She Starts Kindergarten

August 17, 2009

Melissa slowly opened the door to Katie’s room, and there we paused to watch our little Katie sleeping so soundly, her mane of hair wildly and completely masking her face. We stood there just watching her sleep – apprehensive, I suppose, about how the day’s script would unfold. We both had worked so hard to get her to this one monumental moment in her life: Kindergarten.

The Cinderella digital clock on her nightstand showed 7:15 am, which was only about 15 earlier than Katie normally awakens each morning. “Time to get up,” Melissa quietly exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic. Katie pulled the comforter over her head. From under the covers, “I don’t want to go to kindergarten!” My stomach sank a little. Please, child, please be happy today!

Melissa worked with Katie, getting her dressed and fixing her hair. By the time we all left for school, Katie’s mood had improved, and she seemed more at ease with beginning the first day of her academic life. That’s it, Katie! You can do this!

The three of us departed for Katie’s school at 7:45 am, Melissa and Katie in the van and me in my car. Minutes later, I met them in the packed school parking lot. Katie popped out of the van and walked confidently with us to the line of other parents and children that had formed in front of the school. No sense of apprehension from our little one, perhaps because that feeling took a backseat to the urgency induced by the call of the restroom. Open the doors, please!

At 8:15 am the doors were opened. After finding some relief for Katie, the three of us walked to her classroom. We had been there three days prior for the school back-to-school cookout and had spent the entire two hours of that open house touring the school and letting Katie visit her classroom. I’m glad we made the effort to visit the school prior to this first day.

As we walked into the room, Katie received her assigned cubby: #7. We hung her Disney princess book bag on the hook at cubby #7 and then escorted Katie to her table. She is one of two Katies in the class, so is designated as "Katie F." on the name card taped at her assigned seat on the wee little table she'll share with Noah and Claudia.

We took a half dozen pictures in the few minutes available to us ­­-- Katie by herself at the table, Melissa with Katie, Katie with me.

And then it was time to go, to leave Katie by herself with her Kindergarten teacher and classmates who were all sitting quietly working on jigsaw puzzles. Still no sense of apprehension from her, no fear. She seemed ready to be there. Whew!

We kissed her goodbye and began our exit. Pausing at the doorway, we turned back one more time to give her another glance. She waved.

I know that many parents feel a sense of sadness at this significant moment in their child's life. I felt no sadness. Instead, I felt like we had just embarked on a really cool family adventure. The baby days were forever gone. From here on, the three of us would be discussing "what did you learn today?" and new friends and the adventures and disappointments of the forthcoming school days.