Piecing together thoughts about Kindergarten

Today was my eldest daughter’s first day of Kindergarten. I was a nervous wreck dropping her off for her class. To the point where I decided to wear sunglasses indoors because I knew I was emanating some pretty intense energy. I didn’t want to do anything to bring down DD1. After all, she’s been so excited about this. I know she’s going to love it. But still. She’s my baby.

Even with me trying to keep all my butterflies contained, DD1 did end up getting nervous at the last minute. In fact, she hugged my leg as hard as she could, but her arms were shaking, so it really wasn’t nearly as tight as she was trying. She never cried, but I could see it in her eyes and the way she was chewing on her hands that she was doing everything she could to contain herself.

I wish more than anything I could be a fly on the wall in her room.

Sigh.

I know that I’ve done everything I know to get her ready for this. We even practiced how she can politely correct people when they say her name wrong. I watched her have an opportunity to explain how to pronounce her name, when her teacher asked her for clarification. She was so sweet about it, and yet so clear.

Oh yes, I sent snacks for the class. They had asked for five students to sign up to bring snacks for the first week. I never saw a sign up form, and had no idea if anyone had put their name down. But decided to just send something non-perishable and hope that they could store it if there wasn’t any need for them this week. Turns out, DD1 was the only one to bring snacks. Her Kindergarten teacher was sooo happy that she bragged on DD1 to several other K teachers who apparently ended up snackless.

DD1 is in a fairly sizable class. It’s 21 kids strong. I snuck by the room (we dropped the K’s off in the cafeteria) and snapped a shot of DD1′s desk…

I’m trying not to be emotional about this. But can’t help but feel a little bit misty. I worry about all the “what if’s” even while my brain reassures me that she’s in the best possible school with the best possible teacher. “They” warn you that the first day of school is hard. I just never expected it to be this rough for me.