Off to Kindergarten

Today was Sofia's first day of Kindergarten. It feels weird to even type it out because it means that the little baby that gave me the gift of motherhood is now 5 and old enough to go to school. We have been talking about this step for awhile now with her and she has had some up and down moments since preschool finished in May. She was sad that she wouldn't have the same teachers anymore, but then excited to get to wear a backpack to school. Then she said she was going to miss her friends from preschool and then she would talk about meeting new friends too.

Summer came and went so fast and while I had the date on the calendar circled, highlighted and in RED, it just came on all of a sudden and took me by surprise. I couldn't believe it last night tucking their covers in after they were asleep and dreaming, that this morning I would be driving her off to Kindergarten, the beginning steps of a many number of years of school ahead for her.

As we were approaching the school, we saw buses and other cars dropping off kids, Sofia was very quiet and you could tell she was thinking. I park and I turn around to give her a big smile and she says "Mommy, I don't think I'm ready for Kindergarten today." Heartbreak. We talk for a minute about how she just met her teacher and seemed to like her, her classroom was very colorful and bright and how she was going to learn a whole bunch of new things this year in school. Cue my five-year-old's sweet smile and she jumps down from her seat ready to go.

Man, was it tough. I'm not going to lie. All I wanted to really do was say to her "Ok, you don't have to start today. Let's go home, bake cookies, color and then take a walk." Part of me kind of wishes I did actually. But I didn't. I led her by the hand up the steps and she was whisked away by an older student off to sit with the rest of her class to wait for her teacher to lead them to their room. She turned around to look for me, already following her with Olivia to head to the Kindergarten Parents' Meet and Greet Breakfast. She took a seat in an adorable tiny blue chair and waved to me as we passed by.

I turned around once to look at her one more time before rounding the corner and she was looking around the room taking it all in. She was so brave. And I am so proud of my big girl. I, on the other hand, walked into the library where the other moms were convening and promptly began crying.

Olivia and I busied ourselves for the next 3 and a half hours and I made sure to arrive a little early to pick up my Kindergartner. She came around the corner beaming and talked non-stop the ride to the park about her morning. So great to see that she had a great first day and the only downside according to her was "I didn't even learn to read today."

Love that girl!