I’m not going to say “I can’t believe she’s a kindergartener” because that’s what we all say, right? It’s right up there with the rest of the first day of school cliches like “They really do grow up so fast!” and “Shoes on – we’re running late!”
Seriously, though. Remember when she looked like this?
Kate at her 1st birthday party, probably already plotting how she’s going to grow up and leave me.
Okay, I’m done.
I can’t even go there. (You know I was all the cliches.) What I will tell you is that Kate walked into her new school like she owned the place, gave me a great big hug and kiss like she knew I needed it, and then joined her classmates all lined up next to Mrs. Stein like she’d been doing it for a decade.
She was ready.
What more could a mom hope for?
I breathed a sigh of relief and exhaled five years of worries, fears and anxieties over this day. Then I lingered for a moment – offering up those silent seconds of safety net where you try to look all cool and composed, but inside you’re screaming, “I’m here if you need me!!” – but she didn’t look back.
She really was ready.
I turned to leave the building, put on my sunglasses, and felt my eyes watering up with tears of relief, sadness, pride, and fear. My mixed emotions were cranked up to 100, tempting me to have a nervous breakdown in the hallway. But instead I wiped the tears from my eyes, took a deep breath – and didn’t look back.
I’ll never be ready.
But I know I need to let her grow.
First day of wha? Who signed me up for this?
Totally kidding. Get out of here, mom.
Just like last year, I interviewed Kate to have a record of her thoughts and opinions at this stage in her life. Here’s the scoop on our sweet 5-year-old’s world as she sees it the night before her first day of kindergarten.
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Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A mommy, a fire hydrant person, I also want to be a person who runs a store – a girl who sells purses. And have a cat.
Q: What are you most excited about for Kindergarten?
A: My teacher, Mrs. Stein. [Related: Dear Mrs. Stein…]
Q: Who is your best friend?
A: Gwen and Olivia. Bella, too.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: We Are in a Book
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Purple and pink. Pink and purple. And I like dark red. And silver.
Q: What is your favorite game?
A: Chutes and Ladders
Q: What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?
A: Tuna fish.
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: The one that my Grandpa sings to me at night. It’s called “Walk Down That Lonesome Road.”
Q: What is something you really like?
A: You, Mom.
Q: Aww…thank you, sweetheart. What else do you really like?
A: Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mimi – our whole family.
Q: What is something you really don’t like?
A: Tornadoes. And especially the kids picking on my tuna fish at lunchtime.
Q: If you could have one wish granted, what would it be?
A: To have Aunt Mimi come back down from heaven and be alive.
Q: If you could have any super power what would it be?
A: Mrs. Incredible’s stretching power. And of course having a force field. And being invisible, like Violet.
Q: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
A: Me.
Q: What about you?
A: Me! My whole body.
Q: What is one thing you really want to do this year?
A: Go fishing and go to the Fort pool.
Q: What is something you’re the best at?
A: Kite flying. I’m actually better than my dad.
Q: What do you love to learn about?
A: Anything! It could be anything and I want to learn about it. It could be anything I love.
Q: What makes you feel happy on the inside?
A: My love.
Q: What makes you laugh?
A: Ooh, ready? Knock, knock…
Me: Who’s there?
Kate: Interrupting cow.
Me: Interrup-
Kate: MOOOOO!!
Q: What is the best thing about being five years old?
A: That I’m taller. And most of all, I’m just glad that I’m five years old. I’m glad for my age. I’m glad for any age.
Q: Is there anything else you want me to know about you?
A: I’m a good runner. I’m a good jump-roper. And a really good scooter-er. I, like, beat my mom and dad on the way home.
I think you’re pretty awesome at a lot of things, kiddo. And when I picked you up after your first day you jumped into my arms and exclaimed, “I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!” so clearly you’re pretty awesome at that, too. Congratulations on a great start to what is sure to be a memorable year. I’m so proud of you!
Woodson (who lives next door) stopped by to wish Kate a happy first day of kindergarten.
It may have been the highlight of her day.
(No offense, Mrs. Stein.)
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Sounds like a great first day! Love her Q&A this year!
Thank you so much, Ashley! I was telling G that all I care about for her first day is that she likes it enough to want to go back the next day. We’re currently on day 3 and she tells me about every 5 minutes how much she loves kindergarten. It’s such a relief!!
That’s great! My oldest will be attending 4 yr old preschool starting next week (did 3 year old last year) and my hope is that he continues to love school and learning!
Good luck to your little guy this week, Ashley! Crossing my fingers he has a wonderful first day (and week)!
Such sweet responses! I wish we could keep that awesome self-confidence as we grew up. “What’s your favorite thing about yourself?” “Me! My whole body”
I 100% agree! I love that response from her so much. And just as neat is the fact that it was pretty much her exact response to that question last year before she started 4K. I hope hope HOPE it’s her answer again next year – and the year after that, and the year after that…
What a sweet girl! Get her a cat just for being so adorable.
LOL! Great idea, Morgan!
I knew my boys were growing up when the Chutes and Ladders game was put in the Goodwill bin one year while they were cleaning out their rooms. That was hard. I wanted to sneak it back in the house! Glad she is loving kindergarten – I am sending my youngest off to his first year of middle school next week. Yikes!
We did a massive raid of our old house before we moved this summer I swear I “rescued” more from the “sell” and “donate” piles in Kate’s room than she did! I’m not usually one to hang onto things, but it’s so hard to see them outgrow some of those things – I feel your pain! Good luck to you and your little guy with the start of middle school next week!!
Thinking of you this week, Kim, and hoping your little guy’s first day of middle school goes well!
I’m so glad her first day went well (for both of you!) Love the questions you asked her. I just might have to start that with my K child. Thank you for the bars! I’d love the recipe sometime.
Thank you so much, Kathryn! I hope everyone was ready to get into the swing of things on your end as well. I’ll shoot that granola bar recipe over to you right now. So happy to hear you enjoyed them!
I love the signage. So cute. How is Kate doing now in school? I bet she loves it. My little Paige love kindergarten. She just started as well. After all our girls are only a few apart in age.
Thank you, Crystal! Kate is really enjoying kindergarten. She has so much to report at the end of each day when I pick her up! So wonderful to hear your little girl is enjoying kindergarten as well!