Onto The Next Thing

She’s done.  It’s over.  Noelle’s first year of school has come to a close.  She is now a first grader!  Wow, just writing it makes the tears well up and begin to flow.  I feel that starting Kindergarten was tough, but finishing it seems, unbelievably, more difficult.  When in Kindergarten children are still viewed, to me, as little, just starting out.  They are fresh in the grand scheme of schooling.  First grade seems leaps and bounds older than Kindergarten.  In my mind Kindergarten is all about coloring  and songs and rainbows and creative play, first grade is dull, dark, with a ruler yielding, wart faced, cranky teacher standing in front of perfectly straight rowed children.  Okay, that’s a little extreme, but first grade is not just kindergarten.  There is a big difference, and again, the unknown is scary. 

Noelle was sad and excited for her last day.  Mentioning over and over how much she would miss her teacher.  Her teacher was wonderful.  She challenged Noelle and helped her come out of her shell.  The shell is still there, and will most likely always be, but there are cracks in it.  Cracks that let Noelle get up in front of the class, excitedly, and participate in show and tell. Mrs. T showed Noelle that learning is one of the most important things she can do for herself – and one of the coolest.  She provided Noelle with time and material to expand her creative horizons.  Noelle was dared to dream and be silly.  Tom and I loved hearing her tails of her day, awed by the wonderful things happening in the classroom and the enthusiasm that Noelle displayed.  Mrs. T was great and I’m not sure how first grade can be topped by her!

In the morning I got out the camera and went crazy even taking pictures of Noelle at breakfast!  Last day of Kindergarten HAS to be documented!  There was excitement in the air.  The other three couldn’t wait for Noelle’s day to be over and her home!  Despite the mandatory and daily bickering, they adore, genuinely adore, their big sister!  They had to go out and wait for the bus too.  Noelle was ready in record time and we had extra snuggle time in the chair. 

Snuggle time in the morning is critical.  Never have we run late for school (with lots of little ones we are always up early!) and always had at least 10-20 mins of time to sit together and talk.  I would wrap my arms around her and talk about the fun she would have that day.  It seemed to set the tone for the day.  The more time we would have the better day she had. 

We finished our time and were ready to head outside and wait for the bus.  At the beginning of the year I waited, every morning, at the end of the driveway with Noelle.  When winter came I told her it was time for her to go out by herself.  I told her this, but every morning I suited up and still waited.  I think she and I were not ready for this ritual to end.  The last day was like the first, waiting was our thing and I’m glad I was out there each and every day to give her one last hug and kiss as the bus came to a stop in front of the house.

For comparison’s sake here is my Noelle Rose on the first day and last of Kindergarten 2011-2012! 

   

Now onto summer vacation!  Time for us to enjoy each other and the our precious days together.  The four children will fight, play, and soak up every ounce of summer possible.  I will do what I can sit back and enjoy these days, for a new school year will be upon us shortly and my girl will be a First Grader!