Five
Today, you brought home a classroom assignment. It was a photocopy of a number five that your mother had fished out of your backpack and that you had traced a number of times – each with a different crayon. Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Purple…
Your mother shares it with me as I come home from work and you welcome me with excited tales of how you got to choose a prize for reading 20 stories. Our bedtime stories that I had meticulously chronicled each night for the past 10 days opened up treasures of pens with beads glued to it and a small box of crayons.
I smile at you both and I am struck by the change in you. The change from four to five years took place only six weeks ago. The change from preschool to kindergarten took place only 12 days ago. And yet, the change in you cannot be measured. You have both tackled a new chapter in your life better than I could have imagined or, perhaps, feared. You are both enjoying your own teacher, being apart for the better part of a day, and have thrived not only in school but socially as well. You have flourished where I feared utter failure. I shall try not to underestimate you again.
You both have adjusted to taking the bus to school. It took TheMonk five seconds to adjust while it took Swee’Pea five days. But you adjusted. And now, as I see you onto the bus (Kindergartners board first!) each morning and we wait for the other children to board the bus, we make eye contact and play a game of seeing as who can make the silliest faces. I always win. But you’re getting better.
And each day your mother greets you at the bus stop and shares your brilliant smiles as you come home from your latest adventure. And as you share your day with Mommy while eating an afternoon snack and drinking pink milk, your mother texts me any important news.
*TheMonk got to bring home Millie the Monkey today*
*Swee’Pea was the Star Student today*
And as I race home to celebrate Star Students or to help take Millie the Monkey on a bike ride, I am reminded that this only happens once. Only once will you be so excited to show me that you can write the number two. Only once will I hear stories of who brought home the coveted blue cards (while also hearing who in class brought home the dreaded red card). Only once will I get to call my two little ones Kindergartners.
And at the end of the day, as we read our two bedtime stories while fighting a case of the grouchies because of your afternoon nap has been yanked away so suddenly, I savor the moment. For I know that before long you will be reading your own stories and my role will be as listener and not reader. And while that moment might come five months from now.
It’s gonna seem like five seconds.
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A wonderful part 2 to the story! Star Student AND Millie the Monkey??? Your kids will have such wonderful memories… To say nothing of Dad and his silly faces!
I so remember the little things about my dad, not the least of which was him dressing up as Santa when he came to pick me up at school on the last day before Christmas.
In my freshman year in high school!
Now, admittedly I was embarrassed at first, but when I saw the girl who got a ride home with us every day ACT so embarrassed, well then I realized my Dad was pretty funny, and I sat up nice and straight next to Santa, in the Olds.
And the guys from school Dad picked up hitching home? They thought he was pretty cool, too!
Comment by krys72599 — August 3, 2010 @ 4:40 am
There’s a song about how you’re gonna miss this — its so true. I’m so glad that Swee’Pea and Monk have a Dad like you, and that you’ve been willing to share them as they grow from itsy bitsy baby twins to kindergartners.
Treasure these moments, because it will really be only about 5 seconds before they’re reading the stories to you.
Comment by Franny — August 3, 2010 @ 5:45 am
Kindergarten goes quick. But that first time of listening to a child read something new out loud to you? Magic.
Comment by Deanna — August 3, 2010 @ 9:38 am
I’m so happy that kindergarten is going so well for them! The day they start reading to you is great, but you can always read to them as well!
Comment by ~a — August 3, 2010 @ 11:20 am
You have such a kind and loving way about you. This was just beautiful. You made me cry with the reading part as my former kindergartner has been reading to me all summer. It is a change I relish, but I miss the cozy up on my lap and letting me read for hours too. We all only have one shot. It’s good to see you enjoy every moment. Here’s is to no dreaded reds this year.
P.S. So happy to hear that Pea is doing better on the bus. I was worried for her!
Comment by Allyson/HBMomof2 — August 3, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
I just sent my son to his first day of 4th grade today so you have no idea how close to home this hits. All I get after asking “what did you do today” is “nothing”.
Sigh. Hold it close friend.
Comment by Miss — August 3, 2010 @ 7:17 pm
Such sweetness! As the mother of older teens, I’m happy to know you are savoring the small moments. It does go so quickly, my friend. *sniff*
Comment by kathygee1 — August 3, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Dang it, I really wish you would stop making me cry.
*sniff*
Comment by Kellee — August 21, 2010 @ 7:23 am
Kindergarten? Wow! It will go quickly, but I’m sure you’ll savor every moment. And even though Clare is going into fourth grade, we still read together–taking turns on pages.
Comment by Darren — August 25, 2010 @ 5:34 pm