To Our Nursery School Graduate (almost)
It is really hard to believe that, in two days, you will be all done with your beloved pre-school. We have been through so much there and you have done an unbelievable amount of growing up. I'm sitting on the couch right now as I write this, the very same couch I sat on 2 1/2 years ago as I talked to your teacher Jennifer on the phone every night about your difficulty separating. Those days are so far gone now. You skip to school and literally run up the stairs (seven flights!) to get to your classroom. You are proud to be one of the oldest kids in school, allowed to go to the bathroom by yourselves and just generally the kids who "rule the school". On Color Day recently, you were so happy to be "the reddest one," with your red dress and red bows in your hair. You have such school spirit and enthusiasm. You are really excited about the Rainbow Fish play which Daddy and I will see at your graduation on Wednesday. But you've been practicing your lines at home a lot and one night you told me, "If you see me walking around like a fish, it is just because I am practicing for the play." I guess you didn't want me to be alarmed or to worry that my daughter was becoming a fish.
Every single one of your parent-teacher conferences -- Sun, Silver and Red Room -- have been glowing. All your teachers love you and have told us that you are a pleasure to have in their classrooms. Your last Red Room conference was particularly glowy and they made a point to tell us that we should appreciate this, that not every parent gets to hear only good things. But they also emphasized that you are not a goody-goody or annoyingly perfect. We appreciate that they see in you so many of the wonderful qualities that we see and that they seem to really appreciate you. At the first conference this year, we were told that your dictionary (a project that you have been working on all year) was the one that was used as the example when parents came to look at the school. It is because all your work is so carefully done and thoughtful. YOu have worked hard to improve your handwriting and your drawing. You went through the whole dictionary for us the other night (now that you've brought it home) and told us stories about creating each page. For example, you were annoyed making the D is for Duck because you had to come in from the terrace to do it. I think you must have been absent the day the rest of the class did it. You missed a few days of school after spring break and when you got back, your teacher told us you had to work "like a dog", I assume making up for all the missed projects. You confirmed that you had, indeed, worked extra hard that day. I bet that was the D is for Duck Day.
I am going to miss so much all of the things that I've enjoyed these past three years. Even making your lunch. Recently, as I've packed your lunch each day, I have really tried to celebrate that I get to do this. Next year you will eat in a cafeteria. I will not be able to put little notes in for you or to pack a special thing that I know you really like. I will not be able to put my good vibes into your lunch. So, although there were times when it felt like a burden -- when I couldn't decide what to pack or we didn't have great things in the house -- I have come to really appreciate that that is something I get to do as your mom. (Credit goes to Daddy too because he put your lunch together a lot of the time as well.)
I will miss the early pick-up. Which at times I complained about because it sometimes felt like I could only do one thing in the morning before it was time to go get you. But it gave us lots of long afternoons together and I LOVED this year where I got to come into the classroom a lot or to see you practicing cartwheels on the terrace. Next year, I will have to wait for you in the school lobby. And it will be much later. This is because you are growing up. And while I am so proud of that and so very proud of the girl you are and the girl you are becoming, I will forever miss the little one who loves me and needs me in such a basic and uncomplicated way. The one who brings her lunch to school and gets dismissed at 1:45 Monday - Thursday and 12:30pm on Fridays.
Ironically, I will probably not miss the commute and this is something that I have always enjoyed. Daddy and I both agree that having to travel to school has given us very special time alone with you -- especially since Vivian's birth. But it will be nice not to have to go to the east side anymore and we'll still have a little bit of a commute next year.
It feels like your Nursery School graduation is a hugely symbolic moment where we are coming to the end of a big chapter and starting a very exciting next one. I know that there will be many great things ahead for you and that you are going to learn and grow so much in your new school environment. But your pre-school has been a truly special place that I will miss a lot. Thanks for being such a great kid and for sharing so much of what you've done in the past few years with us. I really feel like I know what went on in your day to day life there and I have really loved sharing it with you.
Congratulations, Stella!
Love,
Mommy
Every single one of your parent-teacher conferences -- Sun, Silver and Red Room -- have been glowing. All your teachers love you and have told us that you are a pleasure to have in their classrooms. Your last Red Room conference was particularly glowy and they made a point to tell us that we should appreciate this, that not every parent gets to hear only good things. But they also emphasized that you are not a goody-goody or annoyingly perfect. We appreciate that they see in you so many of the wonderful qualities that we see and that they seem to really appreciate you. At the first conference this year, we were told that your dictionary (a project that you have been working on all year) was the one that was used as the example when parents came to look at the school. It is because all your work is so carefully done and thoughtful. YOu have worked hard to improve your handwriting and your drawing. You went through the whole dictionary for us the other night (now that you've brought it home) and told us stories about creating each page. For example, you were annoyed making the D is for Duck because you had to come in from the terrace to do it. I think you must have been absent the day the rest of the class did it. You missed a few days of school after spring break and when you got back, your teacher told us you had to work "like a dog", I assume making up for all the missed projects. You confirmed that you had, indeed, worked extra hard that day. I bet that was the D is for Duck Day.
I am going to miss so much all of the things that I've enjoyed these past three years. Even making your lunch. Recently, as I've packed your lunch each day, I have really tried to celebrate that I get to do this. Next year you will eat in a cafeteria. I will not be able to put little notes in for you or to pack a special thing that I know you really like. I will not be able to put my good vibes into your lunch. So, although there were times when it felt like a burden -- when I couldn't decide what to pack or we didn't have great things in the house -- I have come to really appreciate that that is something I get to do as your mom. (Credit goes to Daddy too because he put your lunch together a lot of the time as well.)
I will miss the early pick-up. Which at times I complained about because it sometimes felt like I could only do one thing in the morning before it was time to go get you. But it gave us lots of long afternoons together and I LOVED this year where I got to come into the classroom a lot or to see you practicing cartwheels on the terrace. Next year, I will have to wait for you in the school lobby. And it will be much later. This is because you are growing up. And while I am so proud of that and so very proud of the girl you are and the girl you are becoming, I will forever miss the little one who loves me and needs me in such a basic and uncomplicated way. The one who brings her lunch to school and gets dismissed at 1:45 Monday - Thursday and 12:30pm on Fridays.
Ironically, I will probably not miss the commute and this is something that I have always enjoyed. Daddy and I both agree that having to travel to school has given us very special time alone with you -- especially since Vivian's birth. But it will be nice not to have to go to the east side anymore and we'll still have a little bit of a commute next year.
It feels like your Nursery School graduation is a hugely symbolic moment where we are coming to the end of a big chapter and starting a very exciting next one. I know that there will be many great things ahead for you and that you are going to learn and grow so much in your new school environment. But your pre-school has been a truly special place that I will miss a lot. Thanks for being such a great kid and for sharing so much of what you've done in the past few years with us. I really feel like I know what went on in your day to day life there and I have really loved sharing it with you.
Congratulations, Stella!
Love,
Mommy
posted by Carolyn at 5/30/2011 09:00:00 PM
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