You blink and the baby you were toting around in your arms one day turns into a little girl in a plaid dress wearing a gigantic backpack ready to SKIP her way to school.
Abby has been going to the school since she was 8 months old, but the first day of Pre-K was different. More structure, a real commitment to get the kids ready for kindergarten, increased responsibility, better teacher, and the uniforms all made it seem like Abby was going to a brand new school. She was so very proud and excited.
We talked about what to expect and Abby was really looking forward to having a new teacher, Mrs. Mazur, who she had briefly spent time when her school would occassionally move up one of two of the kids to keep the student/teacher ratios in check. Abby talked about it for weeks in advance, and she kept asking me everyday "Am I going to Mrs. Mazur's class today?". Finally, Monday, 8/22 came. Before Abby could even open her eyes that morning, she said "I get to go to Mrs. Mazur's class today, YEA!!!!". In the 3+ years of getting her ready for school, this morning was the absolute easiest to get her ready. Abby dressed herself for the most part, didn't have to be reminded to brush her teeth and actually sat down in position so I could brush her hair. Believe me, the hair brushing thing is big because Abby does NOT like it and typically puts up mild to major resistance every morning before she will finally let me have at it.
She posed for a few pictures and we headed out the door. Definitely an extra bounce to Abby's step. I was excited for her but a bit sad seeing how grown up she was. We got to school and we saw almost every teacher she had before we went into her classroom. They all thought she looked so cute in her plaid dress and with her newly pierced ears. I think she grew a bit tired of being paraded around on display and led me to her new classroom.
She opened the door and without fanfare went in by herself. No goodbye hug or kiss. I was shocked, happy, and sad all at the same time. Shocked because normally goodbyes are lingering for her - lots of hugging, kissing and telling me she doesn't want me to go. Sometimes there is crying too (but not any for the last month prior to this day). Happy because she was confident and excited to go into class by herself. Sad because she went into class by herself and didn't seem to "need" me. All and all, a great beginning to a new chapter for Abby. Most of her friends moved up with her. Some of them will be starting kindergarten next year, and some the year after depending on their birthdays. Abby falls in the second category because she has a 9/2 birthday which is one day after the Texas cutoff. You have to be 5 by 9/1 to start kindergarten that year, and Abby won't be 5 until 9/2. It's all good though..she will just have more time to enjoy being a kid and reinforcing everything that she learns in Pre-K.
