you’ll see that, which will make you ready (and you’ll be a proud mama!). I think that’s how it went for my mom. She was a stay-at-home mom until I went off to college. I know it must have torn her up a lot when I moved a couple hours away because we’re really close. She never showed it, but I know she must have cried a lot in the beginning. She (and my dad) have commented that they know that my leaving the nest is healthy and necessary for me at this point. I imagine you’ll feel the same way in thirteen years.

 

[Irishmom2]

Ophelia, I feel for you. This is not only a beginning for your daughter, but for you as well. It will fly by. It sounds so trite and cliche, but it is absolutely true! I did not have trouble with my first child going off to school, no, for me, it was my youngest! Oh, the tears! From me!

Well, yesterday, my youngest son left for the US Marine Corps…it was like his first day of school all over again.

May God bless your daughter as she starts school and may be bless you as you begin the next step in your parenthood journey!

 

[tuscany]

**:console: You’re bringing back good memories…

This is what worked in our family:

Before each school year started, I would take the kids over to the school, and we would find where their classrooms were, where the bathrooms were, where the cafeteria was, etc., so they felt more relaxed and at peace now being a bit more familiar with everything. Most of the time, we would even meet their teachers who were getting their classrooms ready. Several of the teachers even asked if the child could stay for a bit and help them, which made the child feel special.

The day before school started, I would give each child breakfast in bed and spoil them a bit. Our family always looked at school like it was a job. Dad flew, mom worked at home, and the kids’ job was school. You work hard at each job, and each job is important.

I took pictures at the bus stop with each kid getting on the bus for the first time… they were so excited that the bus driver was the one that made them turn around and smile for the camera ! lol

Yes, I sure miss those days and would love to have them all back. But I know that if a parent does their job correctly, their children will stand on their own and be independent.

Wishing your family all the best. **

 

[pensmama87]

My oldest just started preschool. It’s definitely been bittersweet, although I know he was ready (and so was I). It’s only three days per week but I find myself going through an odd combination of loving that he’s there and missing him at the same time. He comes home and he talks about people I don’t know and sings songs that I didn’t teach him. Definitely a move toward independence, even though it’s such a small one.

I feel strange knowing that I’m no longer a mom of only “littles.” He has grown so much - he dresses himself, eats independently, figured out how to use the bathroom completely on his own, washing hands and all…and while I love all that, it means an adjustment in how I relate to him. He no longer needs me for everything. I used to attend to most of his emotional needs by caring for him physically, and that’s not so much a thing anymore.

But now we read together a lot, and play games, and talk. And I’m sure you’ve found with your daughter that even though she is quite small she can have big thoughts! I love hearing how my 4 year old thinks about the world. (Plus he tells jokes now. I don’t always get the punchlines, but I do find it funny that he is trying to be funny now.)

But I am happy just to have him be gone a few hours, three days a week. It’s still 14 years until high school graduation. Those years can take their time.

:hug1: