Tuesday, August 12, 2008

To my big first grader,

I have a hard time believing you're in first grade. It seems so much older than kindergarten. Kindergarten still feels young. Just barely out of preschool. The youngest class at elementary school. But FIRST grade? The very name implies that it's just the beginning, the first in a long line of grades. Before we know it you'll be in second grade. We'll blink and you'll be in fifth grade. Ninth grade. Twelfth grade.

Tomorrow you'll head into that first grade classroom, and I know that you'll warm up more when we're not around. You were extra shy and refusing to talk when we met your teacher today. I know that won't last long after I've dropped you off in the morning. It was frustrating, though, to see you that way.

You're an incredibly smart and sweet girl, but you've been giving us a heck of a time lately with the baby talk and the whining and the not doing what we ask you to do. You've been masking rudeness with shyness, and we've had to put our foot down. Maybe you're just nervous about the changes coming with a new school, new teacher and new friends. Maybe this is just a hurdle we have to get over so that you can take that next step into being more grown up. We know you can do it. (We know WE can do it, too, although it's hard to see my baby turning into this lanky GIRL)

Any minute now that first tooth is going to fall out (we can see the new tooth fighting its way in beneath it!) and from behind that big girl gap-toothed grin you'll be begging for play dates and telling me what you did at school today, in first grade.

First grade.

If I keep saying it, maybe I'll believe it.

But you. You will bloom in first grade. I just know it.

Go. Grow.

Much love,

Mama

16 comments:

flutter said...

awwww.

Aliki2006 said...

Oh, first grade! It seems so much bigger, doesn't it? All the best to her during this exciting year!

niobe said...

Wow. First grade.

What a lovely letter.

Run ANC said...

Wow. They grow up fast, huh? Good luck!

Anonymous said...

oh, whaah.

I've been so close to tears this week for any number of weird, vague reasons, one of which is that Fiona is going to a week of gymnastics "camp" which I thought would get her warmed up before the season starts, but she is in with a group who are so far ahead of her in skills...She's fine, but I'm not because I'm turning it into a metaphor for life.

Kat said...

Sniff, sniff. I'm wiping tears.

Cynthia said...

Very sweet:)

Jennifer said...

Happy, Happy First Day of First Grade! So bittersweet, all of this going and growing they do. *sigh*

I hope she has a wonderful year.

Kyla said...

BubTar will be starting first grade next Monday. It DOES seem so big.

Mad said...

This post is like a big fist around my heart.

Also, I am surprised at how soon summer vacation ends for you Americans. Kids up here don't go back until after labour day. School lets out in late June each year.

the dragonfly said...

I can hardly believe she's in first grade. Wow. Even though I've seen her many times since, I somehow still picture her as the tiny little girl who slept every time I came over to babysit her.

*sigh*

Aunt Becky said...

Ben went through the same thing when he started first grade. The change between the beginning and end of the year, though, is tremendous.

Sarcasta-Mom said...

My daughter's going into first grade in two weeks, and she's been real hell on wheels lately as well. The baby talk, and the hysterical crying fits are making me mental! Let's hope it calms down once school starts...

Chaotic Joy said...

Sigh. First Grade. This is too far behind for one set of my kids, and way to close for the other. This was lovely, MQ.

E said...

Roots and wings. The wings are way harder to grow than the roots ever are....

Jen said...

I hope you have a hard copy and that you'll save it along with those mother's day and father's day pics you keep taking with Mayqueen. It will be a gem for her when she's grown up.