Kinder graduation... Oh, the Places You´ll Go!

Dear Mica,

Sweet baby girl, I can’t believe your Kindergarten year is over. Everyone told me it would go quickly and of course they were right. You survived a year of firsts; new friends, new school, new routine, and you did it all in stride. I survived too, although I think you handled it better than me.

  

 

Remember the first day when we walked hand in hand, alongside with Daddy, into your new school? I was so nervous for you and I think you were a little scared as well, although you did a good job hiding those jitters. I didn’t. My tears hit the moment I let go of your hand and got back to the car.I have a feeling that will happen a lot through the years.

I’m sure I will cry at each new milestone you reach. You’ll just have to roll your eyes at me because I can’t help myself. The tears flow because I’m so proud of the girl you are becoming. You’re so smart and incredibly kind to your peers. 

 

I’m a little sad. Not because you are growing up, that’s natural and wonderful and expected, but because the older you get the closer goodbye becomes. Someday you’ll leave to make your own dreams and discover your own adventures. And I want that for you. But secretly, I’m already crushed at the reality that will be. You see my princess, you are the answer to my dreams and prayers. What a gift you’ve given me by just being you.

I know this vacation you’ll spend hours playing with your cousins in the States and each hour of independence will make your mom seems less cool. And that’s OK. But I really hope we have at least a couple more school years like this one. 

 

I loved walking hand in hand with you to your class each day and the smile I received each afternoon at pick-up will forever be etched in my heart. I know how lucky I have been to get to see you off and pick you up each and every school day. Not many mamas are given that gift, my Mica. It’s one I cherish.

I loved taking your school lunch at 12. You were so proud to have your mama arrive at your classroom and lovingly hugged me in front of all your friends. I wonder how long you’ll let that be. Can we never let it end? 

I loved the school worksheets, sight words and Bible verses, as well as the superstar papers and smiley faces you received from your amazing teachers. You’ve learned so much in just a year! My heart swells with pride when I hear you read your next chapter book or try so hard to write sentences without asking for help. Gosh you’re a smart 6-year-old! I’ve known it all along.

As your Momma, an with Daddy's help, I promise to teach you as best I know how what it means to honor and cherish people in your life. To treat them with love, gentleness, and respect. To practice self-control, integrity, and perseverance. To be a girl of character, commitment, and discernment.

 

I will help you understand what it means to stand up when everyone else around you cowards. To be a servant leader whose life is marked by humility, honesty and love- not pride, position, and power. To be a girl who is stable, responsible, and teachable. To follow and obey God’s commands to value and treasure all human life because He is our Creator and ultimate authority.

Mica my darling, you will always be wonderful, you will always be brave, you will always be beautiful, you will always be intelligent, you will always be strong, you will always be kind, you will always be perfect in God's eyes and in mine - and of course Daddy's- too. I’m proud of you, now and forever and I’m so excited to watch you grow.

 

Be happy now and forever,

Momma

Can´t believe we are almost done with Kindergarten...

My Mica,

In just a few short days, you will be closing the kindergarten chapter of your story and heading into first grade, can you believe that?

It really does feel like just last week that you and I rocked in the quiet darkness of your room fumbling through nursing, sleep schedules and getting to know each other. I can still smell the newness of your soft little head and feel the weight of your beautiful tiny body in my arms. It must have been just the other day that I watched you take your first wobbly steps towards my outstretched arms as we both giggled with excitement.

 

I fell asleep for just a moment and suddenly you are no longer a baby.

You strolled into Kindergarten liked you owned the joint. No fear, not a tear, just pure excitement. I watched you walk in your classroom and had no idea how fast you would jump in with both feet. I shouldn’t have been surprised; you have always adapted to every life change with a fascinating ease.

I’ve watched you learn a whole new language. That’s huge! You can speak a whole new language! You’ve mastered the alphabet in not one but two languages. You have gone from snuggling beside me listening to bedtime stories to reading me the stories, my pride growing as you sound out each word. You have learned about shapes and numbers, you learned how to use a computer and how to put on your socks. The notes I find in your backpack remind me that you can write now, moments ago you were a tiny baby and now you can write.

