Kindergarten Visitation Day

Parents and kids congregated in the cafeteria, then kids were asked to line up by color coded groupings to follow teachers out to the kindergarten pod, where there are three kindergarten classrooms. With the unfamiliar surroundings and crowd, I wasn't sure if M. would line up in an orderly manner without my help.

But she did.

She walked away from me all on her own, across the cafeteria, got into the right line, locked her hands behind her back just like the other kids, and marched quietly out of the room, without the slightest hesitation, scuffle or outright brawl.

That's when I knew for sure: she is ready.

Tears of joy

Kindergarten registration yesterday. Lady at the school who filed my paperwork asked if this is my first child going to kindergarten. When I said yes, she shared how she cried and cried the first time sending one of her kids to kindergarten. I nodded at her, vaguely. And she seemed concerned that I understand this is a full day kindergarten program, and if I'm sure that's going to be okay. I just nodded and said, "mmm hmmm, yes, I know."

But what she didn't know and what I didn't say is how long I've been waiting for full day kindergarten. It's been like a beacon of light in the distance FOR YEARS, my reason for getting up each day, the source of my night time fears of district budget cuts that could take it all away from me--oh, the horror!

So what I really wanted to say was, "Oh hell YES, I'll be cryin'! But them will be tears of JOY, lady--tears of JOY!!!"