Kindergarten
by Ashley Weeks Cart
She awoke Tuesday morning with claims of a tummy ache. Our usual firecracker had lost her spark.
“My tummy just hurts. I think I have to stay in bed.”
“Do you think maybe you’re just nervous about your first day of Kindergarten?”
“NO! I’m sick! I have a tummy ache. I have to stay in bed. I’m not nervous, MOM.”
We informed her that she would be going to see her pediatrician if she chose not to attend her first day of school on account of the tummy woes. Frustrated with this predicament, she opted for school, though she was mopey and out of sorts until the bus arrived. Sunny took her by the hand, and encouragingly led her up the stairs of the bus. They sat side by side, and waved enthusiastically to me, James, and Sanderling as the bus pulled away.
She told me that she did not want me to meet her at the school to walk her from the bus to her classroom.
“My teacher will do that, Mama. I don’t need you to.”
Ah, and that pang of parenting pride and nostalgia struck so hard. To see your kid embrace her independence is both a beautiful and heart-wrenching thing. It’s hard not to hear, “I don’t need you,” when I know she simply means that she trusts me enough to have her back that she can take her own bold steps forward.
As we walked home from school that afternoon, she regaled me with expressive, excited tales of her first day. Her wild hand gestures reminding me so very much of her Momar.
“And we got a tour, and I got TWO recesses. I saw Sunny at lunch, and Ms. Dingman let me play in the block area, and she read us a funny story. This person was nervous about the first day of school and we thought it was a kid but then at the end of the book we found out it was a teacher. A grown up was nervous about the first day of school, Mama. Isn’t that silly? I guess I was nervous this morning and that’s why I had a tummy ache. Now I’m just excited. School is so so cool. The gardener is coming tomorrow and we get to pick carrots! FROM THE GROUND! And give them to the cafeteria to make our lunches!”
She has been all smiles and sunshine every morning since, and she expressed great dismay that today is Friday, which means she has to suffer through an entire weekend before her next day of Kindergarten. Momar was always her biggest fan and champion – she wouldn’t be surprised in the least to hear just how smoothly her second grandchild has made the transition, despite being one of the youngest in her grade. I am so proud of this passionate five year old of ours. She is ready to soar.
If children aren’t engaging in enough physical activity during recess or playtime, introducing playground markings for games like hopscotch, jump rope, or a running track can encourage them to move and exercise. If you’re interested, contact the team at https://www.playgroundmarkings.org.uk/ for assistance.
Children have natural tendencies to explore, create, and innovate. We can help children continue to develop those tendencies by providing them with rich opportunities for exploration and discovery. Experts in the field of education like Google’s Kamau Bobb agree that early STEM exposure can lay a solid foundation for future STEM learning and potentially inspire a lifelong interest in these fields.
