The Kinder Way

It is cliche to say "I can't believe my baby is five." The truth is, I can't believe he is ONLY five. We have been through more in the past five years than I ever imagined I would go through in my life. Some mother's cry when their babies turn another year older, or when they grow out of clothes, or when they drop them off at the first day of school. I celebrate. I consider each milestone a blessing. Instead of wishing that he was still a baby I say to myself "I am so lucky we made it here."

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about "the first days of school" while Jack was a baby because I couldn't see past the third surgery. We didn't allow ourselves to be jinxed by imagining the days when Jack was 5, 10 or 15 years old because we just needed to make it to that third surgery.

Now that we are here, I haven't had time to daydream about him growing up and doing the regular things kids do. Or, how they would affect him, and us. It has been SO exciting and fun to watch him do these new things. Today was certainly the beginning of a very long, important part of his life. He was thrilled and woke up yelling "First Day of School!" ..even though we have PM Kindergarten. (To my surprise..) he couldn't wait to put on his uniform and head to school.

It was quick and painless.. pat on the back, couple of pictures, a hug goodbye- off he went.

So we are on our way, the Kinder way, to a whole new world of PTA meetings (I'm a card holding member..), volunteer work, homework, new friends, class pets, math problems and recess fights. I love it.. we are all happy here.