Mom Jean Confessions: To My Son On Your First Day Of Kindergarten

You know how before a big life event happens (getting married, having a baby, or in my case – your first born starting Kinder ?), it’s like all the sudden you can’t open Facebook without a thousand articles aimed right at you with the sole intention of making you ugly cry for 10 hours straight? Yep, you know the one, it doesn’t even mess around with click bait – it goes right for the ovaries until your poor unsuspecting husband’s suddenly finds himself agreeing to another baby. Don’t worry Mark – it happens to the best of em and she’ll forget about it by morning. So you’re probably wondering what my point is with all this? Well instead of reading another mama’s words, I told myself I would try and suffer through writing an ode to my own son – cuz at the end of the day, we’re all a little glutton for punishment ?

to garrett on your first day of kinder

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I know your soul. In fact, before you were even born and you were just “a grain of rice” as daddy likes to say – I knew you. I knew you would be kind like your late grandfather, and wise beyond your years like him too. It’s what makes you seem so grown up and capable to take on this world, and yet sometimes these same traits are ones that make me overly protective of that sweet soul of yours. The thoughts creep in always at night or in the wee hours of the morning, wondering if I’m failing you. Have I been too protective? Did I socialize you early enough? Will you be able to relate to kids your own age? And round and round it goes. But as much as I feel like I know you – here are the things I didn’t know:

I didn’t know in just two years that you’d go from a chubby faced little preschooler, to a big kid overnight ready to take on anything.

I didn’t know your confidence would bloom so much so that you’d walk right into that classroom like you’ve been doing it for years.

I didn’t know you’d be known by the teachers as the kid in class who’s friends with everyone because you treat others like you’d want to be treated.

I didn’t know just how much you’d love school and get so excited to see that big music class with all those instruments you can’t wait to play.

I didn’t know how much you could change and grow (a whole size!) over the summer to make me feel like I might as well be sending you off to high school.

So see my son, as much as I thought I knew about you – you’ve taught me so much more about the kind of young man I’m so proud to be a mama to. You’re kind beyond words, not just to a few but to all young and old. You love to learn and you already know so much for your mere 5 years on this earth, and yet you’re humble enough to always want to learn more.

So when people ask me how I feel about you starting Kindergarten today – I can’t help but smile because I know you’re ready, and nothing could make me prouder of you in this moment.

I love you to the moon and back, and around again.

Love,

Mama