It's official; Lindy is in Kindergarten!

Kindergarten, Here I Come!
(sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star")

Kindergarten, here I come!
I know I'll have lots of fun.
Lots of things to make and do,
Reading, writing, counting, too.
Kindergarten, here I come!
I know I'll have lots of fun.

--Author Unknown

On Monday, August 23rd, Lindy started Kindergarten.  To celebrate her upcoming big day, we gave her two books at bedtime on Saturday and Sunday:  The Night Before Kindergarten and One Smart Cookie:  Bite Size Lessons for the School Years and Beyond.  Both books are very sweet and well-written.  If you aren't familiar with the Bite Size Lessons series it is a darling group of books by Amy Krause Rosenthal with a cookie baking theme but they are all about life lessons.  Lindy loves them because she LOVES cooking and baking and they use big words and teach her concepts such as being humble, cooperation, trustworthiness, and many others.  The pictures and morals are phenomenal.

No amount of talking had prepared Lindy for what it would feel like to get up at 6:30.  I opted NOT to do a trial run the week beforehand because I felt like she needed her rest and I knew she'd adapt--somehow.  Despite the shock of getting up in the dark, she did really well getting dressed, eating her breakfast, and getting out the door.  She even let me snap a few pictures.

She was definitely contemplative about what was awaiting her

 

 

I am so glad Daddy was there to help with the first day.  I am sure she felt comfort from him in his big hands that I couldn't give because of my sadness.

"Smiling" as we waited in the cry room cafeteria.

At 7:50, we walked from the cafeteria into her classroom.  She immediately sat down and started coloring with the supplies she had left at Meet the Teacher night.  I think I expected more of a formal time to say goodbye but at 8:00 sharp her teacher started addressing the boys and girls and I knew it was time for me to say, "goodbye" to my treasure and let her start this new chapter of her life.

I couldn't wait to pick Lindy up later that day I missed her so much and was so excited to hear about her day.  Despite my finely tuned question asking and probing, I didn't get much out of her besides stories about all the naughty boys. (Ugh!)  She did tell me her teacher read The Kissing Hand and I was so relieved because I had FORGOTTEN to check it out of the library and read it to her.  I did tell her to touch her cheek, though, if she got lonely and missed home.   I am so proud of her for being so strong, brave, and well-behaved and, as bittersweet as this season is for me, I am so excited to see what new and wonderful things await my baby girl.