When I was picking Finley up from school yesterday, the Art Teacher and I were chatting (as we do most days, we have gotten to know each other quite well since I have been working there) and she mentioned that after this next week, which is Spring Break, there are a little more than 40 days left of school.... 40 days.... left of the school year.
I immediately had my "oh shit moment." My sweet baby was going to move from being a kinder-babe to a first grader!! Seeing him walk into school each day, he looks so grown, but the thought of him being a first grader really put me in my feelings. Boy, has he grown over the last 7 months, I can't even begin to image how much will change over the next 2 and a half months let alone when he becomes a first grader.
During dinner, Finley and I started chatting about kindergarten and there are so many amazing moments that I cherish and will hold onto forever. Mind if I share a few??
Some of my very favorite kindergarten moments:
- When he comes home from school, and immediately goes outback to dump out his shoes... I swear he carries a pound of sand between both shoes... his little ant hill kills me, each and every day.
- When he gets into the car and says "Mom, look at these rocks I got from school today." One day it will be 2 or 3 and the next is 7 and the following is a huge chunk of concrete that he is carrying around (he claims it’s a fossil, and I will never tell him otherwise). In our backyard, we have started our very own rock garden, and out of the hundred rocks, easily 85% of them are from this school - lol, opps.
- This boy comes home looking like a coal miner. Dirt on his face, his legs are basically black with dirt, his arms... covered in dirt, his hair, a sandy mess... but that face of contentment and the stories of him playing with his friends at school, PRICELESS!
- He has started keeping track of how often his teacher is there and how often he has a substitute. He has had a sub pretty frequently lately and this one in particular, he is not a fan of. (Every student you talk to talks about how mean she is, she'll yell at them, some say she hits... nonetheless, she isn't necessarily a fan favorite).
- One day, he came home from school so frustrated. He said that one of the little girls in his class, Skylar, had been causing issues and they all had to do laps at recess. This little ladies’ man said "Mom, I am never going to marry Skylar, she is just so bad. Eve would never!" HAHAHA
- Finley has brought home STAR STUDENT tickets a multitude of times over the last 7 months, but this last one, that he brought home this week, made me so proud! He was awarded the STAR STUDENT ticket for helping another student in his class. In particular, this student struggles frequently, and Finley chose to forgo playing with Legos during free time, to help this student with some of her assignments. I couldn't even begin to tell you how much of a bright light our boy is! I am constantly amazed by his kindness.
- Since starting kindergarten, Finley has started ordering school lunch a couple times a month, he enjoys the quesadilla and stuffed-crust pizza, the popcorn chicken, and the corn dog. There are a couple meals a month he enjoys, the rest of the month, he likes a peanut butter sandwich from home. We were talking about him getting lunch from the lunch lady and I was telling him that he can get more than just the lunch they serve, that he can get chips and a treat if they are being offered. He was so excited! Then he went on to say that sometimes, he will get his teacher a drink, because he knows she likes the milk and that occasionally, shell get in the lunch line too, and he always lets her go ahead of him. He said it isn't fair that she has to wait, because she has to go all the way back to the classroom first, before she can start her lunch. I melted. He has this giving heart that I admire so highly!
- One of my favorite memories was when I am working at his school on a particular Friday. We always walk in together, hand in hand (which I cherish because the time where this is socially acceptable will dissipate at any time) and we get my classroom roster and keys and he is beaming, chatting about what he thinks he’ll do in class... As we walk into my classroom, he looks at me and says “mom, did you know that I am basically famous.” And I was like “huh!” and he goes, “I am famous here because you work here, and everyone knows you.” He goes on to say that “random kids come say hi to me or will wave at me and I just know it’s because they know you are my mom.” “I’m famous here.” HOW COOL IS THAT?? To be honest, I was nervous when I started subbing that it would affect him negatively, not that I do it poorly or anything, but you just never know how your kids are going to react to you being in “their place”. My kiddo is my biggest cheerleader and I love how much he enjoys me being there. I look forward to hearing how many kids he saw that he knew from my class time or how many said hi to him each day.
- When I do sub, I look forward to seeing his shining smile in the hall wall. Depending on which grade I am teaching, I see him at different periods of the day, but most oftentimes it will be when I am taking kids to lunch, he is off to his resource class. He always waves really fast and says, “hi mom!” And of course, greets me with a hug. His classmates also wave and say hi and then I hear “that’s Finley Miller’s mom!” It is so cute!! I love being able to see my sweet boy throughout the day like that! And I love that I am able to engage with his classmates and get to know them as well! This time is so special, and I cherish each and every day.
I know that in just a sleep or two, that this season of kindergarten will be over. We will jump right into summer actives and before we know it, it’ll be back-to-school time and we will have a first grader!
Cherish these days mamas, before long, rather than kindergarten or 6th grade graduation, we will be seeing our babies in a graduation cap and gown, our babies will be headed off to college and those little kindergarten moments will be just that, moments.
What are your Spring Break plans?? Do you travel near or far? Does your kiddo attend any camps?
XO, Kelleen
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