Starting School

Hayley started her first day of kindergarten today!

Wow, when did the years slip away?!? I had no idea how big of a deal this would be in my life. I feel like I just tore a piece of my heart out and watched it walk down a big school hallway! I know that everything that I'm feeling sounds dramatic and over-the-top, but you girls know that no amount of reasoning erases those emotions so here's what I'm thinking about today:

• She's still so little
• Will she eat all of her lunch?
• Did I send enough food?
• Will she remember to go potty before it's too late?
• Will she be able to get her snap done up on her pants?
• Will she feel as scared as me?
• What if she needs a hug?
• What if she falls down and gets hurt on the playground?
• Did I teach her everything she needs to know to be on her own?
• What about all those times I "failed" as a mom...I wonder if my chance to influence is over as a mom. It's hard to suddenly welcome so many other adults and kids into her circle of influence when I've been the only one 99% of the time.
• Regrets! I remember all the times that I wasn't such a great mom. Wish I could re-do the last 5 years...I promise I'd be a better mom the second time around. Hind-sight is 20/20. I understand her so much more than I did a few years ago.
• Is some punk kid going to say something mean?
• What bad words will she hear today?
• What if she misses me today?
• What if she doesn't miss me today?
  

On the up-side, I'm so excited for her. The truth is she's my little independent, brave girl and is so excited about today. Anytime she starts to worry or feel nervous she gives herself pep-talks..."I know I can do it, I know I can!" She has more faith than any kid I know. It'll be sad when she finds out that you can't kneel down in the middle of the classroom to say a prayer because you can't figure out a problem. She loves to meet and make new friends and will be sweet and empathetic to any other kids that are scared.

She's my Hayley-bug and I can't wait to see her in 4 hours and 20 minutes!

This was her kindergarten orientation evening. It was fun to go see her classroom. Her teacher is Ms. Kellogg. She's a neighbor of ours and we feel so lucky to have her as Hayley's teacher! I love her fun-loving personality. When Ryan and I went and observed teachers at the school last year we were so impressed with how her kids respected her and she respected them. We also loved how the kids were leading their own learning through play.

Hayley was so excited to go meet kids in her class. She chose her clothes and told me how to do her hair. She even took 4 pencils to give to her 4 new best friends. She managed to give away two of them to girls that she met. One of the girls even gave her a pencil. She had the girls write their names down in a notebook she had taken. (She has a terrible time remembering names!) We practiced their names all weekend so now she has them memorized.

Getting ready for the first day of school!

Outside the school.

All the kindergarteners and parents went into the gym to gather into classes. Then we waved goodbye as she marched down the hall to her classroom!

I think I just realized that I'm starting school today too...and it won't end for many many years!