Ok, so I just did one of the hardest things I've ever done. I dropped my baby off at kindergarten. Now, let me clarify, it wasn't hard because I'm worried or anxious. He is very ready for "big school" and was so excited this morning, that I really enjoyed walking him into his classroom and seeing him jump right into the activities that his teacher had set up. I LOVE his teacher and am confident that he's at the right school. The hard part of sending him to kindergarten is stomaching the emotions that are tied to this milestone. I know it might sound like I'm going a little overboard, but I feel like this is the first big step in "letting go" of my baby. I know he's still only 5, but he's FIVE! He's not a baby anymore, and I know the string of events that lies ahead is going to result in him really becoming independent from me...which is what I know is supposed to happen. I feel strongly that our goal as parents of boys is to nurture and grow them into strong, independent men...not wimpy, dependent, momma's boys. But, oh, how my heart would like to keep them my babies forever!
So, in honor of Jack's first day of kindergarten, here are a few things he's doing now:
-tying his own shoes
-brushing his own teeth
-buckling and unbuckling his seat belt
-recognizing letters and numbers (generally reliably) and even putting some letter sounds together
But, he still...
-let's me hold his hand in the parking lot or when we're going into new places
-sits in my lap and asks me to read to him
-cuddles up close when we watch movies
-kisses me goodbye and goodnight
-is excited that I'll be visiting his school to have lunch with him and read to his class
Before I know it he'll be too cool for a lot of this, but my prayer is that he'll grow up like his daddy. Brent's parents did a marvelous job of growing him into a man who is a strong leader in our family but who still loves and respects his mother and would do anything for her. So, I know it can be done....lots of prayers to get us there! And, here's what most of you are really interested in; the first day of school pictures:
Joe doesn't really care that it is Jack's first day of school, but he wanted to be in the picture. He is OBSESSED with his lawn mower and continually announces, "Joe mow grass."
Jack and Mrs. Brittney
