The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry states the following:
"Starting school is a major milestone for children and parents. School is a place away from home where a child will have some of his greatest challenges, successes, failures, and embarrassments. Because school is beyond the control of parents, it can be stressful for both the child and the parents. At school, a child will learn about how the world works, about appropriate social interactions, and about people outside his family. He will learn about himself, his strengths, weaknesses, interests, and who he is socially. He will have to perform in a way that he never has had to at home. He has to separate from parents, meet social and academic challenges, and make friends."
OH BOY!! This is where my baby and I find ourselves in a little over a week. While I feel more than confident in her ability to face this challenge, I'm not sure I have the same confidence in my ability to let her go. I have visions of me being that mom who stands in the doorway and sobs while my little girl dismisses me without a second thought and starts this journey on her own. On her own. Really. But I'm her mom. I have been from day one. I have witnessed every accomplishment thus far, nursed every boo-boo, and dried every tear. Now for seven hours a day that becomes some one else's job. Can I justify sending her with a nanny cam to ease my nerves?
Despite this mom's apprehensions, I am so excited for her. She is so ready for this. Everyday she comes to me ready to learn more. She soaks up the world around her and will have so many more opportunities while in school to do just that. While I pray and feel sure that her family will be her base for comfort and support, I know that school will come to mean so much to her. She will make friends and memories that will make her smile for years to come.
It will be at school that she'll meet her own Ms. McDuffys, Ms. Phillips, and Coach Prices. These teachers changed who I am and helped to make me a better person.
Parker will also meet her own Dana Darceys, Stacy Hunnicutts, and Erica Jaskulas. These girls were my best friends at one time or another and still to this day remain dear to my heart.
And although I hate to say it, it will be at school that Parker meets her own Kevin Stubbs, Chris Spiveys, and Brent Carrolls. Little boys that at one time or another held my heart in their hands.
Although my heart will break just a little bit on the day she walks into her kindergarten class, I am so excited for the new adventure ahead of her. The thing that will matter most to me is that she knows and understands her mother loves her no matter what, that I am and will always be one of her biggest fans, and that no matter where life takes her she always has a home to come home to.
6 comments:
That wonderfully complicated roll we play as mothers and fathers to nurture, care and prepare our babes to stand confidently on their own while not falling apart. I have feelings that you all will do very well. Remember, attitude plays such a big part.
In August 1996, my precious Sean started Pre-K with an incredibly wonderful teacher, Mrs. Wendy Mitchell. Every day he would bring home wonderful drawings of me (often including himself by my side). The next morning I would take them to work and hang them at my desk. One morning I got quite teary eyed and commented that it broke my heart that he thought of me all day at school, drawing pictures of me and I couldn't be there with him.
My dear friend Debbie looked at me and said it will break your heart more when he stops drawing you.
As he entered 10th grade this year, it breaks my heart each day when I am reminded that our time having him in our home every day is dwindling quickly. I get teary eyed but that reminds me to treasure each moment.
We have figured out that if our oldest son, Sean, goes to college and gets a teaching degree, he could return to teach (and coach) our younger son, Connor when he is in High School! ;)
Christie I am so with you babe. I have Hayden also starting Kindergarten this year. And I am very nervous but excited for him to start school. He will be starting at at a Charter school. the elemtary by is is horrible. not good scores ext. so i got him into this other school.I love you and we will make it Dear Christie.
Oh yes, you will cry! At least I do at all of these milestones, first day and last day! It's great.
Thanks for the article too, I am using it in a packet for the relief gang as my welfare back-to-school handout.
It's difficult, looking back, to see how difficult it was to let her go. Since she spent her infancy in daycare while her mother worked it wasn't quite as hard. What is hard is realizing just how quickly the time passes. There used to be days that I contemplated what my life would be like at 40. By then she'll be 18 and on her way to college. When she was small the thought of that freedom at that young of an age was exciting, perhaps I would get to do some of the things I didn't before I had her. The problem is that with each passing day that excitment turns to dread. I cannot imagine a day going by without her in it. We have been together, thru thick and thin, and I believe that much sooner than later she will have a life all her own and I will have to fit into it. So, my dear sister, while I know that it will be difficult to let her go just a little, be thankful that there are MANY more years for you to have those precious babies everyday. My only advice is not to blink too many times because they will be gone. I love you.
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