A Letter to Brian on His First Day of Kindergarten

On the night before your first day of kindergarten, Brian, I thought I would put together a little list of helpful advice.  I know that it will be many, many years before you will probably ever think of your mama as "wise" but I promise you that the advice I am going to give you is from my heart.  And writing this post is probably more like therapy for me, anyway.  I am not gonna lie- I am having a hard time knowing you are growing up.  You will understand one day.  So here are 5 tips for your first big year of school:


Tip #1 - Always smile at your teacher when you walk through the door every morning.  Teachers are people too (yes, really) and sometimes they get sad, angry or sick.  Just like you.  A smile on the face of their students can sometimes turn their entire day around and pick them up.  Just like that.  I know, because I used to be a teacher myself.  I know you have heard me say many times about how I used to teach when you were still in my tummy (Math was your favorite subject then.  Well, you sure moved around the most when I would teach math.  So even if you think you hate it now, just remember that it used to be your favorite).   And giving your teacher a hug every now and again, just because, can also do wonders.  It reminds them of how special they are and how what they do everyday makes such a big difference, even if it doesn't always feel that way.

Tip #2 - Be friends with everyone.  I think this will be really easy for you because you have always been this way since you were a little guy, but I just wanted to remind you anyway.  Always be willing to help someone, even if you don't really want to.  Never forget to include someone when you are playing.  Someday, you might be the one who gets left out and it doesn't feel good.  Always be polite- that will go a long way. Share.  Play something you might not like.  Let someone else have their turn before you.  Don't make fun of others or join along because someone else is.  It might be hard sometimes, but  I promise you that Jesus will help you do these things if you just ask Him.  Don't be friends with someone just because of how they look on the outside.  Get to know them and see what is on the inside first.  Most importantly, always be yourself around others because they won't be able to stay away from you if you do.  Trust me, you are the coolest kid I know and I always want to be around you.

Tip #3 - Don't forget your manners.  Always say "please" and "thank you" and "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir."  Always open the door for girls.  Compliment your teacher.  Tell someone they did a good job.  Clap for someone when they succeed at something.  Be an encourager.

Tip #4 - Eat all of your lunch.  You might be too excited to eat or you might not really like what I packed you.  But you are going to be at school longer than you've ever been (and knowing you, it will seem like forever) and if you don't eat, you are going to be starving.  And Tip #4B - Rubbing your tummy as a "secret sign" that you are hungry will not work with your teacher like it works with me.  She is going to be more concerned about teaching you to read then finding you some Cheez-Its.

Tip #5 - Know when to keep quiet.  This isn't to sound mean but, my friend, you come from a long line of talkers (trust me, I've seen your Ninny's report cards).  Don't be a mute like your mom was in school and hardly ever say a word, but choose your time to talk wisely.  Do it at recess or after you've raised your hand and your teacher calls on you.  Or if you are in a group working on something.  But don't do it when you are supposed to be working.  I promise you can talk my legs off as soon as I pick you up from school.  Just put a lit on it until then :) And try to keep the entertaining to a minimum.  Yes, you are VERY entertaining, but entertaining during school hours might not earn you the applause you are looking for!

There are so many other words of wisdom that I could tell you about, Brian.  And little secrets, too.  Like how I am sure that there will be days when your brother will destroy your room while you are gone, but how I promise I will fix it and you won't even know it happened.  Or how tomorrow morning when I am taking pictures of you and pumping you up for your first day, I will be trying really hard not to cry because my baby boy is growing up.  You will never have another first day of kindergarten again and I plan on soaking up every bit of it.  And when I drop you off at your classroom door and kiss you and hug you and tell you to have a good day?  I can assure you that there will be a gigantic knot in my throat the size of Texas.  And even though I'll be able to go home and do some things around the house and maybe even just enjoy some quiet time, I will looking at the clock all day and counting down the minutes to come get you. Because I know this will be a lot harder on me than it is on you.  And I will feel like a kid at Christmas whenever I see your smiling face and get to hear all about your wonderful day. 

I hope you have the best first day of school ever, Brian Joshua!  And if I am smart, I will start writing my list of advice to you for high school now because I am sure that it is going to be much longer than this one.

Meltdown City, USA

I know what I am about to write about is something that every parent has to deal with in their life.   I know that I am not the only one to have to go through it.  And yet, just the thought of it makes me want to take a trip to Meltdown City.  Why, you ask?  Because in exactly a week from today, Brian starts kindergarten.

Is this his first time to be away from me and go to school? Nope.  So why I am so berserk? Because he will be gone all.day.long.  Brian has a very late summer birthday, so because of his young age, I wanted him to do pre-k twice.  Now, he is closer to the same age as the other kiddos and this will put him at graduating when he is 18, not 17.  I didn't want him to struggle in school because he was so young and I didn't want him to end up being the last one of his friends to be able to do things like drive a car and date.  Wait, yes I do want him to be the last one of his friends to date.  Which should be no problem since he will be 30 when I allow that to happen.  Anyway, making that decision was great for him.  He is excelling at school, is already reading quite a bit, and had an extra year to get a little more mature.  But it kinda spoiled me to the whole two-hours-at-school thing.  He got to go to school and then be with me for the rest of the day.  For TWO years.  And now, come Monday, he will be gone all day.  I think it is going to be wonderful for him.  He is Mr. Social Butterfly and is going to love being around kids his age all day. He is going to finally get to eat in the cafeteria and go to gym and music. But what am I going to do with myself while he's doing all this?

Hudson and I are going to have a lot of time together, just the two of us.  But, boy, are we going to miss our bubba.  It is going to take some major adjusting for the both of us.  There are times during the day now when both kids are being as loud and ornery as they can possibly be and I will think, "Man, a little peace and quiet sure would be nice."  But then in that rare moment when they are both gone and I am alone, all I do is wish they were back making noise.  I miss them so bad. 

I'm pretty sure that I will be a basket case on Monday morning.  Wes has a dentist appointment and is taking a half day so he will get to go with me to drop Brian off on his first day.  I am sure that will be the only thing keeping me in line because I know that if I bawl and cause too big of a scene that Wes will make fun of me for the rest of our lives.  But you can bet I will have my camera in tow and some Kleenex stuffed in my purse.  It's moments like these that are so, so precious but make the reality that Brian is growing up even more obvious.  I am so proud of him and the young man he is becoming but I just want to treasure every single moment and milestone he has while he is still little and actually doesn't get embarrassed by his mom :)  And then I'm going to have to do it all over again with Hudson.  Waaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!! :(

First First Day of Pre-K - 2011

He had only been 4 for 2 weeks.  Look at those cute little baby fat cheeks...

 

 

 

Second First Day of Pre-K - 2012

He gained a baby brother that year and lost some of that baby fat...