Her backpack is packed

Her backpack is packed

I kept yelling through the wall that it was bedtime and that she needed to settle down, but she was no where near ready for that.

She burst out of her room, breathless with questions: Could she bring crayons to kindergarten? Will there be show and tell? Is it ok to put the crayons in her backpack?

There were more questions, but I can’t remember them all. I tried to answer them as I could while steering her back to her room.

Yes, you can put crayons in your backpack, I told her. And we will need to get you a new backpack for school.

Her face darkened a bit: “But, my backpack is already packed.”

Kindergarten starts in 78 days.

ready for kindergartenv- backpack

I examined her backpack with her, and together, we removed the items, piece by piece, so she could tell me about each one.

There were, of course, the crayons. And a piece of paper so she can color on it. She explained to me that she folded the paper so it will fit in the back pack.

inside backpack

She also packed a football because at kindergarten she might learn to “do sports.”

And a red block because red is her favorite color.

And a hairclip in case her hair gets in her face. To me, this last item was most remarkable because she resists all my attempts at keeping her hair out of her face, especially hair clips.

I explained again that we will buy her a brand new big kid backpack for school, because she’d had her old toddler backpack since she was two. So she put it on to demonstrate that it still fits.

backpack on back

I finally got the backpack away from her, and convinced her that backpacks are not safe to sleep in. And she finally settled down and fell asleep – no doubt dreaming about playgrounds, coloring, show and tell, and “doing sports.”

On the other hand, I am still wide awake, marveling at her love of learning, her exuberance, and relishing the fact that we have 78 days left until the start of kindergarten. Also, I’m panicking a little, because there are only 78 days left until the start of kindergarten.

Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Readiness

Prospective kindergartners, along with their parents, shuffled and herded themselves into the little elementary school cafeteria. The room was thick with nervous energy, excitement, squirmy 5-year-olds who have not yet learned to sit still for an assembly, and information packets fanning at the summer heat.

This was just an introductory meeting – an open house for families new to the school. These children will not start school for 3 months, but school related anxiety is already starting to kick in. At least for the parents.

If you look at my daughter, you’d likely see something like this:

five years old - ready for kindergarten

But as a parent, I’m more likely to see something like this:two year old

Looking around the room, it was easy to distinguish the parents with older children, who had ushered a child through kindergarten before, from those who were encountering kindergarten as a parent for the first time. The wide-eyed, deer in the headlights look of those in that second set gave them away. Yes, I’m a first time parent of a kindergartener as well.

kindergarten readiness

The information packet introduced the school, advised of upcoming getting-to-know-you playdates at the playground through the summer, and included a list of skills children would need to master in order to be ready for kindergarten.

The kindergarten readiness checklist is quite long, a couple pages, but it was helpful. It is simple things, such as the kids should know the numbers 1-10, sing the abc song, and go potty independently. Most of the items she mastered long ago, and others, we have the summer to work on. I did give her a long name to learn to spell.

On the other hand, I went through all the documents front and back and saw nothing about kindergarten readiness for parents. So help me out in the comments section. What do I need to do to get ME ready for her to go to kindergarten? What should I be prepared for.

I’m pretty confident that she’s more than ready for kindergarten. I’m not quite so sure about me.

 

Sometimes I look at her and my heart explodes

Sometimes I look at her and my heart explodes

I’m 1877 days into this parenting gig, and I still don’t know what I’m doing. I suspect that is probably a good sign. I hope it is, anyway.

I’m so blessed that I get to spend my days with this little ray of light, and guide her as she grows.

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Happy Mother’s Day. Here’s to the moms, and to everyone else who challenges and guides and comforts us as we continue to grow and evolve. And here’s to our charges, who bring light and hope and joy.