It happened. My little girl stated school.
My emotions were all over the map on the day she went to kindergarten. I had her sign ready, her outfit picked out and her book bag all packed with a water bottle in the side pocket. I made the bow to match her outfit, her hair was washed and I even put her in her favorite nightgown so that she would go to bed and wake up feeling special. I was all ready, and yet not ready at all.
Gia on the other hand couldn't wait to get to school. Ever since visiting this school that we put her in, she has been ready to go. All summer she's been telling people that she's going to be starting kindergarten "in the Fall," and especially as the day approached it was all she could talk about. As we tucked her in the night before she started school and prayed especially for her first day, she said, "I wish it was morning right now!" We laughed and Bobby said, "it's like Christmas Eve for her." That alone made the whole experience of letting her go easier. She was ready. She was excited.
That morning Bobby woke her up while I got ready. I actually got up a little bit late (because I'm still trying to figure out my alarm and it didn't go off) so I got ready quickly and then got Gia dressed. Nana and Papa were there and she was so excited that she kept talking instead of getting dressed and it took a LONG time. I put her bow in her hair and we took a lot of pictures. She was so very excited that her smile was beautiful and genuine in each picture. They are some of my favorite pictures of her ever.
After pictures, she gave hugs to my parents and we got in the car. Bobby and told her that we had a special date planned for before school, and then we took her to the coffee shop. She got a doughnut and hot cocoa with whipped cream on the side. We asked her all about what she was looking forward to at school, to which she replied, "All of it! The whole day!" We had a great time, although short, just being with her before starting a new chapter in her life (and ours).
Bobby had a meeting to be at that morning, so we drove separately so that I could stay a little longer at school. Gia and I rode together and we Skyped with Grandmama on the way there. I hate that she couldn't be with us to experience Gia's first day of kindergarten, so I wanted to make sure that she got to be a part of it with us. Once at the school, Bobby and I walked Gia to the playground where the sweetest first grader ever came up to say hello to Gia and walk her around. Gia didn't want to go at first, but the girl, Emily, kept telling her that it would be fun. She also told Gia, "Your dress is beautiful! And your bow is so pretty! You look beautiful!" So finally Gia went with her and then we just watched from the sidelines.
When the classes lined up, Bobby said goodbye to Gia and I went with her inside. The teacher let us stay in the hallway while the kids went to the bathroom (and I got to meet some of the other parents who were very nice), and then invited us all to come inside while she read a story to the kids about the first day of school (really, it was about the kids being ready and the parents having to let go. So fitting). After the story her teacher told the kids to say goodbye to their moms and dads. I hugged Gia and told her that she was going to do great. I told her that she was smart and beautiful and kind, and that I would be back to get her in a few hours. When she realized I was leaving her, she teared up a little, which of course made me tear up. I hugged her again and told her I'd see her really soon, and the I looked up and realized that all the other parents were gone! I was the only one left hugging my kid (which I thought was not even a long time) so then I sent her back to the carpet and left.
As I walked out of the room, I began to cry. I took a picture of her book bag hanging in the hallway and could hear a teacher inside a first grade classroom say to her students, "You remember what it was like to start kindergarten, right? So we need to be extra kind to those students today and make them feel welcome." Oh my goodness, that did my heart good. I left the school trying not to lose it, and then got in my car and sobbed all the way home. A song that Gia loved came on the radio, and I cried some more. At home things seemed so strange and quiet, even thought I still had both boys and my parents there. I missed her so much that I cleaned her room big time. Needless to say, I was very excited to go pick her up! She had a great first day, her teacher is wonderful, and although I'm sad to see her go each morning, I think it will be a good thing for her.
Every last-day-of-school I sing "What Time Is It? (Summer Time)" from High School Musical 2 to my friend Kelly. On Gia's first day of school, I kept singing, "It's The Start of Something New," from HSM. We're beginning a new phase of life, one that I've been dreading for a year. But time passes by, and I can't avoid the change. So now I adjust and think about all the wonderful ways that this allows me to be involved in her education (being in the classroom, going on field trips, participating in holiday parties, etc...) and to walk beside her as she develops new friends and experiences. I can't wait to see her share the love of Christ with her friends and to demonstrate kindness, forgiveness and joy towards them. It's going to be a good year. And then summer will be here, and I'm going to sing, "What Time Is It?" at the top of my lungs :)
