Isabelle

November 01, 2015

Isabelle

This school year marked a big transition for us. It's one of those moments in your child's life that you don't quite realize is such a big deal until you're there. And I'm sure in a few years I'll look back and say, "I thought that was a big deal? Ha!"

Isabelle started kindergarten.

A year ago all I really thought about kindergarten was that it's just the next stage of school that every child encounters. Some of us parents do have to make a decision about whether or not to send our child to kindergarten. I was one of those parents since Isabelle is a July baby and it would be a feasible option to hold her back a year. I waited for there to be a reason to and there just didn't seem to be one, so I just figured we'd send her along with the rest of her little neighborhood buddies who are close in age. She is a rule follower and a teacher's dream. She is shy but she loves making new friends and I didn't believe her quiet nature would be a reason to keep her in preschool longer. And amazingly, she's TALL! I keep waiting for her growth to slow down just a bit, but unlike her mom and dad (who were always the shortest in our class), Isabelle is one of the tallest in her class! So, for many reasons we decided that she should be fully prepared for kindergarten this year.

Her first day:

But this whole kindergarten thing is not for the faint of heart. I'm not a complete fool…as the day approached I realized there would be some sadness and tears. I knew that a transition from 3.5 hours of school 4 days a week to 8 hours of school 5 days a week would probably take a tole on her little body. So I was prepared for her behavior to change.

I was an emotional wreck! I survived day 1 just fine. I don't even think I cried. I was just so proud of the way Isabelle walked confidently into her classroom and hugged me goodbye. And I was SO excited to pick her up…

Here she is walking out of school on the first day!

But the weeks after that day were filled with so much anxiety and sadness! I had a pit in my stomach each morning and it was the greatest relief when I got to see her smiling face at the end of the day. I started to regret sending her off to kindergarten so soon, wishing that my kids could be in school together for one more year. I even thought as far away as college and realized that she would be leaving the nest that much earlier. I could have had one more year with my 2 kids at home! I worried that she wasn't quite up to speed academically as some of the other kids. And then I got REALLY worried when her teacher still didn't know her name on day 10 (!!??!!). My little wallflower - the quiet, obedient child. The one that doesn't get noticed?

Well, mama bear came out and I made sure that child of mine got noticed. On the third week of school I confronted the teacher about not knowing her name (she was literally asking to be reminded of her name when she greeted her at the door each morning!) and also relayed the information to the principal. This was not ok!

Her teacher made some noticeable changes, and eventually I decided that the only thing that mattered this year is that Isabelle is happy and learning. And she was. I needed to let go and trust. That's what kindergarten (and so much of parenting) is all about…but it is SOOO hard! Especially when you're a control freak like me!

But there's a few things I've learned about this girl of mine in the past 5 years that puts my mind at ease while learning to let go.

My Isabelle has a heart of gold. She is kind and thoughtful. She loves being around people and she is energized by social circumstances. She is committed to her friends and eager to make more. She is a sweet friend and will go out of her way to help others. She is IN LOVE with her family and most of all her cousins. She is the most patient big sister a kid could ask for. She loves to make her brother happy and she puts up with a whole lot of little brother annoyances! She is not a "social climber," drawn towards all types of people and especially younger kids (and obsessed with animals!). She is my pride and joy!

My girl is of course not without high drama and emotional roller coasters. But that just reminds me that she's fully alive!