Ready or Not...

...here she comes!

Today was Jessi's first day of kindergarten. Needless to say, she was ready. She missed the deadline for kindergarten last year by 2 days. She has been looking forward to this day for a long, long time. I thought I had been looking forward to it, too. But, as ready as she was, I found out this morning I was not.

The first realization was when she asked me repeatedly this morning if she could just walk in by herself. She kept telling me she knew the way to the classroom and I wouldn't have to come with her. I finally told her that it was a rule that moms had to walk in to kindergarten with their kids on the first day. She seemed to accept that, and I decided that it was indeed a rule in our house. Because I'm the mom. And I needed to take her in.

She was the first one there--even after we waited and watched the clock for an excruciating minutes at home before we left. She was ready. When we went inside the classroom, she remembered the procedure that Mrs. Orme explained from the assessment last week, and she followed every step perfectly. She found her name at the table, sat down, then looked at me and said very matter-of-factly, "Bye." I gave her a quick hug and hurried to the car. That's when I lost it. I don't want my baby to grow up.

At least I have this fabulous mural she painted hanging on our entry wall to remind me of her while she is gone...

Allow me to translate the mural for you (from left to right): swimming pool with diving board, temple and flower, mini temple, 3 person swing, monkey bars and swings, and finally an ice rink, roller blading rink, and skate park. Fantastic!