I have watched from a distance as you make friends, some of them I hope will be a part of your life for a long time. It’s a little strange to watch you whisper your secrets and cartwheel through your childhood with someone that’s not me. Still, I love nothing more than to hear you giggle with your friends and I am at ease knowing that making friends comes so easily to you. Navigating the tricky world of female friendships is not always simple and you will hit some bumps in the road, but I hope you are always a loyal, kind, and supportive friend and search out those who will be the same to you.

From the moment you came into my world, you both impressed me and frustrated me and kindergarten was no exception.

I’ve watched you stomp, with heavy foot, into independence without so much as a glance back at me and as much as I fear it, I also admire it.

Don’t change! Never change!

Your passion, your fearlessness, your ability to adapt to any situation astounds me, please don’t ever change.

I marvel at your innate sense of self and I hope you don’t ever give that up for anyone. Don’t let anyone else dictate how you should dress, what you should be feeling or which direction to turn, not even me. There may be times in your life that I don’t agree with your choices but you should always follow your own path. I will forever be proud of you for following your dreams, even when your dreams for yourself are different from what I had envisioned for you.

You sparkle my beautiful little girl and throughout your life you will encounter people who will try and dull that sparkle. Don’t allow it and don’t ever try to dull someone else’s shine. Dimming someone else’s light won’t ever brighten yours.

You are enough just as you are.

This is just the beginning of your adventure my precious one and there is a whole wide world waiting for you. As you head into first grade know that I am so very proud of you. I am so proud of the smart, kind, courageous and adventurous little girl you are. Throughout these year of kindergarten you have shown me, without a doubt, that you are capable of accomplishing whatever you put your mind to and I can’t wait to see where that takes you.

Love you tons and even much more than that,

Mommy

Open letter to Mica´s amazing Kindergarten teacher: Miss Katie Piggott

Dear Miss Piggott,

My daughter has five days left in her kindergarten career. Which means she only has 10.35 hours left with you. And while this might be cause for a party on her side because she is so ready for vacations and her so expected trip to the States, my gut response is to fall at your feet and embrace your ankles because I am so not ready for you not to be her teacher anymore.

I’ll never forget the fear, apprehension, and worry that accompanied me when I walked her into your classroom on August last year. For her it was a huge change, a completely new language, and a whole new world. How could you possibly get her ready for first grade in just nine months?

You won my heart and gained my confidence right away the day I got one of your first notes. "I have noticed that Mica eats more during recess than lunchtime so how about I switch her meals so that she would eat some more at school", you wrote. I was so happy to see that you cared so much for my Mica that you would even worry if she ate enough or not.

Since then it’s been Class Dojo messages and emails about her progress and other daily, and important, events. Finding her first tooth when she almost lost it (cause you didn't want her to lose it like you lost yours) and helping her every time she struggled. Laughing at the stories she tells and helping her develop her creative self. Making sure I knew what she loves to play, and telling me often that she’s a great kid is just a little list of all you have done for my Mica this year.

You call her one of “your kiddos” and watch over her as if she were your own.

Because of you she can read letters. And words. And sentences. She loves Science and Bible stories. She can write. She can sing so many beautiful new songs. She can do math and follow directions. She can draw hearts, flowers, stars, and much more... everywhere. Because of you she feels safe and secure in the classroom and looks forward to going there. Because of you she has a love for learning. And strong confidence that she can as long as she tries.

Even without seeing her final report card, just by seeing all the progress she’s made I know that your influence is obvious around this house. You are the Grand Chief of knowledge and she thinks she can win any argument simply by saying, “Miss Piggott says so!".

They say it takes “someone special” to be a teacher – or to work with children in general – but I think that’s a gross understatement. It takes someone noble and selfless to literally give herself to her job, to her students. It takes someone brave and strong and courageous to shield her students from harm’s way, with disregard for her own personal safety, to think about comforting and protecting her young charges rather than own well-being. It takes someone committed and passionate to come in every day, regardless of how sick or tired you may feel sometimes, administrative dispositions, and other external distractions, and teach our children to love God as well as the fundamentals that will shape their future.

Miss Piggott, how can I ever repay you? I have no idea but I’ll offer what I can... my undying devotion and forever words of appreciation. They are yours.

Nothing could mean more to me than someone investing time and loving my girl. You opened the world to my daughter and now I am one your biggest fans!

Thank you forever and ever,

Cynthia