Kindergarten, Here We Come

Yesterday, I took E to Tar-jay to shop for school supplies for kindergarten.

Kindergarten.

How did this happen?

In less than two weeks, my “baby” girl will be launched into the juggernaut that is elementary school.

There’s just this one thing: I’m not ready! I’m not ready!

I know, I know. Today, it’s easy. There are big decisions about Elsa backpacks and crayons and pre-sharpened pencils to make. And for most students, our district only provides half-day kindergarten, so she’ll still be home with me every day for lunch. No trading your all-natural-PB-on-wheat for a Snack Pack just yet, kiddo. Sorry.

I like to think of kindergarten as preschool on steroids. That makes the fact that she’s growing up and letting go a little easier for me to swallow.

Hey, it’s not like I haven’t had practice, right? I’ve been dropping her off at preschool a few times a week for the past few years. I feel like I’m almost prepared to let go a little more. Almost.

I have friends who can’t wait until their kids go back to school. I may or may not get there some day. Right now, if it were up to me, I’d freeze time and put pre-k on a repetitive loop for the foreseeable future.

I know, I know. Letting go is one of the hardest parts of parenting. If we don’t prepare our kids for independence, we’re doing them a huge disservice. Yada yada yada. I get it, I do. That doesn’t make it any easier now, does it?

Yes – I know what’s coming. I’m going to blink, and arguments over whether her entire, 9-doll mermaid collection needs to come to the grocery store with us will be replaced with arguments over whether “that outfit” is appropriate for school.

I’m going to blink, and her refusal to brush her curly mop top in the morning will be replaced with 45 minutes in front of the mirror, trying get her hair to look “just right.”

I’m going to blink, and her exasperation over trying to remember how to form the “Z” in her last name will be replaced with exhaustive frustration over mountains of homework and studying for midterms.

I’m going to blink, and the joy she exudes while singing and dancing in princess dresses will be replaced with shopping for prom dresses.

I’m going to blink, and the toys and dolls on her gift wish lists will be replaced with cell phones and tablets and gift cards to overpriced stores that peddle trendy, disposable clothing to teenagers.

I’m going to blink, and there will be raging teenage hormones, meltdowns over boys, a sweet 16 party and a driver’s test.

I’m going to blink, and we’ll be planning college visits and graduation parties.

So for now, I’m going to enjoy these last few weeks of having my curly haired mop top snuggled up with me every day. I’m going to enjoy the 4,679th impromptu performance of “Let it Go” while she twirls around the house in her Elsa dress. I’m going to relish the fact that she still loves being home with mommy and daddy – so much so that she promises us she’s never leaving.

And as much as I’d like to hold her to that promise, I’m pretty sure that in a few years, she’s going to feel differently – even if I won’t.

Do you have kids who are headed back to school? Do you dread it or not-so-secretely love it? Sound off below!

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