KIndergarten Eve

Dear Olivia,

Here we sit, on the eve of your first day of kindergarten. You told me this morning that you didn't think you would be good at kindergarten. When I asked why, you said you didn't think you would be good at listening to the teacher, because she was going to ask you to sit on the rug. And you don't want to sit on the rug. You just want to play with the toys. I told you that kindergarten would be fun. I told you that you would learn things, and learn to read. Doesn't that sound fun, I asked you, learning to read? Not really, you said. I hope you and your teacher can work that all out.

Then you asked me if the moms get to stay tomorrow. I said no, the moms will all leave, and the class and the teacher will stay together, to which you replied, "But not forever." Nope, not forever, just for three hours.

I hope you like kindergarten. I hope it doesn't turn into a fight to get you to go every day. I wish you could understand how lucky you are to be a kindergartener. When you are seven, you will moan about how hard second grade is, and how you wish you could be in kindergarten again. Some days I wish I could be in kindergarten again. Even though it is a whole new world to you, there is somebody behind you every step of the way, handing out snacks and making sure you stay on schedule. I wish you could appreciate that arrangement while you have it. It doesn't last long enough.

I hope I like having you in kindergarten. We have never had a kid in morning kindergarten before. Like most things with you, this will be a new take on things. If I could explain everything to you, I would tell you to just have fun. Get in trouble for talking too much, fall off the monkey bars, sing loud, forget not to run in the halls, ask lots of questions and paint lots of rainbows.

Oh, and be nice to everyone. And learn to read.

And remember I love you to PIECES!

Love,

Mom