To my daughter on your 1st day of Kindergarten,

As I prepare to send you off to grade school I’m flooded with memories of the past 5 and a half years. The sleepless nights, the seemingly endless nursing sessions, capturing every possible memory to every “first” and fun activity to funny things you say and how you say them. I’m taking all of them and putting them in a proverbial jar for safekeeping.

It is such a bittersweet moment in time. We are sending you off to start a new chapter of your life and I can’t help but be excited for you and sad for me. This summer has been absolutely precious to me. Having you home all day, interrupting my workday for quick snuggles has made me appreciate being your mother so much more.

There was a time when I thought I wasn’t equipped or cut out for motherhood. It was just so hard all the time. But you always do something so adorable and my heart bursts with adoration for you.

I can’t wait for you to come home and tell me all the things you learned and the activities you did. It is my prayer that you make new friends and feel excited and accomplished. But most of all, I pray you find your way and navigate this new chapter with the vigor and imagination that you give all your interests.

While I know challenges are expected, I hope you handle them with grace and continue to lean on me for guidance. I hope you never stop wanting to cuddle when things don’t go your way. I hope you continue to want your mama all the time as you do now. More than anything I hope you grow and learn and get everything out of Kindergarten that you possibly can.

Tonight, I’ll read you a book about Kindergarten and caress your back. I’ll stare at you a bit longer than usual and give you extra hugs because I know in the morning you’ll be a brand new kid and we’ll never have this time back. You are ready even if I’m not.

“I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

As long as I’m living,

My baby you’ll be”

Robert Munsch

I love you little one.

Forever your mama,