Dear Daughter,
It’s the night before kindergarten. Technically, it’s the morning of kindergarten. 1:19 a.m. to be exact. You and I spent the day together. We dropped your brother off at daycare and went to the state fair in our long sleeves. It was a cool and glorious morning. Thankfully, I talked you out of the skirt you had on at home or you would have been chilly.
We had a blast going on rides and eating greasy foods. We rode the tilt-a-whirl together and it made Mommy very nauseous! Then you went on a bunch more rides by yourself. You’re such a big girl now! After the fair, we biked to the playground by Lake Harriet and played together on the rope ladders and slides. Then on the way home, we stopped at the Siri park and played even more! We ended our day with a quick fishing trip and you even caught a fish!
I cherished our time together today. The weather was gorgeous today and we made the most of it, spending almost all of it outside. I loved when you asked me to hold your things so that you could skip. At age five, you love skipping almost more than life.
Today was as much about me as it was about you. I needed the happy memories of spending this last day before kindergarten with you. Tomorrow is a big day and you’ll be a big girl. Kindergarten is the start of the rest of your life. From now on, it will be school, school, school until you leave us.
Don’t get me wrong, I love school. Daddy has other feelings about it, but I love it and I know you’ll love it too. It’s just that I’m missing your little days. The days when we went to ECFE, went to music class, went to gym class, went to the Children’s Museum, stayed home and played, stayed home and watched movies, all the things we could do when you weren’t tied down to the rigidity of school. Your transition to kindergarten has been a big deal to me. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s been emotional and I’ve cried about it more than a few times. You are my first baby and I’m a little hesitant to let you go. My girl is growing up. How can my baby girl be starting kindergarten? It seems like a minute ago, you were in the hospital bassinet.
Thank you for the gift of today’s memories: holding your hand while we walked, laughing together on rides, having deep and not-so-deep conversations, smiling at each other over and over again. It’s been a perfect day. You’re going to love kindergarten. I’m so excited for you. You will do great and I’m going to be happy for you. I can’t wait to hear all about your first day.
Love,
Mom
