This little girl graduated kindergarten.
She has learned a lot and grown in so many glorious ways.
She always skipped into school and stopped just short of the door and blew me a kiss.
She always ran into my arms and gave me a big hug at the end of the day.
She is phenomenally smart. She loves to read.
She is beautiful and kind and loves playing with boys more than girls.
I loved listening to her talk about her day on the way home.
I made it through the year. At times I didn't think I was going to but I did miraculously.
I had to drive to the school three times a day. Ten minutes each way. Three times a day.
Sixty minutes in the car each way. I burned through gasoline like crazy.
I had a baby half way through the year.
The first morning I had to load all four of them into the car I was scared to death.
I did it.
It wasn't that bad.
We enjoyed our new school.
Sierra's teach was phenomenal. She inspired her in so many ways. She said by far she was her most improved student ever. She loved her. You could tell. It warmed my heart. I think she may have thought I was a little emotional, I couldn't help cry every time I talked to her. She was just so sweet to Sierra.
Madison's teach was a little hard nosed but it didn't seem to bother her. She loved Kindergarten, every minute of it. I thought she was thriving until the last parent teacher conference when her teach said she was concerned because education is a three legged stool and Madison excelled in reading and writing but she couldn't get that third leg, speech. Madison is naturally shy but courageous when she wants to be. Sierra is always getting her to ask the librarian for a specific book or when we run treats to the neighbor Madison is always the one to ring the door bell. I think mostly she was a little scared of her teacher, quite frankly so was I. I think she will get that third leg really quickly next year, if she has a teacher who loves her, like Sierra's teacher does.
We stopped off at Target and pajamas were on sale. Why not? We hang out in them all summer long anyway. Ashton, is probably sad because we didn't get him any poor guy. Seriously, he just wanted me.
I took the boys, my mom and my sister's baby Charlotte. (My sister had a dental appointment and my parents were in town.) I put James and Charlotte in the stroller. I put Ashton in the baby carrier. The whole school was going on the field trip. Madison's bus arrived first at 9:30am and then Sierra's bus was to arrive at 10:45. I saw Madison and we walked a short way with her. Then the path narrowed and the stroller wouldn't fit, so I waited for her class to circle back around. I found her and walked with her to the park where they were picnicking. My mom stayed with the little ones in the shade of a tree. It was so hot and the little's weren't happy. I forgot a hat for Ashton. I hadn't remembered water for my girls and the school didn't pack any. Madison refused to eat breakfast that morning. By the time she hit the picnic area she was ash white, I found her lunch with her drink and told her to go sit under the tree and eat and drink. Her teacher came by a short while later. She is a rules lady. She didn't know I stole Madison's lunch and told her to go eat. She was making the Kindergartner's line up and then sit at a picnic table. Madison, and frankly I, was scared. Mrs. Kimble was going to discover my sneakiness and be upset with Madison. I sat there with her to protect her, until all the kindergartner's were sitting. Then I told her to go sit by her friends. I watched her as she walked over to her friends. Her shoulders were slumped and her head was down. (Her teacher is worried because she won't speak up in class and she isn't a risk taker. I was worried for a minute but didn't have time to think about it too long because Sierra's bus had arrived.) I RAN across the park to meet up with Sierra. They were already on the trail. I ran through parents and student's looking for her. I finally caught up with her and walked with her for five minutes until I realized I hadn't nursed Ashton in three hours. I couldn't stay with her but I gave her a hug and told her I loved her and wished I could. She looked at me with those same disappointed eyes that she gave me the day before. I ran back to my mother under the shade tree. As I ran I thought, I have failed. I have ran all day long and I have failed both of them. I have disappointed Sierra for two days and I have let Madison down, because she isn't a risk taker. She isn't yet able to insert herself confidently with a group of peers.
