Travelingjenny

Last Thursday was Meet the Teacher Day at the girls' school. They got to hang out in their classrooms, visit with their classmates, and have a school-wide picnic. Grace had not been too excited about the prospect of returning to school until she was actually there and remembered how much fun it is. Tess, however, had been excited for several days already, and actually seeing her teacher and hanging out in the Kindergarten classroom (check out the loft with the reading nook!) just about put her over the edge. Plus, she made a new friend during her brief time there (thank goodness, because she is the only girl with four boys, so she had better like them!).

As soon as we got back home after Meet the Teacher Day, that sweet child packed up her backpack — slippers and all — and put it by the door, then chose her first-day outfit and laid it on her bedroom floor. And she's been counting down the days every since. This morning she carefully washed her new lunchbox, and gave me detailed instructions as to what she would like me to pack in it. She is SO excited, and so very ready for Kindergarten. This evening Tess informed me: "Mom, Kindergarten is going to be a blast, and I'm not going to miss you at all."

Her absolute certainty does lessen the blow a bit — I suppose my heart won't break quite so much when I leave her at the school in the morning. And it is certainly comforting to know that she's not worried about this big change. So, tomorrow I will smile as I receive my one kiss and one hug (because I've been informed that's all I'm going to get), and I'll hold back my tears as I turn and wave goodbye. But afterwards, when Tess isn't looking, I will shed a tear or two as I go about my day without my littlest buddy by my side.