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Dear Riley,
As I send you off to your first day of kindergarten, I can't help but wonder if I've taught you everything you'll need to know to survive in this world. Sure, sure, you know all the vowels. You can count to one hundred and read a little bit. But will you remember the really important things?
Will you remember to be proud of your accomplishments? When the teacher cocks an eyebrow at some of your more "creative" outfits, be sure to point out that you, and you alone, were the mastermind behind the whole red-shirt-and-olive-green-pants look.
Will you remember that sharing is totally overrated? If, at snack time, you and another kid are both eyeing the last cookie, step up (especially if it's chocolate chip). You take that other five-year-old to town! I'll help you deal with the consequences later.
Speaking of other children, will you remember to make good friends? Not only for your sake, but for mine. I'm gonna have to spend some time with their parents at some point and I'd like them to be as cool as I am. Preferably a little less cool. But not too much less. Keep that in mind when you choose your buddies on the playground.
Just a few more things, my son: not everyone will find the crayons-up-the-nose trick as funny as Daddy does; please pull up your pants before you leave the bathroom; if you treat people as nicely as you do your sister, you may not have anyone to sit by at lunch.
Have a great day at school, buddy.
Love,
Mom
(Despite what you may be thinking, I'm not completely dead inside. I'm fairly certain I'll be sniffling most of the day today.)
4 hours ago
14 comments:
Don't forget to tell him he shouldn't volunteer for EVERYTHING or the kids will label him a nerd early on and it's hard to shake that.
I'm sure he'll be only thinking of you, all day long.
I'm going to save this and change the names for when my little one goes to kindergarten.
Smart to plan ahead with that parents thing. I never realized how much time I would spend with people I never chose as friends!
I sent Wolf off on the bus for the first time today...yeah he's in 4th grade, but the first year was a charter school with no bussing, plus it was half days and I was in there once a week at least. The next couple of years we lived in Pelican with the tiny one-building school, so not only did he walk (and I could see the school roof from my kitchen window) but he usually walked *with*dad*... but this year he had to catch the bus on his own. Thankfully it stops right in front of the next-door-neighbors' house, and they have about 4 kids that he can wait with...still, I get nervous for him. I hope he remembers to get off on the right street!!
hey, becky,
be careful, your :'-) is showing through your bravado
:-)
and for the record, isn't better to claim that "dad dressed me" on the days the outfit isn't quite right?
Ah, the first day of kindergarten! I sobbed like a baby all day when The Boy left. Of course now, I count down the days until school starts and he is out of my hair for the better part of the day! :) I am sure that when The Girl starts kindergarten next year I will sob all day again. Sigh.
Wonderful advice here. One small step into kindergarten, one giant step for mankind. :)
It didn't seem heartless at all. this post was FULL of heart. It's the little things that you know all about him, and it's sprinkled with how endearing you find him just as he is! Loved it.
Wait. That sounded like "just as he is" you know, like something is wrong with him. NOT what I meant.
I'll just stop now.
Did you cry? Ah! Sad and exciting times...
Thanks from one Alaska mom to another, for the laugh on this traumatic day. I, too have a 5 yr old heading off to kindy today. I'll be squeezin' 'em back trying not break down and blubber like a total sap.
Maybe a hot totty when i get back home?
~sigh
Very cute letter to your son. Did he survive his first day?
What a wonderful letter. So refreshing (although I love the tearful kind, too). I'm glad you're back to posting at least now and again.
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