Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Countdown to Kindergarten

My girl starts kindergarten in fourteen days! We received a cute letter in the mail from her teacher the other day and she is so excited (and very ready!) to start school. Getting her all ready to go has brought back school day memories for me and I'm realizing what a huge step this is in molding my sweet girl and who she's going to be.
I'm sure every parent goes through this mental tug of war of wanting their child to have a wonderful time and make lots of friends and sail through every obstacle... and yet wanting them to learn those important life lessons that will make them good people as well. I had kind of a rough elementary school experience, but boy did it prepare me for life and make me a better person in the long run.
I hate to think of Olivia being picked on or left out or lonely in school - it makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. But I also hate to think of her being a bully or hurtful or taking people and her blessings for granted.
Hopefully we'll land somewhere in the middle - I want her to have a wonderful time and make good friends, but also to have to work for things and learn to deal with disappointment and those crazy elementary school social politics.
AHHH!!!
She's done the school shopping, gotten the shots, been to the dentist, has an appointment to meet her teacher, been over bus safety, listened to and talked about the "Safety Kid" tapes (remember those?), learned her letters and numbers and how to print her name and memorized her phone number. She's ready to go.
It's me who feels entirely unprepared to send my baby girl out into that big scary world. And on a bus too!

8 comments:

Susan said...

She's going to do so awesome in Kindergarten! When I think about Emma starting up elem school, I start to have the same feelings you are having. Scary, but so exciting!

Diane Owen said...

How is it even possible that you have a kid in Elementary school? We were just dealing with High School politics like two minutes ago! I can totally imagine how you feel and I'm nervous for you, but I'm sure livvy is going to do great. Ahh, its going to be me in a few years!! Time sure flies...

Holly Sanders said...

14 days? She must be going to year around school. Audrey will start too. Too weird, I remember when they were born. I couldn't believe you had Olivia 3 days before me.

Trevlyn said...

Wow ~ that was fast! I think you've expressed how I'll be feeling this time next year! I bet she's so excited!!!

Adam Jensen said...

Can't believe she will be in kindergarten??!!

aubrey said...

Sounds like you are all prepared! I'll need some pointers from you next year when I send my baby girl off, I am so nervous! EEK! Good luck!

Phillip and Mary said...

I am SO not looking forward to that day!!!!! You only get 5 years, almost 6 if your lucky, and that's it! They're gone! All day every day until they're 18, and then they're really gone. AHHH! I'm sorry if this isn't helping you, but trust me, I think about this all the time with Elijah. Maybe I should home school, because I don't think I'm gonna be able to handle it! I'll pray for you!

annieandken said...

Emily,

My does time fly! You'll have to tell me how it is. I bet that she will just love it and you will love the freedom and time it gives you. I totally understand being nervous about it, though. Sometimes I can't believe that it's okay to just put them on a bus and wait several hours and hope they come home safe and sound. I'm sure she'll be fine and it might give some more depth to your relationship with her. Fun, fun!