On To Kindergarten!

I should forewarn you a bit -- I have always been an emotional ball of tissues. I cry at the drop of a hat. I cry at Hallmark commercials, movies, save the animals ads, or even at just the beauty of God's world around us. But last Thursday I was tested emotionally.

Yesterday was Nani's last day of preschool -- ever.

To her it was just another day at school. To me it was the end of an era. The end of my baby being a "preschooler". It was hard for me not to cry as I dropped her off for the last time that morning. Or as I watched her hang up her bag in her little cubby. Or wash her hands and get into the circle. It was hard for me to look her teachers in the eye without bursting into tears.  I did really well until I picked up some papers in her cubby and saw that they gave us her little name tag.  I fought back the crocodile tears.

It was hard to come back and pick her up for the last time. To hug her teachers and thank them for all they have done for my baby girl.  Again, I did really good until her teacher handed me her little bee with her name on it.  Her class name was the Believing Bees and they had name tags on each of their cubbys. 

At the picnic after school, I watched her play with her classmates and wondered (and prayed) that we could continue these friendships even though all will be moving on to different schools.

In the two years since Nani started at this preschool, I have seen her grow and blossom in ways that I never could have imagined. She entered Mt. Olive just out of toddlerhood and shortly after the birth of her baby sister. This was one thing that was solely hers. One thing she didn't have to share with her sister. Last night at graduation, she left Mt. Olive a beautiful little girl on the verge of so many opportunities.

In August she starts kindergarten. She'll only be going a half day, so I will still have my time with her in the afternoons. And believe me, that is time I will truly cherish and hold on to.

On the bright side, she will still continue to go to Mt. Olive for Vacation Bible School and other summer activities. When Nudgie turns 3, we'll sign her up for Mt. Olive as well.

I wouldn't think of sending her anywhere else.